Mayfield Law, LLC | May 5, 2025 | Personal Injury
If you were recently injured in a car accident, slip and fall, or other incident in Georgia, one of the most important laws that you can be familiar with is the statute of limitations. This law establishes the timeline that you have to take certain legal action and can bar you from recovery if you wait too long to file your case.
Read on to learn more, and don’t hesitate to contact an attorney for a free consultation if you need information about the time limit in your particular case.
What Are Statutes of Limitations?
A statute of limitations is a legal deadline. They can apply to criminal cases as well as civil cases, including personal injury claims. Just as a prosecutor may be required to file criminal charges against a defendant, accident victims may be required to bring their claims against defendants within an established deadline.
Purposes of Statutes of Limitations
Statutes of limitations exist for several reasons, including:
- Statutes of limitations encourage parties to take timely legal action.
- Evidence is more reliable when cases are brought sooner after the basis of the case forms.
- Witnesses could die, move, or otherwise become unavailable to testify.
- Evidence could be lost or destroyed if people don’t take timely legal action.
- Statutes of limitations help ease the defendant’s anxiety so that they don’t have to worry about cases being brought many years after events leading to the claims.
While these laws are important, they are also strict. If you don’t file your case within the deadline that applies to your case, the court can dismiss any late complaint you file without hearing your case.
Personal Injury Statutes of Limitations in Georgia
The general statute of limitations is two years for most personal injury cases per Georgia law. This means you must typically file your case by the second anniversary of the accident to preserve your right to compensation.
Some types of cases have different deadlines, property damage claims, which have a deadline of four years. However, keep in mind that the statute of limitations is not the same for every case, even if they’re the same type. There are various exceptions that apply.
Exceptions to the Statute of Limitations
Like with many legal rules, there are exceptions to the rules. One of these exceptions is related to “tolling” or pausing the statute of limitations. For example, if the injury victim is a minor, the statute of limitations may not start until the child reaches the age of 18. The statute of limitations could also be extended in cases involving fraud.
There are also circumstances where the time limit may be shorter, such as if you need to file a claim against a government entity.
Ultimately, the best way to determine the deadline that applies to your case is to work with an experienced attorney.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you were injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you might be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A personal injury attorney can help prepare your claim for compensation, gather evidence of liability, and negotiate for fair compensation.
If your case can’t be settled, a lawyer can file your case within the statute of limitations deadline to keep your claim alive. Learn more about your legal rights and options when you call for a free case review.
Contact the Brunswick Personal Injury Lawyers of Mayfield Law, LLC for Help Today
For more information, contact Mayfield Law, LLC to schedule a free consultation with our experienced personal injury attorneys. We proudly serve clients in Brunswick, GA, Nahunta, GA, as well as Glynn County and Brantley County. We’re here to offer trusted, compassionate legal guidance. Let us help you navigate the legal process and secure the compensation you deserve.
Mayfield Law, LLC Brunswick
1611 Union St
Brunswick, GA 31520
(912) 457-8557
Mayfield Law, LLC Nahunta
13903 E Cleveland St
Nahunta, GA 31553
(912) 457-8557