Product Liability Lawsuits and Statutes of Limitations
Product liability lawsuits, just like most civil cases, must be filed in court within a set period of time. Courts across the country impose strict filing deadlines, called statutes of limitations, on civil cases because as time passes, critical evidence may be destroyed or misplaced and witnesses may be unavailable or have forgotten what they saw. Most courts recognize that it is in the parties’ best interests to litigate the lawsuit as quickly as possible.
Product liability lawsuits that are not filed before the statutes of limitations have expired will be barred from ever getting into court to seek financial damages to compensate for out-of-pocket expenses, future losses, or other damages. It is therefore important that parties who are considering filing a products liability lawsuit consult with an experienced attorney as soon as possible after the alleged injury has occurred to ensure that their legal rights are protected.
Statutes of Limitations Change From State to State
Statutes of limitations run for different lengths of time. How long a party has to file a suit seeking damages for product liability or other civil causes of action depends on many factors, including where the lawsuit is to be filed and what type of allegations are being made in the case. For example, product liability suits may have more or less time to be filed than claims for wrongful death, slander, or other personal injuries.
Some states impose a one-year statute of limitations on product liability cases, while others allow claims to be filed for two or more years after the injury.
Since laws regarding statutes of limitation vary widely from state to state, it is important for people considering filing a product liability lawsuit to meet with a knowledgeable and experienced attorney in the state where the lawsuit will be filed as soon as possible after the injury has occurred. Waiting too long could make it more difficult or impossible for your attorney to prove the necessary elements of your lawsuit and if you miss the filing deadline, you will forever be prevented from going into court to fight for a financial award to compensate you for lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Protect Your Rights, Contact a Product Liability Lawyer Now
Because statutes of limitations limit your ability to file a product liability lawsuit, you must act quickly to guard your legal rights. Waiting too long to consult with an attorney can prevent you from ever getting into to court to fight for financial compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Contact an experienced product liability attorney today to discuss your legal rights. LawyerShop can help you find product liability lawyers in your area.