If you've been injured because of someone else's negligence, the cost of medical care can be extremely high. Personal injury law is designed to help you recover those costs, but you need to act fast—for most cases, the statute of limitations is two years. When you have a lawsuit to file, make sure you hire a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. If you don't file before the statute of limitations expires, your case will be thrown out, and you'll be unable to recover your medical costs. 

There are two notable exceptions to the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits: if the injured party was a minor at the time of the accident or if a government body is at fault. In cases where the victim is a minor, they have longer to file their lawsuit. The two-year statute of limitations clock doesn't start until the injured party turns 19, meaning that the victim would have until their 21st birthday to seek compensation for any “childhood” injuries.

In cases where government is involved, the filing process is slightly different. If the person responsible for your injury was an agent or employee of a government body and was acting in that capacity at the time of the accident, you must first file a formal claim at the appropriate level of government. If your claim is against a municipality, the time limit to file is six months; against a county, one year; and against the federal government, two years. If a formal claim is not timely and/or properly filed, you may be unable to bring a lawsuit later.

The personal injury lawyers of Jones & Jones PC Attys at Law offer legal help to clients in Andalusia, AL, and the surrounding areas. They can help you determine whether your case is within the statute of limitations and can guide you through the process of filing your lawsuit. Call (334) 222-3161 to set up a free consultation. Visit their website or follow them on Facebook.

^{No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other attorneys. This article is not intended as a substitute for specific legal advice.}