In the blink of an eye, a car accident can radically change life as you know it. It can strip you of your physical mobility, leave you riddled with pain and suffering, render you unable to work and leave you facing significant financial hardship. That’s a lot to contend with, and it can leave you feeling completely overwhelmed and concerned about the future. But there is hope for finding accountability and reclaiming your life.
To do so, you’ll likely have to file a personal injury lawsuit against the individual who caused your accident. That might sound simple enough, but the process is fraught with nuances, and even the most straightforward cases can have evidentiary issues that must be appropriately handled lest they jeopardize an otherwise strong case. One logistical aspect of your case to keep in mind is the statute of limitations.
Maryland’s statute of limitations on personal injury claims
A statute of limitations restricts the timeframe during which you can file a lawsuit. If you miss the window, then you’ll be prevented from moving forward with your case. In other words, if you wait too long to file your personal injury lawsuit, then you could be denied the opportunity to recover the compensation that you desperately need.
So, how does the statute of limitations work in Maryland? The law provides that personal injury claims must be commenced within three years from the date it “accrues.” In the car accident context, this typically means that the lawsuit must be filed within three years of the accident occurring. There are some exceptions to this three-year limitation, such as when you don’t discover that negligence occurred until much later. This is common in medical malpractice cases, which may have a statute of limitations of three or five years depending on the circumstances. In many of those instances, the clock starts ticking once the harm is or should’ve been discovered.
It’s also worth noting that if your claim is going to be filed against the state or a municipality, then the timeframe is basically shortened. This is because you have to provide notice of your intent to the state or municipality within one year of the accident.
What does this mean for you?
If you’ve been injured in an accident, then you need to focus on securing medical attention and advancing in your recovery. But you also need to be diligent about gathering evidence so that you’re prepared to file your claim before the statute of limitations expires. And don’t make the mistake of thinking that your damages are too minor to qualify for legal action. Let your doctor inform you of the nature and extent of your injuries and discuss them with your attorney so that you have a better understanding of what your claim could be worth.
If you were harmed by medical malpractice, then you need to be cognizant of your symptoms. Once you start experiencing pain or suspect that something is wrong, see your doctor immediately so that you can secure an accurate diagnosis. Remember, the clock in one of these cases can start ticking when you should’ve known that negligence caused you harm. So, be aware and be sure to follow through so that you can swiftly move to protect your interests.
Are you ready to file your personal injury claim?
If so, then now is the time to gather evidence and consider your next steps. Keep in mind, too, that you don’t have to have every aspect of your case figured out before filing your claim. After all, the discovery process is necessary and can be extremely beneficial, but you may not be able to use it effectively until you’ve filed your claim. So, if you’re ready to act, then be sure to discuss next steps with your attorney.