How Long After a Car Accident Can You File a Claim in California?

After an injury accident in San Jose, you should be focused on your health and your treatment. The road to recovery may be long and uncertain. As such, you must do what is best for you and your future during this time. Unfortunately, while accident victims focus on their health, they may miss the deadlines for filing a car accident claim in San Jose. How long after a car accident can you file a claim? Our San Jose car accident lawyer discusses the California statute of limitations for car accident claims below:

Statute of Limitations in California for a Car Accident

Immediately after an accident, your thoughts may turn toward holding the responsible party accountable for their mistakes. After all, you’ve suffered injury and damages to your vehicle. You’ve also likely missed work and family gatherings because of your accident and your injuries. Filing a car accident claim is the best way to collect the money you need to pay your medical bills and lost wages. However, you must file it within the statute of limitations.

A statute of limitations is a time limit about how long you have to file a claim. In California, injured accident victims only have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. If someone dies as a result of the accident, though, the family has two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim.

Additionally, if the “at fault” party is a government entity, you must file a claim within six months of the accident. If you miss your statute of limitation deadline, you may not be able to file a claim to collect the compensation you need. There are some exceptions to these laws, however, so it is important to speak to an experienced San Jose car accident attorney about your legal options.

Filing a Personal Injury Claim in San Jose

After your car accident, it is important to speak to attorney Braid Pezzaglia. He may be able to help you avoid missing deadlines during this difficult time. Let us handle the legal aspects of your case, so you can rest easier. When you choose our law firm to help you, you know you have a solid legal team on your case. We know car accidents are challenging and we want you to know that you are not alone.

Injured in a San Jose Car Accident?

At the Law Offices of Braid Pezzaglia, our San Jose car accident lawyer knows the ins and outs of California personal injury law. If you suffer an injury in a car accident, we can help you determine the best time to file a claim. Our San Jose injury lawyer is ready to help you through this difficult time. We will negotiate with insurance companies and help you obtain the compensation you deserve after a serious car accident.

Call us at (408) 650-8955 to schedule a free consultation and begin exploring your legal options. You can also fill out our confidential online contact form for more information.