in a Car Accident?

In California, personal injury civil claims are bound to a deadline known as a statute of limitations. The statute of limitations dictates how long an injured victim has to sue or file a claim for financial compensation after a car accident injury.

For the vast majority of car accident cases, injured victims have two years from the date of the incident to file their claims. However, it is strongly recommended that you file your California car accident injury claim immediately after the incident occurs to ensure that you have the best chance of recovering the maximum financial compensation you deserve.

Waiting to file your claim days, weeks, or even a year or more after the incident occurs can jeopardize your ability to recover financial compensation. The at-fault party and insurance company will undoubtedly do everything possible to minimize your cash payout after a car accident injury. By waiting to file your claim, the opposing party may argue that your injuries were “not that serious” or that you actually suffered/exacerbated those injuries in another way (i.e. working out, doing housework, etc.).

While the two-year statute of limitations applies to most California car accidents, it should be noted that some exceptions exist which make the deadline for filing a claim even shorter. For example, claims against government or public entities (e.g. a federal delivery service like the postal service) typically only have a six month statute of limitations – meaning that from the day your accident occurs, you only have six months to sue for damages.

Finally, the two-year car accident statute of limitations applies to claims for bodily injuries. For physical damage to your property – car, home, etc. – the statute of limitations is usually three years from the date that the accident occurred.