If you have been injured in a car crash in Utah, you may be wondering how long you have to file your lawsuit, or if too much time has passed since the car accident for you to be able to file.  The answer to whether you have met the statute of limitations for a Utah car accident is, “It depends.”

What is a Statute of Limitations?

In the law, there are strict time deadlines to file lawsuits.  These are called the “statute of limitations,” and the clock started ticking from the time of the car accident.  If you wait too long from the time of the car accident, you will lose the right to bring the lawsuit.

How does the Statute of Limitations Affect my Utah Car Accident?

Many factors dictate how long you have to bring a lawsuit in Utah.  For car crashes, the time deadlines for filing can be affected if the car wreck caused a death, or if the at-fault driver did not have car insurance.  In Utah, you may have up to four years to bring a lawsuit for a garden variety car accident, but many of these other factors can drastically reduce that time.

Should I Wait to Consult a Lawyer?

If you or a loved one have been injured in a Utah car wreck, it is essential to speak with a lawyer right away.  Regardless of the statute of limitations, postponing medical treatment or attempting to negotiate with an insurance company that is not looking out for YOUR best interest can adversely affect your case at any stage of the litigation.  Additionally, even if you think you waited too long to consult an attorney on your Utah car crash, we are happy to evaluate your case and see if any time deadline exceptions could apply to your case.

If you have been injured in a Utah car wreck and have concerns about the statute of limitations or any other aspect of your case, contact one of our experienced car accident lawyers for a consultation.  The experienced personal injury lawyers at Hepworth & Associates can be reached at 801-872-2222.