What Does Statute of Limitations Mean?
In a nutshell, a statute of limitations is defined as a period of time which is allowed for a person to bring legal action against another person. Here is an explanation of Statute of Limitations on Wikipedia.
Car Accidents in New York: What is the Statue of Limitations?
For most car accidents and other motor vehicle accidents (such as truck accidents), the New York statute of limitations is three years. That means that when you are involved in a car accident, a truck accident, or other motor vehicle accident, you have three years in which to file a lawsuit against the other party. After that time, the victim can no longer seek a legal action against the other party in that car accident. Additionally, New York also has “no fault laws” in place which means that there are some accidents that are legally the fault of no one. Some “no fault accidents” may be caused by deteriorated road conditions, pot holes, lack of maintenance by a municipality or private property owner, etc. Other “no fault” accidents may be as a result of a driver’s negligence.
Related: Does Distracted Driving Cause More Serious Accidents and Injuries in New York?
But what about car or truck accidents that occur while driving a company vehicle as an employee of the company? Generally that falls under the jurisdiction of Workers Compensation. Under worker’s compensation claims, accident victims must report accidents within 30 days of the accident’s occurrence to their insurance company. Broadly, if the accident happened while you were completing assigned work tasks – whether it be in a work vehicle, office, job site, or construction site, you as the victim of the accident have 30 days to file a Worker’s Compensation claim with your employer.
If you live in New York State – whether it be in Syracuse, Central New York, Utica, or elsewhere in the state, it it critically important that you contact an experienced Syracuse personal injury attorney who specializes in car accidents and has a proven track record of success.
What about legal fees? How much will hiring a lawyer to represent you in a vehicle accident cost you? What if you are hospitalized and unable to work and earn a paycheck? Most personal injury and car accident lawyers in Syracuse and elsewhere in New York State work on what is called a “contingency fee basis.” This means that you don’t pay anything – not one penny – out of your own pocket. Legal fees are paid out of the settlement or verdict only if we win your case.
