Can You Still File an Arizona Injury Claim after the Statute of Limitations?

If you were in an accident there is a time limit to when you can pursue compensation. The statute of limitations is the amount of time a victim has to file their claim. Each state differs in the amount of time they allow for filing personal injury claims. The statute of limitations in Arizona is two years from the date of the incident. It is important to know what your state’s statute of limitations is because if you don’t file in time, it is very unlikely that you will be able to obtain compensation for your damages. Missing the deadline most likely means you will have a challenging uphill battle for pursuing compensation, and more times than not, your claim will be thrown out by the courts.

It is important to speak with an experienced Arizona personal injury attorney after you have been in an accident. With a legal professional, you can have all of your questions answered and your attorney will be able to provide insight and detail into the legal process of filing a claim. Your attorney can also examine your accident experience and tell you directly if you have a valid case that warrants compensation. 

What Options Do You Have If You Missed the Filing Deadline for Your Arizona Personal Injury Claim?

There is no doubt, your chances for filing a successful claim if you missed the deadline are not good. However, depending on your circumstances, you may still have options that can help you extend the amount of time you have to file. However, it is important to note that while you could try to manage this process on your own, it is quite complex and best handled by an experienced Phoenix serious injury attorney to ensure that the job gets done right.

One way that an extension to the Arizona statute of limitations can be granted is if a defendant is not in the state when during the two-year statute of limitations timeframe. Under Arizona statutes, this is an applicable situation where you could be given more time. If someone decides to leave the state for a prolonged period of time to avoid repercussions for their part in your accident, you won’t be punished for missing the deadline because of their actions.

Plaintiffs who are minors or are otherwise unable to bring about a claim against a defendant can also have more time. Some examples of a person who would be deemed unable to bring about a suit would be if they are extremely ill or if they suffer from a severe disability. For minors, once they become legal adults at 18 years of age, then they will be subject to the two-year countdown for a suit.

The other situation that could allow you to have an extension to the Arizona statute of limitations is if you find that you have chronic or prolonged injuries that you don’t discover until long after your incident. If it can be proven that you are suffering from an ailment that you only found out about years after your accident but can be directly attributed to your accident, you can carve yourself out an extra bit of time.

Speak with an Arizona Car Accident Attorney?

You don’t have to be confused or feel at a loss when you have been injured in an accident. If you have suffered injuries due to the reckless or negligent actions of another individual, you should contact an Arizona car accident attorney. Call the Phoenix personal injury attorneys at ELG and let us review your case and provide you with your legal options. Call us at (623) 877-3600 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.