If you are injured by another party in a car accident in Las Vegas, you usually have two years to file a legal or insurance claim for it. The clock starts ticking as soon as the accident takes place, but there is no rush. You should first get to the hospital for a check-up to see how bad the injuries are. However, waiting two years is not recommended.
As you must already know, legal procedures take time. Cases can take months to years to resolve and come to a conclusion. If you miss the deadline, you might lose your rights to compensation completely. The best way to get started with the process is by hiring a Las Vegas car accident lawyer.
Statute of Limitations in Nevada
The statute of limitations is a period given to make your claim and file a lawsuit after getting involved in an accident. In Nevada, the statute of limitations is for two years. If you want to recover the damages because of your injury due to the accident, you must file a claim within the required two-year deadline.
The statute of limitation starts from the day of the accident. This means the day you get involved in a car accident, you have a deadline of two years to file a claim and sue the at-fault party.
Exceptions to the statute of limitations
There are a few exceptions in the statute of limitations in Nevada. If the victim was below the age of 18 years at the time of the accident, he does not need to make a claim within two years from his 18th birthday.
To make the procedure quicker, the teenager’s parents can bring the case to the court on behalf of their child sooner. However, for property damages claims, the statute of limitations is for three years. This extra year gives you the opportunity to recover some damages that you could not have recovered otherwise.
Why is there such a long time of two years for filing a claim?
After getting involved in an accident, the victim needs some time to know how the injuries are going to affect them. Many victims may lie unconscious on the bed for weeks or months following the accident. Some suffer severe head or brain injuries that may take time to surface.
Before making any financial decision, the statute of limitations allows you time to get medical checkups and treatment. Also, you get some time to see if you have a case before accepting the insurance company’s settlement offer.
If you feel anxious about whether you have a case or not, search for an attorney who gives free consultations and works on a contingency fee basis.
