Almost all legal matters have time limits attached to them. These limits are called the statute of limitations.
If you fail to file your case before the expiration of the statute of limitations, then you lose your right to any claims under the law. This is true no matter how strong your case may be.
The law in New Jersey
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident. You must file your petition with the court within that two years. The law does not mean your case must go to court and you must secure a ruling before the two-year deadline. As long as you file before that date, you will have the ability to plead your case and pursue legal action.
The reason for the law
The reasoning behind setting a deadline for legal claims is that it ensures cases stay fresh. It is the fairest way to manage legal action because it helps make sure all parties will have access to the information from the case and that evidence is less likely to become lost or unattainable. Waiting too long could allow for issues to come up that would make it difficult to prove a case or defend against claims.
The exception to the rule
There is one exception in accident cases. You do have longer for property damage claims. The statute of limitations is six years for these matters.
Keep in mind that two years may seem like a long time, but it will go quickly, especially if you are recovering from injuries during that time. You should work to get your case to court as quickly as possible after the accident to avoid any issues.
