If you sustained an injury in a car accident as a result of another driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to financial compensation. However, you usually have to file a personal injury lawsuit within two years from the accident date. Such a filing deadline is called the statute of limitations. Missing this deadline can result in you losing your chance to sue the negligent driver. To make sure you don’t miss this deadline, click here to find a good attorney to represent you.
Understanding the Statute of Limitations in Filing Car Accident Claims
In California, the driver responsible for an accident should pay for the damages sustained by the victim. Victims of a driver’s negligence can use the civil court system of the state to seek monetary compensation for the injury they sustained. But you can only successfully secure compensation if you can file the claim before the expiration of the statute of limitations. This is possible when you work with an experienced car accident attorney who can help you understand such a legal deadline, give information regarding the personal injury claims process, and walk you through the possible tactics that insurers will employ when handling your claims.
Challenges in Meeting the Statute of Limitations
The insurance company of the negligent driver may contact you shortly following the crash. This is usually the case if their policyholder is clearly responsible for the accident. When an insurance adjuster communicates with you, expect them to seem friendly and compassionate. But this is their way of trying to get you to trust them. The truth is that they only focus on protecting the interests of their company.
The insurance adjuster will make an early settlement offer to minimize their payout amount. Also, they do this before you can speak with an attorney and understand more about the possible value of your case. The insurance adjuster will do everything to drag your case, hoping that you will miss the statute of limitations.
They will request several documents, some of which you may have already submitted. Also, they may dispute some of your claims including the severity of your injury and its association with the accident. To make sure this adjuster won’t be able to delay your claim or take advantage of you, let an attorney handle talks with them.
Your attorney knows that the statute of limitation is essential to prevent one party from unfair legal actions. The courts recognize that related evidence can disappear as years pass by. By hiring an attorney as early as possible, they can collect all necessary evidence before they are lost.
