What Is the Statute of Limitations? What Is Its Purpose?
When you have been injured in New Jersey because of the wrongful, careless or negligent acts of another person or entity, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation for a wide range of losses, including:
- Lost income or wages
- Any medical expenses not covered by insurance or otherwise paid Any pain and suffering you experience as a result of your injuries
- The loss of enjoyment of life—the ability to engage in normal activities of daily life or to do things that brought you joy or fulfillment before your injuries
- The loss of companionship or consortium caused by your injuries
It’s important to understand, though, that you don’t have an unlimited amount of time to bring a legal claim. Your right to file a lawsuit is governed by a written law, known as the “statute of limitations,” which requires that your complaint be filed within a certain amount of time. In New Jersey, the statute of limitations requires that you initiate your lawsuit within two years of the date you sustained those injuries. However, if you could not reasonably “discover” your injuries until sometime after the accident, the period of time within which you can file the lawsuit may be extended or “tolled” until you reasonably discover them.
What Is the Purpose of the Statute of Limitations?
The statute of limitations serves a number of purposes:
- It ensures that evidence is gathered while memories are still fresh
- It minimizes the risk of loss of evidence due to the death or relocation of witnesses or the destruction of physical evidence
- It ensures that a defendant will not have to spend an unreasonable amount of time in fear of a potential lawsuit
Contact the Law Offices of David J. Karbasian, PC
Send us an e-mail today or call us at 856-667-4666 / 856-600-HURT to schedule an appointment to discuss your personal injury claim. Evening and weekend consultations are available upon request. We can come to your home or the hospital to meet with you, if necessary.
