How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Car Accident?

You were in a car accident on the Capitol Beltway and sustained major injuries, your car was totaled, and you’ve now missed three weeks of work. Taking time to heal, trying to figure out new transportation, and wondering where your next paycheck is coming from is more stress than anyone cares to deal with.

Is Time Running Out For You To File A Lawsuit?

Talking with an attorney as soon as possible after your accident is important. When it comes to filing a civil lawsuit against another party, there is a legal issue known as a statute of limitations to consider. This is defined as the time period a plaintiff has to file a civil suit against another party, measured from the time of the initial incident. In Virginia, the statute of limitations for a personal injury suit after a car accident is two years.

This might seem like a long time, but filing a civil lawsuit can be a complicated, in-depth process that can take months or years. An attorney will need to:

• Collect evidence from the scene
• Gather expert witness testimony
• Collect witness statements from the accident
• Analyze your past and present medical records
• Mediate with insurance companies

This is not a quick and simple task, so notifying a car accident attorney as quickly as possible when you learn of your injuries will help to ensure you do not miss out on receiving financial compensation due to the statute of limitations.

Did you find this information helpful? Please feel free to pass this information on to others, or direct them to our site to learn more information about victim rights due to car accident injuries.