Victims of negligence, who are injured as the result of another’s actions, have a lot to deal with. Aside from the physical pain they must endure, there can also be emotional scarring and financial difficulties. You’ll have a lot of questions about what you can and should do – and there’s a limit on how long you have to make those decisions.
Statute of limitations
Ohio gives those who are injured the ability to seek compensation for their injuries. When the injury occurs as a result of someone else’s negligence, such as a motor vehicle accident, one remedy available to you is a personal injury lawsuit. Although lawsuits sometimes get a bad reputation for being frivolous or harassing, they exist for a very good reason – to give legitimate victims a means to be made whole.
However, Ohio also places a time limit on your right to sue, known as the statute of limitations. Ohio Code Section 2305.10 proscribes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits, in most cases. This means that you must file the lawsuit within two years of the date you were injured. If you do not, you will lose the right to do so forever.
Other time concerns
Beyond the legal two-year legal requirement, however, there are also practical concerns which make it advisable to file a lawsuit more quickly. Legal cases such as yours depend upon evidence and, the more time which passes, the more that evidence can grow ‘stale’. Memories fade and things which may be important are lost. It is far better to record and preserve that evidence as soon as possible following an accident, so that your case is as strong as it can be. This will give you the best chance to hold the negligent party accountable and receive the compensation to which you’re entitled.