Pennsylvania Statutes of Limitations

Pennsylvania Statutes of Limitations

An absolutely critical consideration for anyone injured due the negligence of others is the statute of limitations that applies to your case.  Pennsylvania, like all other states, has specific laws that limit how long you can wait to file a lawsuit for your injuries.  If you do not file your lawsuit within the time limits set forth in the law, you will be barred from pursuing your claim; you will lose your right to your claim for damages.  The limitations have different lengths of time for different types of cases.  Below are the different limitations for different types of cases.  Please understand that there may be more strict notice rules for different types of cases. The limits set forth below are general rules and should not be relied upon without the consideration of your specific case by an attorney.

Pennsylvania Statutes of Limitations

There are variants to statutes of limitations in Pennsylvania that can affect your case.  There may be notice rules that are shorter than the actual statute of limitations that can affect your right to sue.  There also may be laws or court interpretations of the statutes that may extend the statute of limitations as it pertains to your lawsuit. 

Minors and the Statute of Limitations 

Minors; children under 18, have an extended statute of limitations for their injury claims.  In a quirk of the law, this extension may apply to the claim for damages but not to a claim for medical expenses. 

The Discovery Rule and Medical Malpractice Claims 

There is a discovery rule for malpractice claims that may extend the statute of limitations for your case.  This means that if you could not discover the fact that you sustained injury due to the negligence of a doctor or other professional, the limitation on your ability to sue may be extended.  This rule is extremely case specific.  If you do not have to rely on it you should not plan on doing so.

The Effect of the Death of a Defendant and the Statute of Limitations 

If the defendant who caused your injury dies during the running of your statute of limitations, the statute may be extended in your case.  Again, it may not be in your best interests to rely on this extension.  There may be other variants to the statutes of limitations but these are the general rules for filing suit in Pennsylvania.  The assistance and guidance of a lawyer is extremely important to protect your interests from the harsh results of a failure to conform to these laws.  If you have concerns about the statute of limitations applicable to your case, you should contact an attorney immediately.

Contact Us for a Free Initial Consultation

At the law offices of Palmieri & Matvey, P.C., we represent clients throughout Pennsylvania. Our attorney's office is conveniently located off Route 60 near the Center Township Exit and the Beaver Valley Mall. Standard hours are 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with weekends and evenings by appointment. Contact a lawyer today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Articles I've Authored on Legal Issues:

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• What Does the Insurance Company Owe you When You Are Injured?
• The Legal System and Your Injury Case
• Pennsylvania Statutes of Limitations - How Long do You Have to Sue?
• What is Your Accident Case Worth?
• The Impact of Divorce on Accident Claims
• Causes of Automobile Accidents and How the Facts Affect Your Claim
• What Should You Do if You Are Involved in a Car Accident?
• Motor Vehicle Law - Rear-End Crashes and The Assured Clear Distance
• Motor Vehicle Law - The Intersection Accident
• Motor Vehicle Law - Cross-Over Accidents and Head-On Collisions
• Liability of a Driver for Waving Another Driver Through Traffic
• Car Insurance Issues - Basic Considerations for Automobile Insurance
• Car Insurance Issues - Underinsured Motorists Coverage in Your Car Insurance
• Car Insurance Issues - Uninsured Motorists Coverage in Your Car Insurance
• Car Insurance Issues - Medical Benefits and Lost Wages
• Car Insurance Issues - What is Limited Tort and Why Should You Care?
• Car Insurance Issues - The Economics of Limited Tort
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Serious injuries or wrongful death may occur from automobile accidents, truck accidents, boating accidents, slip and fall accidents, dog bites, pedestrian knock down accidents, or other incidents of personal injury. Often, these "accidents" could have been avoided if reasonable preventative measures had been taken. At Palmieri & Matvey, we are a full-service personal injury law firm based in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. We represent victims and their families who are fighting for justice and fair compensation for their injuries. For a free consultation, Contact us today. We can discuss what your case could be worth, what the insurance company involved owes you, and whether you do in fact need an attorney to represent you.

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