Don’t miss your deadline to file a claim after an accident

When filing a lawsuit, claims must be brought no later than the time period set in the statute of limitations for an individual to be legally allowed to seek compensation. Keeping up with these filing deadlines in Washington is a vital part of seeking compensation for your injuries after an accident.

Why do statutes of limitation exist?

Statutes of limitations limit the time period in which someone can file a lawsuit. Without these restrictions, it would be impossible to determine which cases were legitimate and which ones weren’t.

These statutes are also crucial to ensuring the preservation of evidence from witnesses and the physical evidence itself. Additionally, they protect people from being under the eternal threat of being sued after a car accident.

How long do I have to file a claim?

There are individual time limits for different types of claims. The statute of limitation for civil lawsuits is three years. This includes personal injury, injury to property, fraud, and trespassing claims. Debt collection has the longest statute of limitation at six years.

Medical malpractice lawsuits fall into their own distinct category and are governed by separate rules, which may include legal action brought against public hospitals and universities. Lawsuits against the federal government also come with special restrictions.

What happens if it’s already too late?

There isn’t much leniency when it comes to these deadlines. Failing to file your claim before the deadline may result in losing the only chance to recover compensation for the damages you suffered in the accident.

It’s a good idea to research and familiarize yourself with these statutes as much as possible to make sure you meet the filing deadline for your particular type of claim in Washington State. But you may also consider speaking to a professional if you have extenuating circumstances, especially if you’ve missed a deadline and want to find out if you’re eligible for an extension.