When it comes to accident claims, every state has its own filing deadlines. These deadlines are called statutes of limitations, and they were originally implemented to protect defendants. Ultimately, personal injury law mandates that plaintiffs pursue compensation with reasonable diligence, which means they do not need an unlimited amount of time in which to do so.

How Long Do Accident Victims Have to File a Claim Under Personal Injury Law?

Against Another Citizen

If you want to file a lawsuit against another motorist in the state of Arizona, you typically have two years from the date of the incident to do so. In fact, this two-year deadline applies to virtually all claims against individual civilians, as well as companies and organizations.

Truck accident victims have two years to file a claim against the liable motor carrier, and medical malpractice victims have the same amount of time to sue their healthcare provider. This countdown typically starts on the date that the incident occurred, but there are some exceptions. For example, if the injuries are not immediately apparent, the clock will not start until the date on which the claimant should have noticed them.

Against a Government Entity

Sometimes, people have valid accident claims against government entities. For example, if you were involved in a motor vehicle collision that occurred because a traffic light was broken, you may be able to sue the local municipality responsible for maintaining the roads.

Unlike standard claims against civilians, though, you have a considerably shorter deadline to file the suit. In general, personal injury law mandates that accidents victims must file a claim against a government entity in Arizona within 180 days. If they want to file a formal lawsuit, they must do so within one year of the incident.

If you want to file a claim in Arizona before the statute of limitations runs out, turn to a personal injury attorney from Ely, Bettini, Ulman, Rosenblatt, & Ozer, Attorneys at Law. Based in Phoenix, they have recovered more than $100 million for accident victims. Visit the firm online to learn more about their experience in personal injury law. You can schedule a free case evaluation with a compassionate lawyer on their team by calling (602) 230-2144.