If you have suffered a serious injury in a car accident in our state, you might think about pursuing compensation from the person responsible. If so, our experienced accident attorney can determine if your case falls within the statute of limitations in Maryland.
What is a Statute of Limitations?
A statute of limitations is a law that states how long you have to file a claim after the initial injury. This means that if you try to file a lawsuit after the statute of limitations expires for your case type, the court may dismiss your case. Even if you think it has been too long since the crash occurred, contact experienced attorney Patrick Troxler. He knows all of the relevant state statutes related to accidents, and he will help you decide what to do next.
Maryland’s statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits states that a civil action must be filed within three years from the date of the incident. This includes cases of negligence where another person or party is liable for your injuries. So, for example, if another person’s careless driving causes a car accident that leads to your injury, you have three years from the date of the accident to file an initial complaint in court. However, in cases that involve intentional harm, the deadline to file a lawsuit is only one year.
Exceptions to the Maryland Statute of Limitations
Maryland has a few exceptions to the statute of limitations for personal injury cases. In cases where the victim is legally disabled or under the age of 18, the expiration clock for the statute of limitations doesn’t start until both of the following conditions are met:
- The victim turns 18, or
- The victim is declared competent.
There may be an exception to the statute of limitations if the responsible party tried to conceal their fault from you. Also, a different deadline may apply if the car accident led to the wrongful death of your loved one. In those cases, the clock on filing a claim usually begins on the date of death.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Attorney Today
If you are injured in an accident in Waldorf or elsewhere in Maryland, or just have questions about the statute of limitations for your case, please give the law firm of Patrick D. Troxler, Esq. a call at 301-709-7195. We are happy to schedule a free consultation to evaluate your car accident case.
