To protect your rights, it is important to seek medical attention immediately if you are injured by another person. There is a time limit after an accident for you to obtain compensation for your injuries.
California’s statute of limitations (the time limit you have to sue for legal damages) is two years after the date of the accident.
What Is the Maximum Time You Can Wait to Sue Someone for Personal Injury?
California’s accident date usually marks the beginning of the clock. The person responsible for your injuries will determine how long it will take to file a personal injury suit.
Two years are allowed to file a personal injury lawsuit if you believe that a private party caused your injuries. The statute of limitations in California has been reduced to six months if you believe that your accident was caused by a government agency.
What Is the Maximum Time You Can Sue Someone After a Car Accident?
California has two statutes of limitations that apply to car accidents. The first relates to your right to file a lawsuit for car accidents in California
You have up to three years to file a claim for compensation for property damage (the cost of repairs to your car after an accident). California recognizes that vehicles can take time to be repaired or replaced following an accident. Some damage may not be immediately apparent. This could lead to costly future repairs.
California Car Accidents: Wrongful Death Claims
You have up to a two-year period from the death of your loved one to file a wrongful death claim. It’s important to remember that the statute of limitations does not always start at the time of the accident. Tragically, accident victims sometimes die later due to the injuries sustained.
If the victim died at a later time, you will likely be pushed back by the attorney and the at-fault party. They might try to claim that someone else or a combination of medical issues caused their death, thereby minimizing their liability.
This article was written by Alla Tenina. Alla is a top personal injury lawyer in Orange County CA and the founder of Tenina law. She has experience in bankruptcies, real estate planning, and complex tax matters. The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. This website contains links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; the ABA and its members do not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
