How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Pennsylvania?
How long injury victims have to file a personal injury claim is regulated by the statute of limitations. This statute is determined by each state and effectively limits how long injury victims have to file a claim before they lose their right to do so.
According to the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 42 section 5524, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases in the state of Pennsylvania is two years. Specifically, this means you have two years from the date your injury occurred to file an official claim, or you will almost certainly lose your right to pursue compensation.
It’s important to note that there are exceptions that can shorten or extend this time limit. Some examples of these exceptions include:
- If the injury victim was a minor when the accident occurred
- If the alleged negligent party leaves the state before a claim can be filed
The statute of limitations has a big impact on your ability to file a claim so it’s important to speak to an experienced Luzerne County personal injury attorney about the specifics of your case as soon as you can. Slusser Law Firm offers free, no-obligation consultations, contact our firm today to learn more!
Seeking Compensation for Your Injuries
Depending on the situation, you may be able to recover compensation for current and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, disfigurement, permanent disability, pain and suffering, and punitive damages. We can evaluate your accidents case and explain your legal options in a free consultation.
At Slusser Law Firm, our Luzerne County lawyers work to help our clients secure compensation for their injuries, so they can heal and regain control of their lives. Our Hazleton personal injury attorneys can evaluate your accidents case to determine fault and seek compensation from the responsible party. We have pursued cases in which the injury was the fault of an individual, business, governing body, or other entity or organization.
7 Things You Should Bring to Your First Meeting With Our Personal Injury Lawyers
When meeting with your injury lawyer for the first time, you should come prepared with the following documents and information to help get your case off to the right start:
- Your medical records following the date of your injury - This can include records of injuries, treatments, doctor's visits, etc.
- Photos of your injuries and the scene of the accident- These should have been taken at the time of your accident
- Police reports - Especially if you were involved in a motor vehicle accident, it's important that we can access to the reports taken at the scene of the accident
- Receipts from any medical treatment you received for your injuries- This can also include any additional costs related to the accident
- Insurance information - Contact details for both your insurance company and the other party's insurance
- Any witness reports or statements that were given regarding your accident- If you have their contact information this would be helpful to have as well
- Your own account of what happened and the timeline leading up to and following your accident
Try your best to bring as much information as possible to your initial meeting with our team, this will help ensure that we have an accurate understanding of the basis of your case and can help determine what your actions should be moving forward.
Call (570) 405-9953 to schedule a free case evaluation with a personal injury lawyer in Hazleton and Luzerne County.
