Did you know there’s a timeline for filing a lawsuit for a personal injury claim? If you don’t file on time, you forfeit your right to file.
If you’re filing a lawsuit, understanding the statute of limitations in Alabama is crucial to protecting your rights and ensuring that justice gets served. Knowing how much time you have to file a lawsuit can make all the difference in the outcome of your case.
Keep reading, and we’ll break down everything you need to know about the statute of limitations in Birmingham, AL, and give you tips on how to navigate this complex legal system.
What Is the Statute of Limitations?
The statute of limitations is the time frame in which a plaintiff has to file a lawsuit. In general, the statute of limitations begins to run when the injury occurs.
For example, if you are in a car accident, the statute of limitations would begin to run on the date of the accident. There are some exceptions to this rule, however.
In Alabama, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is two years from the date of injury. This means that if you were in a car accident on January 1st, 2020, you would have until January 1st, 2022, to file a claim.
There are some exceptions to this rule as well.
If you were injured by medical malpractice, you would have two years from the date of injury or six months from when you discovered (or should have discovered) the injury was caused by medical negligence.
What if I Wait Too Long to File a Lawsuit?
If you wait too long to file a lawsuit, you may get barred from bringing your claim entirely. The statute of limitations is the amount of time you have to file a particular type of lawsuit. Once that time period has expired, you are typically no longer able to bring a claim.
Don’t Let the Statute of Limitations in Alabama Pass You By
In Birmingham, AL, the statute of limitations is a critical legal concept that regulates how long you have to bring a civil or criminal action. It can be difficult to understand the nuances of this concept and all the exceptions that may apply.
However, armed with this article’s overview of the basic principles behind it, you should now have a better understanding.
Do you have a personal injury claim? Don’t let the statute of limitations in Alabama pass you by. Schedule a free consultation with a personal injury attorney today.