How Long Do You Have to File a Claim for Different Types of Accidents?

At Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin, we always encourage injured victims in Indiana to contact us right away after an accident. Doing so helps us get a head start on collecting evidence and building their claims. But when victims wait too long, they not only run the risk of having a less effective claim, they may be legally unable to pursue compensation at all!

That’s because Indiana has a statute of limitations for filing a civil lawsuit. As with criminal cases, there’s a timeframe where civil cases are considered valid in the eyes of the law. That timeframe begins the day the accident or injury occurred, and for many victims, they may not be physically or mentally ready to even consider pursuing compensation until the deadline is fast approaching.

Keep These Statutes of Limitations in Mind

The last thing you want to happen after an injury is to find out the time limit has expired on pursuing damages for your medical bills and lost wages. That’s why remembering these deadlines is extremely important:

• Personal injury—Two years from the date the injury occurred. This applies to many accident types and injuries, from auto accidents and defective product injuries to dog bites and slips and falls.
• Property damage—Two years from the date the damage occurred. Many personal injury claims that occur on roadways, such as collisions, also involve property damage.
• Professional malpractice—Two years from the date the malpractice occurred. This type of claim involves things like medical malpractice on the part of a physician, surgeon, dentist, or even an entire hospital.
• Fraud—Six years from the date the fraud occurred. Fraud can occur in a variety of situations, including family law, real estate law, and more.

The Sooner You Get a Lawyer, the Better

Many states have statutes of limitations of around two years after accidents and injuries, and Indiana is no different. And while 24 months may seem like plenty of time to file a compensation claim, it’s common for victims to delay the to file for months while they take time off to rest and recover. But eventually, they discover their injuries aren’t getting any better, and they may even be forced to quit their jobs or retire.

By then, they may have only a few months left on their statute of limitations, or it may have expired altogether. It’s important to never risk losing out on the compensation you deserve due to waiting too long to pick up the phone. A single call or click is all it takes to begin your claim.

We Want to Help You Today

Our Indiana personal injury lawyers know that time is of the essence when it comes to building successful claims. That’s why we’re always available by phone 24/7 to learn about your accident or injury. Whether you need help on a weekday, late at night, on the weekend, or on a holiday, you can count on our team to be ready to listen to what happened, determine your best options, and help you move forward with your life.

Don’t wait another day to get the help you deserve and to get started on the path to compensation. Call us today for a free consultation. And remember, you don’t owe us a penny unless we get money for you.