How long do I have to file a car accident suit?

When a car accident happens, the people involved may feel overwhelmed and be in shock. The physical and emotion recovery from the accident may take time. However, the law has a deadline on the amount of time a victim of a motor vehicle collision has to file a car accident lawsuit.

The injured party may seek compensation to recover damages sustained in the car accident. The damages include:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost wages
  • Property damage
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Loss of enjoyment of life

The injured party has the option to file a claim with their own insurance, the at-fault party’s insurance provider, or sue the at-fault driver directly. If the victim files a claim with their insurance company or the provider for the other driver, the insurance companies must notify the claimant within ten days of receipt that they received notice of the claim. They also have 30 days to complete their investigations of the claim.

Under Pennsylvania law, a person must file a lawsuit within the time frame mandated by law. Different types of cases may have different deadlines. It is the responsibility of the person who wants to file a lawsuit to meet the time limit. The amount of time to meet a legal requirement is called the statute of limitations. An injured party has two years from the date of the car accident to file a lawsuit with the proper court. If the person allows the statute of limitations to run out, they are forever barred from filing the lawsuit.

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