If you’ve been injured in a New Orleans car accident, state law limits the time in which you have to file a lawsuit.

The “statute of limitations” is a phrase for the legal time limit in which a person can file a lawsuit. If you attempt to file outside of the time frame, the lawsuit will not be allowed to proceed.

There are several reasons for this time limit.  The more time that passes after an accident:

  • the harder it is to gather accurate evidence,
  • the more difficult it is to locate witnesses,
  • and the harder it is for witnesses to correctly remember the events that occurred.

Also, over time, documents pertaining to a case may be lost or destroyed, which can make a case impossible to litigate.

 Statutes of Limitation Vary by State For Personal Injury Claims

Each state’s statute of limitations calculation is different, and the time-frame also often varies depending upon the type of claim. In Louisiana, the statute of limitations for car accident injury claims is typically one year from the day of the accident. That means from the date the accident occurs, you have exactly one year in which to file a claim against the other party.

The Louisiana personal injury statutes of limitation can vary depending on the circumstances of your claim. For this reason, it’s vital to speak with an experienced New Orleans car accident lawyer as soon as possible after your auto accident.  They can determine the time limit for your specific case and help you file a claim in time.

Being unaware of the statute of limitations does not change it in the eyes of a court. Contact a New Orleans car accident lawyer at Lambert Zainey today to get informed and exercise your legal rights. Call 1-800-521-1750.