How Long Do I Have to File an Injury Claim in Virginia?

When people sustain serious injuries, the last thing they want to think about is paperwork, filing a claim, or hiring a lawyer. Most are focused on recovering and possibly paying medical bills, returning to work, regaining full mobility, and getting back to day-to-day life. However, for some people, this might not be as easy as it seems.

Some accidents can be debilitating, and it can take months or even years to heal from. Not only can this recovery process take a person away from work, but it can also cause medical bills to. If this happens, people might need to sue the party responsible for their injury, whether that person is a doctor, a driver, or the owner of a property. The state of Virginia, however, only allows people to pursue personal injury lawsuits within a specific time frame. This period is called the statute of limitations.

The statute of limitations begins on the day you sustain your injury and lasts for two years. During this two-year period, you can submit a personal injury claim or file a lawsuit and stand a chance of winning. After the limitations period is up, you have almost no chance of being awarded compensation.

If you don’t discover your injury until a later date, the clock for the statute of limitations will begin ticking on the date of discovery. For example, exposure to asbestos isn’t discovered until a person develops mesothelioma decades later.

If you or a loved one have been harmed by the negligence or carelessness of a person or company, don’t hesitate to give our skilled Richmond personal injury attorneys a call. Breit Cantor Grana Buckner is dedicated to helping injured people seek justice against negligent individuals. Let us see what we can do for you.