By: Joseph T. Dunn
If you have been involved in an auto accident, attacked by a dog, been the victim of medical malpractice, or been adversely effected by another’s negligence in any way, you may be wondering how long you have to bring a lawsuit. The legal doctrine controlling the answer to your question is referred to as the “Statute of Limitations.”
However, just how long you have to bring a lawsuit under the statute of limitations depends on many factors and should be evaluated as soon as possible by a legal professional. Some of these factors include the date of your accident, the type of lawsuit you wish to file, and the laws of your state.
The clock starts ticking for the statute of limitations in most situations when your accident occurs. This date may be easy to establish in the event of a car accident or slip and fall injury. However, it becomes much more complicated when dealing with many other lawsuits, such as medical malpractice lawsuits, or lawsuits for exposure to toxic substances.
The type of lawsuit you wish to file is key in determining how long the statute of limitations will grant you to bring a lawsuit from the date of your injury. In the state of Maryland, the statute of limitations grants three years to file suit, starting at the date of injury. However, this can be more or less provided your situation.
In summary, the statute of limitations is a legal rule that limits the amount of time you have to file your lawsuit. If you do not bring this lawsuit within the time allotted by the statute of limitations, you lose the right to bring that lawsuit. How long exactly you have to bring a suit can be effected by many factors, including, the date of your injury, the state in which it occurred, the type of lawsuit you are bringing, and even who you are suing in some instances.
Provided the complicated nuance associated with the statute of limitations, it is very important you contact GDH Law as soon as possible after your injury to have a free evaluation for your claim and the amount of time you have to file suit. Too often clients will come to our offices after trying to “play nice” with insurance companies only to find out that it is now too late to bring their claim and they have lost all options to pursue their day in court.
Don’t delay, call GDH Law today for a free consultation. You can reach us at GDHlawfirm.com or (301)-769-6835