Hurt in a car or truck crash, motorcycle wreck, slip-and-fall, or other personal injury accident? Arizona gives you just two years to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. This filing deadline is determined by the state's statute of limitations, which indicates exactly how long victims have to file a lawsuit before they lose the right to pursue a legal remedy for their injuries and losses. The statute of limitations is strictly enforced—and failing to file your insurance claim or lawsuit during the two-year time frame almost always results in an immediate dismissal.
Why You Should Contact an Attorney as Soon as You Are Injured
However, just because you can wait up to two years before filing a claim, it doesn't mean that you should. There are numerous advantages to consulting an attorney and taking legal action as soon as possible, and serious disadvantages to waiting. Here's why you should reach out to an attorney as soon as you're injured:
- Your attorney can conduct a thorough investigation into the accident that injured you, including interviewing witnesses, and gathering and preserving valuable evidence.
- Your attorney can work with your medical providers and others to delay billing, and make sure your injuries and losses are well documented.
- Your attorney can handle communications between you and the at-fault party's insurance company to ensure you're treated fairly.
- Your evidence could suffer. Delaying legal action provides opportunities for documentary evidence to be lost, contaminated, or destroyed. As for witnesses, they could forget important details of what they saw, move, or pass away.
Let Our Expert Personal Injury Attorneys Help You Navigate the Legal Process
Don't risk letting a delay in legal action jeopardize your right to a fair financial recovery. At Griffen & Stevens Law Firm, PLLC, our top-rated personal injury attorneys serve injury victims throughout Northern Arizona. Find out what we can do for you and your case. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a free, in-depth consultation with a member of our award-winning legal team.
