Even the safest of drivers can be in a car crash. According to the Maryland Department of Transportation, there were 101,023 motor vehicle accidents in Derwood, MD during 2023. If you plan to seek compensation for losses suffered after a car crash in Maryland, it’s important to contact a personal injury lawyer right away.. The Maryland statute of limitation laws only give you so much time to file before you lose your legal rights to file a personal injury claim.
Ask a Personal Injury Lawyer: What Are Statutes of Limitations?
The statute of limitations for car crash lawsuits refers to how much time you have to file a claim against the other at-fault party. Once that time expires, you no longer have any legal right or recourse pursue financial compensation for losses you suffered in the crash, including personal injury and property damage.
In Maryland, the statute of limitations law includes several different aspects. The actual amount of time you have to file a lawsuit in court depends on specific factors, including the type of losses you suffered, the cause of the car crash, and how much each driver was at fault. Maryland is a comparative negligence state, so the court assigns each party a percentage of fault for their part in causing the accident.
Personal Injury Negligence Claims: Two Years
Maryland’s comparative negligence laws only allow drivers considered to be under 50% at fault for causing a car crash to file a claim for injuries or other losses. The statute of limitations in Maryland for a personal injury claim lawsuit in a car crash is only two years. After those two years, you no longer have the legal right to pursue a claim.
Wrongful Death Claims: Two Years
If you control the estate of someone who was fatally injured in a motor vehicle crash, there’s still a statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit. The deadline for filing is two years from the date of the crash, just like a negligence claim.
Property Damage Claims: Five Years
Lawsuits for property damage after a car crash have a longer statute of limitations than personal injury losses. For claims that only include compensation for damaged property, the deadline is five years instead of two.
What Are the Exceptions to the Statute of Limitations Deadlines in Maryland?
While most personal injury lawsuits have a two-year deadline for filing a claim, there are certain exceptions. In Maryland, the statute of limitations time limit may extend in cases where:
- The accident involved a government vehicle
- A minor victim was involved
- The claimant has a mental or physical incapacitation
- The defendant has left Maryland or unavailable
- The injury suffered had delayed symptoms
- Of course, every case is different. However, most personal injury cases in Maryland have a two-year limitation for filing a lawsuit. At the Lead Science Personal Injury, we provide devoted and skilled legal counsel for our clients in Derwood, who’ve suffered injuries after a car crash. Call the Lead Science Personal Injury in Derwood, MD now to schedule a case consultation with our firm.
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