A car collision with a distracted driver or with a drunk driver can leave you with a serious injury. The medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost earnings and other damages you incurred might entitle you to compensation from the negligent driver that hit you.
You may come out of a car accident feeling battered and bruised without immediately realizing that you suffered a serious injury. For example, hitting your head on the steering wheel or other hard surface of the vehicle’s interior could cause a brain injury from which you might not experience symptoms right away.
It is common for delays to occur between a car collision and the filing of a lawsuit. The trouble with waiting is that you can very easily lose your right to sue the driver responsible for causing the car accident in which you were injured because of the statute of limitations.
The statute of limitations in West Virginia is two years from the date of the accident. If you do not file your lawsuit for damages within two years, you could lose your right to compensation about negligent driver that caused the accident.
Children who are injured in a drunk driving accident or other type of car accident are not held to the same statute of limitations as adults. The time limit for a minor does not begin to run until he or she reaches the age of majority as specified by state law.
The statute of limitations can have a significant impact on your rights following a car accident. A Cabell personal injury attorney is an excellent source of advice about how much time you have to file a claim for damages, so consulting with one immediately after an auto accident may help to prevent a violation of the statute of limitations.
