If you have never been hurt in a car accident, fall at work, or other injury accident, you can easily underestimate just how many things there are to worry about. First and foremost is your physical health. Depending on the severity of your accident, you can spend several days or weeks just receiving care and procedures necessary to stabilize your condition.
In the months and years ahead, you may need several surgeries and ongoing therapy as part of your recovery. Your injuries may also have impacted your ability to work and, by extension, your family’s financial footing. All of these effects are on top of the mental and emotional toll that an injury accident can leave you with.
Into this list of things to do and be concerned about, you must also think about your legal rights. Missouri’s laws do not permit you to file a lawsuit or claim for compensation whenever you wish. If you exceed the statute of limitations, you can find yourself without any way to obtain compensation from the party that caused your injuries.
Statutes of Limitations Explained by a Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer
Statutes of limitations can be thought of as deadlines for filing certain claims. These laws exist to encourage individuals with legal claims against others to file them sooner rather than later. This not only encourages claims to be heard and resolved when evidence and witnesses re available, but it also keeps old claims from derailing a person’s life and livelihood decades after they may have done something careless.
Missouri’s Statute of Limitations is Five Years for Personal Injury Claims
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims is found at Missouri Code Section 516.120. This statute gives injury victims five years from the date of their accident to file a claim or lawsuit against the party who caused the victim’s injuries. In most cases, this time period begins to count down the day that your accident happens and does not stop until the time period is over.
If you do not have a claim or lawsuit filed before the five-year period passes, you can be forever barred from later trying to bring a claim. If you do, a court may dismiss your case and deny you any compensation, regardless of how serious your injuries were or how clearly negligent the other party was.
Contact Wegmann Law Today to Get Started with Your Claim
Five years can seem like a long time, but it can pass quickly following a serious accident. Not only this, but the longer you wait to file a claim, the more difficult it can be to locate witnesses and evidence you need to support your claim.
If you or a loved one have been hurt, reach out to Wegmann Law immediately for help. We can protect your legal interests and your right to pursue compensation so you can focus wholly on recovering from your injuries.
Contact Wegmann Law at (636) 797-2665 or online, and get started by requesting a consultation with your Missouri personal injury lawyer.
