Vehicular accidents can be devastating and shocking. Therefore, it’s normal for an accident victim not to report a car accident right away. If you do not file your claim immediately, you must ensure that you do so within the required time limit. The longer you wait to report the incident, the more you can negatively affect the outcome of your claim. It’s always best to gather all of the evidence and contact the appropriate parties as soon as possible.
Time Limits for Filing Insurance Claims
There are two types of time limitations when filing a claim or lawsuit to recover damages from an automobile accident. They are:
- The insurance company’s time limitation. The at-fault party’s insurance company will require that claims be filed within a certain timeframe.
- Within that time you must file a damage claim with the insurance company. The amount of time that you have to file an insurance claim will vary.
- The police accident report will establish the time of the accident. This can be used to prove to the insurance company when it occurred.
- Statute of limitations for personal injury legal proceedings. This is a state-mandated time limit that varies by jurisdiction. You have to initiate your claim of neglect within a certain amount of time, or you may forfeit your right to collect compensatory and punitive damages.
- States like California, Delaware, and Alabama have a two-year statute of limitations. Other states like Maine and Minnesota give their citizens up to six years to report an issue.
- The statute of limitations countdown starts the moment that you have an accident in your vehicle. You will no longer be able to file once you reach the number of years past that date according to the statute of limitations.
- A personal injury attorney can advise you on your state’s laws as they relate to the statute of limitations for your case.
Getting an Attorney to Work for You
Many personal injury attorneys do not charge a fee until you get the money from your case. With dedicated law firms willing to go to bat for you, you have no reason to wait until the statute of limitations gets near. You can focus on healing and let a personal injury lawyer Coeur d’Alene ID trusts work on your behalf.
Call an attorney today if you have questions or think you may need help with your personal injury case. Get the process started so that you can receive the compensation that you deserve before time runs out.
Thanks to our friends and contributors from Injury in Idaho for their insight into car accident cases.
