Personal Injury Statutes of Limitations
If you or a loved one are injured, it’s important that you know your legal options. Many people who were in crashes or involved in harmful altercations file personal injury lawsuits to seek damages following accidents caused by negligence. The Ogden, UT lawyers of Froerer & Miles have helped countless clients in the state hold negligent people accountable for the harm they have caused.
Injury victims must file their personal injury lawsuit as soon as possible. There are statutes of limitations in place, and a failure to file within that time limit could mean you have no legal options available. Let’s explain why statutes of limitations exist and cover filing deadlines for people in Utah.
What Are Statutes of Limitations?
A statute of limitations is a set time limit in which a person can file a lawsuit. In personal injury cases, this timeframe typically starts at the time of the accident or harmful incident.
Why Are Statutes of Limitations in Place?
It may not seem fair that a statute of limitations is in place, but these time limits actually help keep our legal system operating objectively and properly.
For one, a statute of limitations makes sure that lawsuits are filed in a timely manner, which prevents the courts from being clogged by very old cases. Additionally, statutes of limitations help ensure the integrity of evidence in a case, whether it’s physical or documentary evidence or witness testimony.
Statutes of limitations also allow people to decide if they should file a civil lawsuit and find the right Ogden personal injury lawyer for their case.
Utah’s Statute of Limitation for Personal Injury Lawsuits
In the state of Utah, injury victims have four years to file their personal injury lawsuit.
How Does This Compare to Other Utah Statutes of Limitations?
For a bit of comparison, here are the statutes of limitations for other kinds of offenses:
- Assault - 4 years
- Medical Malpractice - 2 years
- Product Liability - 2 years
- Wrongful Death - 2 years
Four years for injury cases is ample time, as you case see. Other kinds of lawsuits have smaller timeframes in which to file a case.
What Happens If I Do Not File a Case Within the Statute of Limitations?
If you do not file a personal injury lawsuit within the four-year statute of limitations, you will no longer be able to seek a civil action against the negligent party. This means that even if your case was cut and dry, you will not be able to seek damages or hold the negligent party accountable for what they have done.
Are There Exceptions to the Above Rules?
Very rarely. The circumstances of the case would nee to be extraordinary in order for some kind of exception to apply. There are usually no exceptions for the vast majority of personal injury lawsuits.
This is why it is so important to speak with our Ogden personal injury lawyers as soon as possible. We can get the legal process in motion and help you understand the what lies ahead as your case progresses.
Speak with a Personal Injury Lawyer
To learn more about filing a lawsuit against the person or party who injured you or a loved one, be sure to contact our team of skilled personal injury attorneys. The team at Froerer & Miles can be reached by phone at (801) 621-2690.
