What You Need to Know About the Statute of Limitations for Car Accidents in Indiana
What You Need to Know About the Statute of Limitations for Car Accidents in Indiana
When you get involved in a car accident, there is a limited period to file an injury lawsuit. This is known as the statute of limitations. In the U.S., different states have different guidelines that should be followed, thus making it imperative for road accident victims to understand their respective statutes. The Indiana Statute of LimitationsIn Indiana, the statute of limitations gives claimants two years from the date of the accident to file for personal injury claims. Once this period has elapsed, you are no longer eligible to file a lawsuit in a court of law. The good news is that there are some exceptions for the 2-year window period. As such, it is imperative to involve a qualified and registered Brownsburg car accident attorney. A legal expert can easily identify if any such exceptions apply to your case.Exceptions to the Statutes of LimitationsOne exception applies to anyone under the age of 18. Minors injured in an accident are not in a position to file lawsuits on their own behalf. They gain the right to commence the lawsuit once they have reached their 18th birthday. Another exception is that if the accident involved a city or a county, the statute of limitations allows the claimant to file a formal claim within 180 days. If you name a state government agency in your claim, you have 270 days to file a formal lawsuit. Exceptions also apply to anyone who is disabled or mentally impaired due to the accident. According to the statute of limitations, you are eligible to file a case once your disability status has been removed. For example, if you get involved in an accident that puts you in a coma, you will have two years to file your claim from the date you were no longer considered to be disabled. If the accident leads to death, the statute of limitation gives an extra 18 months from the date of death. In this case, the victim's family members can file a lawsuit in court. Suing for Personal Injuries SustainedThe Indiana statute of limitations allows you to sue for compensation for your injuries if you were a:
Driver
Pedestrian
Cyclist
Passenger
Woman in pain; image by Matteo Vistocco, via Unsplash.com.
About Kerry L. Tucker
Early in his journalism career, Kerry L. Tucker had a revelation: there were not enough experts reporting on law issues. Legal matters are part of daily life. Yet, there seems to be a general aversion towards them. One of the main reasons for this is that the convoluted legal language is difficult for many people to follow. Therefore, he decided to change how the law is perceived by the public. Throughout his career, he met with many people who shared their personal stories with him. Some of these hit him harder. One of the cases that stayed with him and influenced his future career development was a car accident case involving a child. From then on, he decided to zero in on car accident lawsuits.