If you sustain an injury due to the negligent actions of another person, it can be devastating. Injuries can have a considerable impact on your life, not only financially with the accumulation of medical bills, but also emotionally. It’s important to understand that when you are injured because of someone else’s negligence, you have the right to pursue justice against them. However, you may not know you must ensure you file this claim within Florida’s statute of limitations period. If you’re unsure what this time frame is or why working with an Orange County injury lawyer is in your best interest, you’ll want to keep reading.
What Is the Statute of Limitations?
The statute of limitations is a law that prohibits personal injury cases from happening after a predetermined amount of time has passed from the date on which the injury occurred.
In Florida, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases changed within the past few years. As of March 2023, the timeframe in which you can pursue a personal injury claim was reduced from four years to two years. This means that if you are involved in any kind of personal injury case, like a car accident, slip and fall, or dog bite incident, you must file your claim against the other party within two years of the injury. If you fail to file the claim on time you will be barred from pursuing compensation from the other party.
It’s important to understand that there are some exceptions to this timeframe. For example, if you are injured on government property, the time frame to pursue legal action is shortened to six months. However, the period can also be extended based on the circumstances. If you are involved in a medical malpractice lawsuit and did not notice your injuries until later, you will granted two years from the date your injury was discovered to pursue the claim.
Do I Need an Attorney if I’ve Been Hurt?
If you are involved in an accident, navigating the legal process can be overwhelming. There are copious amounts of paperwork, deadlines to meet, and evidence to gather, so working with an attorney is in your best interest during these matters.
Though two years may seem like plenty of time to pursue legal action against another party, it can go by quickly when you’re in the healing process. As such, it’s in your best interest to connect with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.
You shouldn’t go through these difficult times on your own. At Tropical Injury Law Firm, we understand that filing a personal injury claim against someone else can be incredibly difficult. That is why our team is here to help you through this complicated process so you can fight for the best possible outcome. Contact us today to learn how we can assist you.