Whether you’ve only spotted your injuries at a later date or you haven’t documented them appropriately when the accident took place, acting upon it as soon as possible is of crucial importance, so don’t delay. Yes, there is a deadline which, if missed, could mean not getting compensated appropriately, but there’s always something that can be done. So how to determine the exact time-frame in which you need to act?
Check the local laws
Different states have different laws, so it’s important to get familiar with them as soon as possible. Specifically, each state tends to impose a time limit period which, once elapsed, leads to the claim being blocked in court. Legal industry resources like JeffBrookeTeam.com mostly recommend that you should file a claim within two years since the date of the accident to prevent this from happening.
Of course, discussing it with a lawyer prior to that is always the recommended route to take, unless you’re practicing law as well and are equipped with all the necessary knowledge on what to do in similar situations.
Keep in mind there are exceptions
The general 2-year period does not apply in 100% of the cases. For example, when a person’s health is significantly affected by one of the products purchased a long time ago, that individual hasn’t really had a way of knowing that bodily harm would result later on, so the 2-year period obviously doesn’t apply there.
On a similar note, if someone has been sexually abused by another person, it could take years before the psychological consequences start showing up and affecting that person’s quality of life. In general, you shouldn’t take anything for granted before consulting an attorney, but do keep in mind that in cases like these, there’s a high chance that it could be treated as an exception.
Document everything
Even if you’ve noticed that something is different because of an event that took place years ago, it’s important to document everything. Changes in your mood, limitations in movement, sudden unexplained aches… all of these are reason for concern. If you’ve already seen a physician about it who was unable to explain them and you have reason to believe they may be linked to physical or emotional trauma sustained years ago, start documenting things straight away.
Ideally, however, you should be documenting everything right from the get to. Doctor’s notes, the police report… everything that could play a significant role and determine the outcome of the trial should be put aside in a special place, file, or drawer to make sure you have everything on hand when you need it.
Conclusion
As you can see, getting in touch with a lawyer could, in many cases, still be enough to get the ball rolling and ensure that you get the justice that you deserve. As long as you realize that certain factors like the local laws or the specifics of your trauma or injuries could have a great impact on the time limit enforced by the court, there’s a great chance that something can still be done, especially if there’s a reason why you weren’t able to notice any health-related changes from the beginning.