When a person is injured, they often need help dealing with the high cost of medical treatment and the burdens associated with lost wages. These financial complications of an injury can have a massive impact on a person’s quality of life. However, compensation may be available for the injured. If the injury has occurred because of someone else’s negligence, the injured party may be entitled to pursue a civil lawsuit. These lawsuits need to be filed within a certain time period, set according to the statute of limitations.
If you have sustained an injury and are in need of financial help to deal with medical bills and other related losses, compensation may be available. To learn more about your legal options, contact the St. Louis injury lawyers of the Finney Law Office at 314-646-0300 today.
Important Information about the Statute of Limitations
There are so many procedural details and subtleties of the law that it would be difficult for a layperson to understand them all. However, because the statute of limitations has a direct bearing on an individual’s ability to pursue a civil action, the following misunderstandings cannot be allowed to continue.
Mistake: “I can file for compensation whenever I want.”
Fact: Actually, each state has a time limit on injury claims. In the case of Missouri’s statute of limitations, a person who has been injured because of someone else’s negligence has up to 5 years to file a lawsuit. In cases of intentional injury, this limit is brought down to only 2 years. Also, in cases of medical malpractice, a patient only has 2 years to consider a lawsuit.
Mistake: “I just learned about my injury, but the statute of limitations has expired. I can’t file now.”
Fact: Missouri’s statute of limitations law builds in what is known as the discovery rule. According to this rule, the law does not begin counting time against the statute of limitations until a person is capable of recognizing their injury. If an injury is ongoing and has not been made obvious, as may be the case with illnesses resulting from exposure to dangerous chemicals and other similar ailments, a person may have more time to consider their legal options.
Mistake: “If I was injured as a child, I have no legal options now as an adult.”
Fact: Missouri, like other states, does not begin counting down the time limit on the statute of limitations until after the injured individual becomes an adult for medical malpractice cases. Other types of injuries may follow the normal rules for the statute of limitations.
Contact Us
If you have suffered because of another person’s negligent actions, you may be eligible for compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced lawyer, contact a St. Louis injury attorney of the Finney Law Office by calling 314-646-0300.