If you have been involved in accident, you may seek compensation for your injuries, lost wages, pain and suffering. However, if you wait too long to file a personal injury claim against the party responsible, you may forever loose your chance to ever be receive compensation. So, it is extremely important that you file a personal injury claim before the statue of limitations expires. This article outlines the statutes of limitations for various personal injury claims in Oklahoma.
The Statutes of Limitations in Oklahoma
Except for cases in which your injuries are discovered late, or cases for legally disabled persons or minors, the statutes of limitations for personal injury claims in Oklahoma are as follows:
- Personal Injury – Two years from the date of the injury.
- Medical Malpractice – Two years from the date that the act causing the injury occurred, unless you are a minor under the age of twelve or incompetent. In this case, the parent or legal guardian has up to seven years from the date that the act causing the injury occurred to file on behalf of their behalf.
- Product Liability – Two years from suffering the injury.
- Wrongful Death – Two years from the date of death.
Filing on Time
If you wait too long to file your claim, you may forever lose the right to be compensated for your injuries and financial losses. Once the statute of limitations has expired, you will be barred from bringing a suit for compensation. Furthermore, delayed filing can cast doubt on your claim, as it may be argued that had you truly been injured, you would have filed sooner.
That being said, you should never rush to file a claim until your injuries have been thoroughly checked out. Your medical prognosis should be as clear as it can be when you file your claim. Sometimes, the full extent of your injuries can be hard to diagnose early on, and it may take some time before you know what sort of continuous care or future treatment you will require.
Injuries such as whiplash, for example, can take several days to develop and give you trouble for a very long time. So, you should also reject early settlement offers from insurance companies, as they may not adequately reflect the actual pain and suffering that you will have to endure. Always consult with a personal injury attorney before accepting any settlement offer.
Low-cost Consultation: Sapulpa Personal Injury Attorney
For a initial consultation with a Sapulpa personal injury lawyer, call the Wirth Law Office – Sapulpa at (918) 248-0067 or toll-free at (888) 947-8452 or submit the question form at the top right of this page. Either way you reach out to us we will promptly respond to your legal concerns about your unique personal injury situation.
