Injuries are often accidental but when someone else is responsible,you have the right to bring legal actions against such a person. In Missouri,the offender is described as negligent by the law but you have to prove it. Before doing so,you need to file a lawsuit,preferably with assistance from the best - you can find. Like any other legal process,there’s usually a deadline for filing such a lawsuit and it’s commonly referred to as the Statute of Limitations.

The Statute of Limitations for Personal Injuries

According to Code Section 516.120,the standard Statute of Limitations for Missouri personal injury claims is 5 years. In most cases,it covers car crashes,assault,and slip-and-fall caused by negligence. In case of injuries caused by medical malpractice,the maximum limit is 10 years. The difference in the timelines is based on a law called the Discovery Rule.

What’s the Discovery Rule?

This law specifies that the counting of the Statute of Limitations begins when the injury is discovered or should have been discovered. So,it doesn’t have to be the time that you suffered the accident. For example,you may not have realized that medical malpractice was the reason for your injury until later in life. Consult a- for more info.

What Are the Exceptions?

Missouri identifies a few cases to be exceptional and can delay the deadline for filing personal injury claims. They include:

• A person who was below the age of 21 when the injury was discovered. Such a person is given five years after turning 21 to file the claim.
• A person who was mentally incapacitated at the time of the accident. Such an individual is also offered 5 years after being declared sane.

When it comes to filing personal injury claims,you have to do it within the set deadlines. If not,the other party may file for a dismissal motion and this will mean no compensation for you unless it’s out of good faith.