It can be challenging for defendants to prove their innocence the longer a case goes on. As time passes, they may lose crucial evidence of their innocence. Even the reliability of witness statements may be questioned since they could have forgotten essential elements of the case due to the passing of time.
To prevent these issues, lawmakers set statutes of limitations for certain crimes. This term refers to the deadline for how long someone can initiate legal proceedings following an alleged offense.
With this deadline, those who want to take legal action for sustaining an injury will have to move quickly if they want to file a valid claim.
Statute of limitations and personal injury cases
In the United States, the duration of a statute of limitations changes depending on different factors, including the nature of the crime and state law.
Both civil and criminal offenses have a statute of limitations. However, there are no deadlines when reporting heinous offenses, such as murder or war crimes.
In California, the deadline for initiating a personal injury lawsuit is two years after getting the injury. However, if the injured party does not discover the damage right away, the statute ends a year after the discovery.
Generally, once the statute of limitations on a case ends, the legal claim is no longer valid.
Recovering compensation for an injury
A personal injury can have a life-changing and devastating impact and can change a person’s life. Filing a personal injury lawsuit is crucial to receiving compensation and punishing the unlawful actions that caused the injury.
However, all these may not be possible anymore if the statute of limitations on the case runs out. After sustaining an injury, it is wise to consult an experienced lawyer who can advise when and how to build a personal injury case.