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Florida Statue of Limitations: How Long Do I Have to File My Claim?

Person with cast on arm

You hope to never be in a situation when you have to hire a personal injury attorney. Yet, in the unfortunate event, you do, then you likely have questions about what happens next. If you have been seriously injured in an accident by the negligence of another, you’ll want to hire an attorney who has the experience to shepherd your case through to settlement or jury trial.

After a serious accident and injury, a victim’s focus should be on their physical recovery. While your health is the first priority, you should also think about legal recovery as soon as you can. All states have laws that impose a statute of limitations on all personal injury claims. A statute of limitations means that once a certain period of time has passed, the injured victim is not able to recover compensation from the responsible party. If you have been injured in an accident that was caused by another person’s negligence, you should not wait to explore your legal options.

Florida Statute of Limitations

When it comes to personal injury cases in Florida, an injured person has four years starting from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If you miss this deadline for filing your claim, then the court most likely won’t accept or hear your case. Circumstances specific to your case might make that period shorter. This is why it’s important to consult with an attorney at the earliest possible time. By meeting with an attorney, you’ll be able to discuss the specifics regarding your case and your injuries.

Certain situations arise where an injury may not present itself in the four-year or two-year period after an injury. In those instances, the court will extend the four-year period to account for the later discovery of the injury.

Contact a Tampa Personal Injury Attorney

When someone else’s negligence causes you injury, then you need a lawyer on your side. Attorney Mike Hancock has over thirty years of experience helping people like you get the compensation they deserve for their injuries. Contact us online or call us at (813) 912-1110 to schedule your free case consultation with Mike today.