The Statute of Limitations for Tampa Car Accident & Other Personal Injury Cases

The statute of limitation is a fairly well-known legal doctrine. In Tampa car accident cases and other personal injury cases, the statute of limitation is a legal time limit that an injured person is given to file a lawsuit for his or her losses.

The most important fact to remember with the statute of limitation is that it is critically important to hire a Tampa car accident lawyer or personal injury attorney as soon as possible after you are aware of your injuries, so that you do not forever lose your chance to be compensated for your losses.

In Florida, the "discovery doctrine" says that the statute of limitation period begins when the injured person knew or should have known that they were injured by the negligence of another person. In car accidents, the date of injury is relatively obvious. In other personal injury cases, the statute of limitations kick-off date is not as apparent.

The statute of limitation varies in different Tampa, Florida area personal injury cases. Examples of differing statutes of limitation in Florida include:

Car accidents—four years from the date of the accident

Car accidents involving claims on uninsured motorist protection—five years from the date of the accident

Medical malpractice—two years from the date that the injured person knew or should have known of the medical malpractice

Contract-based personal injury cases—five years

Out-of-state personal injury cases—dictated by the other state's statute of limitation, which could be significantly shorter than Florida's

Once again, statute of limitations laws are a key motivation for injury victims and their families to speak to legal counsel without delay. That old saying, "The wheels of justice move slowly," is certainly true, and you want to give your attorney the time he or she needs to prepare the best case possible.

To speak with a Tampa personal injury law firm today about the statute of limitation in your case, and to receive a free initial assessment, please contact the law offices of Dale Appell, P.A. today.