What Is the Deadline for Taking Legal Action after Suffering an Injury?
The moment you’re injured in an accident, you’ll be in a race against time to take legal action. While you may be in considerable pain, grappling with complications stemming from your injuries, and under immense financial pressure, the deadlines to file a personal injury lawsuit in New Jersey are rarely—if ever—put on hold.
In this article, we will take a closer look at these deadlines, how they may affect your options for seeking compensation, and the consequences for bringing a lawsuit after the time limit has been reached.
New Jersey’s Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Lawsuits
In every state, there are strict limits on the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit after you’ve been hurt. These deadlines vary depending on the type of suit you are bringing. This deadline is referred to as the statute of limitations.
In most cases, you will have up to two years from the day you suffered your injuries to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault parties. If you do not take legal action before this deadline, it’s likely that the New Jersey court system will refuse to hear your case, and you will be left with no way to hold the liable parties accountable for the damage they’ve done.
There are, however, a few exceptions that may extend—or shorten—the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit. For instance, if the party responsible for causing your injuries flees the state at some point after the incident in question, but before a lawsuit can be filed, the time they spent outside of New Jersey will likely not be counted towards the two-year deadline. Alternatively, if the injured person is under the age of 18, the clock only starts running from the day of their eighteenth birthday.
While two years may seem like a significant period of time, gathering evidence and building a convincing case could take months. Additionally, if you wait too long to bring a suit, some of the evidence necessary to prove your case may no longer be available. As such, it might be in your best interests to speak to an attorney as soon as possible after the accident. He or she can assess your situation, answer your questions, and explain how the statute of limitations may affect your claim.
Speak to a Personal Injury Attorney in New Jersey Today
Missing the deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit after an accident can leave you in a precarious position. Ultimately, you will lose any leverage you might’ve had to negotiate a fair settlement, and you will likely walk away empty handed.
At the Clark Law Firm, we have extensive experience handling personal injury claims in New Jersey, arming us with an in-depth understanding of the statutes and case laws that may play a role in your case. We can help you avoid common mistakes, mishaps, and oversights that might otherwise compromise your claim. To schedule a free case review, reach us today by calling 1-877-841-8855 or by sending us a message via our contact page HERE.
