For most personal injury cases, California allows victims up to two years to file a claim and seek money to help with recovery. A car accident injury claim would need to be filed within 24 months of the collision date, or in some cases, two years from the discovery of an injury. Waiting beyond two years would usually empower the insurer to throw the claim out.
It’s a nice cushion for accident victims, but patients and their families shouldn’t wait months or years to explore their insurance claim options. Delay can mean that evidence, especially from the scene of an accident and on vehicles, disappears. Witnesses can become harder to locate.
There’s a no-risk way to protect your rights and investigate your options. Speak with Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Bakersfield at no charge to you in a free case review. We can help you determine what you should be seeking in compensation. If you need our help, we’ll fight to see you and your family receive the maximum in support from unhelpful car insurance providers.
Car Accident Statute of Limitations in California
California empowers victims to file accident claims anytime a careless or reckless driver causes them to get into an accident. An accident might occur along the lanes of Highway 99 or at a red light on Truxtun Avenue. The victim would be able to get support for their medical costs and other damages from those at fault.
But there is a cut-off point for these lawsuits. Victims would need to file a claim within two years of an accident or the date that an injury was discovered.
Families would be under the same statute of limitations after a deadly traffic accident. Family members who lost a loved one would need to file a wrongful death claim to get help with their expenses.
However, car accidents caused by a government employee in a government vehicle may not provide as much time for victims to take action. Government entities like the City of Bakersfield have some extra protections against lawsuits.
Victims often have to submit a notification that they intend to file a claim within 6 months of the accident. This sped-up time frame can mean victims lose their chance to seek compensation without even knowing it. A skilled lawyer would help victims meet all hidden deadlines and secure the most from a city, county, or California department.
Injury Claim Statute of Limitations for Minors in California
The parents of any child injured in a Bakersfield car accident could file a claim within two years of the accident and seek help to get the best medical care for the child.
But under special legal provisions, children have much longer to file a claim if necessary. The child would have a two-year deadline that starts on their 18th birthday to file a claim, when they are considered an adult. Basically, they could file a claim over an accident injury until they were 20 years-old.
This extra time is given to young victims, largely because of the complications that can spring up in their teen years from an injury suffered in their childhood. A broken arm that seems to heal can give the young victims trouble as their bodies start to grow into adulthood. Surgery and physical therapy may be required, leading to massive medical bills.
A minor injury back then might become a major health issue now. That’s why children keep their chance to seek compensation from an at-fault driver years after an accident.
How Can I Tell If I Need a Lawyer for My Bakersfield Car Accident Case?
If your accident only involves car damage, you can usually do okay by handling your case yourself. But if your collision leaves you or a loved one with a serious injury, and you weren’t to blame, it’s a good idea to go over your case with a real Bakersfield Car Accident Lawyer.
We offer a free, no-obligation case consultation. A good attorney can often secure you much more than you could hope to secure by taking on an insurance company yourself.
And if you do need a lawyer to represent you, you don’t have to worry about how you’ll pay Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers. We don’t charge anything unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement check that an insurer must write for you.