The lawyers at the Beattie Law Firm are frequently asked by clients what the “Statute of Limitations” is, and does it affect their case. The answer is not as simple as it might seem. A general proposition is that an injured victim has 2 years from the date of the injury in which to file a lawsuit. If a lawsuit is not filed in that time frame the injured victim cannot file a lawsuit to collect damages. This simple proposition regarding the “Statute of Limitations” applies to such events as vehicular collisions, slip and falls, workplace injury etc. After that the “Statute of Limitations” becomes more complex. The rules change when medical malpractice is alleged to have occurred. Likewise if the injured party is a minor the “Statute of Limitations” does not prevent bringing a lawsuit until after a minor reaches the age of 18. With respect to actions against the State of Iowa the “Statute of Limitations” is somewhat different in that a claim for compensation must be filed with the State within 2 years. If the state denies the claim the injured victim would then have 6 months to file regardless of whether the injury producing event occurred more than 2 years before you file in state court. Likewise there are other statutes besides There are other limitation time periods such as the “Statute of Repose” which can affect the time that you, as an injured person, may have in which to bring a claim.

As is indicated the issue concerning “Statute of Limitations” is complicated. The best advice for an injured person is to contact an attorney specializing in personal injury as soon as possible after an injury has occurred. This would allow the attorney the maximum time possible to investigate and determine whether there are any issues regarding the “Statute of Limitations”. We, at the Beattie Law Firm, are here to help you and will provide you with professional advice regarding the issues surrounding “Statute of Limitations” and other issues that might affect your claim.