Statute of Limitations in a Connecticut Personal Injury Case
A statute of limitations is a personal injury case refers to how long the accident victim has to file their lawsuit against the wrongful party. The wrongful party is the person or entity who caused the accident such as a car accident. The statute of limitations is set by the state and may be different depending on the type of personal injury case. The term “personal injury” refers to a board list of various accidents that harms a victim and that they did not cause. These personal injury accidents include slip and fall, medical malpractice and vehicle accidents. Statute of limitations begins the day the accident happens. This means the accident victim has from the day of the accident to the time the statute of limitations ends to file a lawsuit.
The Statute of Limitations Vary by Accident
If the accident was the result of recklessness or negligence, an accident victim has two years from the day of the injury to file their lawsuit. Medical malpractice, which occurs when a medical professional injurers a patient because of substandard care, has a three-year statute of limitations.
Wrongful death is a personal injury case where a victim dies because of a party’s wrongdoing. Of course, the accident victim can’t sue. However, a family member can sue on their behalf. They have two years from the accident victim’s death to sue.
Product liability occurs when a company places a product on the market that harms a consumer. The consumer may sue for their injuries. They have three years from the date of their injury to file their lawsuit in Connecticut.
Why is Important to Contact an Attorney about a Personal Injury Case Immediately
A personal injury attorney meriden ct is vital to protecting an accident victim’s rights. They will file a lawsuit immediately to prevent the statute of limitations from running out. This allows them to work with the other party on negotiating a settlement that gives the accident victim a lump sum or series of payments. A settlement also prevents the lawsuit from ever reaching trial.
The lawsuit does not have to end by the time the statute of limitations runs out. The only requirement is that the lawsuit is properly filed. That is why a lawsuit may go on for years before it is resolved in a jury trial or out-of-court settlement. A jury trial involves a jury deciding whether the wrongful party is responsible for damages.
Exceptions to the Rule of the Statute of Limitations
If an accident victim doesn’t file their lawsuit within the required time frame, they are not permitted to pursue damages. This means they are barred from suing the wrongful party in their case. They are responsible for their own medical bills, lost wages and other damages.
However, Connecticut does allow some exceptions to the rule. For example, the statute of limitations for a car accident may stop if the person that caused the victim’s injuries leaves the state. The statute of limitations continues once they return.
