Car Accident Statute of Limitations in Lakewood
As defined by Lakewood law, the statute of limitations in a car accident case means that there is a date in which the injured party no longer has the claim. In the case of most auto accidents, that date is three years from the date of the auto accident and the three-year anniversary date of the auto accident. Three years may sound like a long time, but if a victim has extensive injuries and medical treatment that involves perhaps use of medical treatment to recover, the three-year deadline could come up in a hurry in many cases.
It is important for that reason for an injured party to obtain an attorney who would be acutely aware of that deadline and file a suit on behalf of the injured party if a settlement is impossible prior to the three-year deadline. If a lawsuit is filed prior to the three-year deadline, it suspends that three-year deadline.
Calculating the Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations in a typical auto accident case is calculated by the third-year anniversary date of the auto accident. For example, if a driver gets injured through no fault of their own in an auto accident on January 1, 2019, then unless they file a lawsuit on their claim to suspend the statute of limitations, the first year is January 1, 2020 followed by January 1, 2021 and January 1, 2022. The anniversary date on that particular accident would be the anniversary date of the injury three years from January 1, 2019, which would be January 1, 2022. If no action is taken and no lawsuit is filed, the injured party loses their right to pursue the claim completely. They would not receive any recovery for their injuries or their property damage if they do not settle their case or file suit within the three-year anniversary date of the auto accident.
Different Types of Statute of Limitations
There are different statutes of limitations for different kinds of cases in Lakewood. The statute of limitations for an auto accident is three years and for a slip and fall or a premises liability case it is two years from the date of injury. There are other statutes of limitations in a personal injury claim. For example, medical malpractice has a different statute of limitations and other accidents have different anniversary dates, as well.
This is why it is vitally important to contact an attorney immediately following any kind of injury in which the injured party feels that it is the fault of another so not to miss the statute of limitations deadline and to make sure they obtain appropriate medical treatment immediately after the accident and continuously until the doctor releases them from treatment. An attorney could assist in all of those claims and issues, and make sure that the value of the claim is maintained and no deadlines are missed.
Speak with an Attorney to Learn More
Before speaking to an attorney, a person could find out about the Lakewood statute of limitations by looking at the Colorado revised statutes. The best alternative for an injured party is to contact an experienced personal injury attorney right away, because they run the risk of misinterpreting the statute and missing the deadline. It is important to get somebody experienced to help guide the injured party-client through the pendency of the claim so that they do not miss the deadlines.
If you wish to file an injury claim following an accident, reach out to an attorney today. An experienced lawyer could ensure that your case if filed promptly before the statute of limitations ends.
