After a terrible accident, your first thought is probably about your health, recovery, and family — not a lawsuit.
Unfortunately, we meet people every day who, after a devastating and unexpected accident, find they need a lawyer’s help recovering financial assets to help keep themselves and their family afloat following an injury due to another party’s negligence. We also commonly meet people who waited to speak with a personal injury lawyer and whose cases are now in jeopardy because of the Oklahoma statute of limitations.
Not sure what the statute of limitations is or how it impacts your case? Keep reading for a detailed breakdown from the AMA Law team.
The statute of limitations caps the amount of time victims have to take legal action against the people, companies, or individuals who hurt them. This time limit varies from state to state. In Oklahoma, victims have two years from the date of the incident to initiate legal action in a personal injury claim.
While it might seem inconvenient, the statute of limitations is important because it forces victims to take timely action, doesn’t allow one person to threaten another with a lawsuit for years and years, and preserves the integrity of the evidence.
Unfortunately, any suit filed outside of the statute of limitations in Oklahoma will likely be discarded without consideration. In addition, if the person who hurt you knows that you’re trying to take legal action against them after the two years is up, they might alert the court and let them know the statute of limitations has expired.
There are some instances when the two-year Oklahoma statute of limitations does not apply. For instance, when you’ve been hurt but don’t learn the extent of your injuries until months or years later, the clock would start ticking the date that you discover those injuries. For example, if someone is suffering from a latent internal wound and discovers they are gravely ill three years after their accident, they are still eligible to file a lawsuit because they didn’t know the degree of their injuries at the time they occurred.
However, this doesn’t mean you should wait to contact a lawyer or assume that you have more time than you really do. If you have questions about your case or injuries, or you just aren’t sure what to do next, we recommend contacting a skilled and experienced personal injury lawyer right away.
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Even the most seemingly straightforward cases require time and attention to detail to ensure the victim is in the best position possible to make a financial recovery. Visiting a personal injury attorney as soon as you think you might have a case empowers the lawyer and their staff to conduct a thorough investigation, vet possible false claims against you, and pursue justice on your behalf.
Rushing this process can lead to unfavorable outcomes for victims and their families — even when it’s clear that they weren’t responsible for their injuries. If you’ve been hurt, and it wasn’t your fault, it’s in your best interest to contact a skilled and experienced personal injury lawyer right away to preserve evidence and avoid potential complications.
At AMA Law, we pride ourselves on how we thoroughly investigate personal injury claims and treat each and every client with compassion and respect.
If you’ve been hurt by someone else’s negligence, don’t risk your opportunity to collect financial compensation for your pain, suffering, and other damages.
Please contact us today to schedule your free consultation by calling 405-622-5953 or completing this brief contact form.
The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.