I was hurt in a car accident. How long do I have to file a case?

I was hurt in a car accident. How long do I have to file a case?

In Connecticut, you have two years.

The rule is that when you are injured due to the negligence of another person, if you wish to pursue a personal injury case to receive money compensation for your injuries, you must file your case in court within two years from the date of the incident.

Bear in mind that as in all things legal, there are some nuances and exceptions which could extend the time beyond two years, and there are even some types of cases where you have less than two years, but as a general rule, it is two years.

That does not mean you should take no action until almost two years have gone by.  On the contrary, if you are injured due to negligence, you should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney immediately.  Here are some reasons:  1) if you wait, you may fail to have your case built properly from the beginning, which leads to having a weaker case; 2) without even knowing you are doing it, you may help the other side and hurt your case from documents you fill out, things you say and things you do; 3) waiting to the last minute to get an attorney involved can make it harder for the lawyer to do the job; and 4) some types of cases involving negligence, including some motor vehicle accidents, have shorter time periods involved and extra requirements which must be met, so you always want an attorney working on your behalf quickly in order to evaluate these possibilities and potential pitfalls.

Remember, always get a lawyer involved right away on your behalf.  But also know that if for whatever reason that did not happen, you still may have time.  If injured in a car accident, you might even have two years to have that case filed in court before you forever lose your rights.