Yes, in Pennsylvania there is a two-year statute of limitations for car accident claims. This means that you have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim. After a car accident in Pennsylvania, you will generally have two years to file a lawsuit. However, the specific circumstances of your car accident case may affect the amount of time you have to file it. It's critical to fully understand how much time you have to file a lawsuit.
If you don't file in time, you may run out of options to recover compensation for your damages. In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is two years from the date of the injury. A statute of limitations is a law passed by a legislative body to establish the maximum time after an event within which legal proceedings can be initiated. When the statute of limitations has expired, a claim is likely to be barred and rejected, unless an exception applies. If you were under 18 at the time of the accident, you are not expected to file within two years.
However, your parents can still file a lawsuit on your behalf to cover your damages. If no legal action is taken at the time of your accident, your two-year-old watch will not start working until you turn 18. Even if you feel that two years is enough time to take action, that shouldn't stop you from hiring an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible after your collision. One of the most common exceptions to the general two-year statute of limitations for filing a car accident lawsuit in Pennsylvania is when the responsible party is a government agency. You can still get treatment for your injuries after a car accident if you don't have health insurance.
Depending on the specific characteristics of your car accident case, you could be eligible for a wide variety of damages after a collision. When trying to recover compensatory damages through a car accident lawsuit, you may be surprised by an unexpected early deadline. To preserve your own legal rights and avoid these types of outcomes, which have long-term financial consequences, it's vital to discuss your options with a Bucks County car accident attorney as soon as possible. Pennsylvania has adopted a unique no-fault choice system for car accidents and insurance claims. Even if you don't think you have time to file a lawsuit, you should talk to an experienced car accident attorney.
An experienced Montgomery County car accident lawyer can help you determine if a court would consider your injuries to be serious and your likelihood of being able to break no-fault rules. An exception known as the “discovery rule” can extend the statute of limitations, but only under specific circumstances that generally don't apply to car accident cases. Even injuries from car accidents that aren't immediately apparent, such as whiplash injuries, often become apparent several days or several weeks after the accident. We can help you deal with the insurance company and ensure that you meet all the deadlines for filing a car accident lawsuit in Pennsylvania.