Time Period Limitations

There is a time period within which a lawsuit must be filed or a claim must be filed, or the claim is lost forever. This is referred to as the statute of limitations. When the claim is made against a governmental agency in California, the claim must be made within 180 days before you can file a lawsuit. The statute of limitations for negligence in California had been one year from the date of the happening of the event. It has recently been expanded to two years, which went into effect in January 2003. California's two-year statute of limitations in personal injury cases begin to run upon the date of the injury or when a person discovers an injury has occurred. Anyone with a valid, enforceable and collectible claim, who files even one day after the two year statute of limitations period, is facing dismissal of an outlawed claim.

You should always consult with an attorney as soon as possible in order to avoid missing applicable deadlines.

Time Period Limitations for Minors

If the injured party is a minor, i.e., someone under the age of 18 years old, then the minor has until 12 months after his/her eighteenth birthday to file the suit.

• As a minor, the suit has to be filed on his/her behalf by his/her guardian (ordinarily their parents).

• If the parents failed to file the lawsuit while the person was a minor, they have the same period of time after they reach the age of 18 (it used to be one year and now it will be two years), to file the lawsuit on their own behalf.

For further information see the related topics:

• WRONGFUL DEATH
• PAIN
• NEGLIGENCE
• INSURANCE BAD FAITH
• DAMAGES
• OUR RESULTS