You have a limited amount of time to file a personal injury (PI) claim that provides you with financial assistance in the aftermath of a car accident. Most insurance companies give policyholders 30 days to file a PI claim. If you decide to file a lawsuit for monetary damages, the statute of limitations for the majority of states runs between two and four years. Regardless of the time you have to file an insurance claim and a civil lawsuit, you should act with a sense of urgency to receive just compensation for your injuries.
What Do I Need to Do Before Filing a Personal Injury Claim?
Before you file an insurance claim and a civil lawsuit, you must follow a few steps to build the strongest case.
Treatment for Your Injuries
Both your insurance company and the judge hearing your lawsuit want to review medical documents verifying you suffered from one or more injuries. The results of diagnostic tests and records describing your treatments provide you with plenty of evidence to boost the strength of your PI claim.
Organize Documents
Your insurance company and the judge hearing your case want to examine documents that confirm the car accident occurred, as well as how much of an impact it made on your life. You need to keep every receipt that documents the cost of treating your injuries, as well as the damage done to your vehicle and other items.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
Before you interact with your insurance company and the judicial system, you should speak with a personal injury attorney to receive advice on how to proceed with your case. The advice comes during a free case evaluation where you get to ask questions, as well as provide a lawyer with the documents that form the foundation of your claim and lawsuit.
What is the Time Limit to File a Claim?
The time limit you have to file a civil lawsuit that seeks monetary damages depends on where you live. Whether you have two or five years, you should act immediately to boost the chances of getting an insurance claim approved and winning a favorable legal judgment for just compensation. Some states impose a different statute of limitations for different types of personal injury cases.
In Texas, Georgia, and California, you have two years to file the proper paperwork that initiates a civil lawsuit. Massachusetts gives plaintiffs three years and Florid provides plaintiffs four years to get the legal ball rolling on a personal injury claim.
Be Proactive
The statute of limitations imposed by most states is more than enough time to file a civil lawsuit. However, you should act immediately to get the money you need to pay off medical bills and cover lost wages. Failing to take action with a sense of urgency might mean missing out on compensation for economic, non-economic, and punitive damages. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, which covers the mental and emotional issues that develop after an auto accident.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
Working with a personal injury attorney helps you gather and organize the evidence you need to file an insurance claim and a civil lawsuit. Your legal counsel also ensures you file the documents you need to file before the expiration of the statute of limitation.
Schedule a free case evaluation today to start the claim filing process.
