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How Long Do I Have To File An Auto Accident Claim?

By Brown Moore

December 03, 2019

Home News & Resources How Long Do I Have To File An Auto Accident Claim?

The aftermath of an auto accident can be scary and confusing. Not only do you need to seek medical care for any injuries, but you also need to file a car accident claim with your insurer. You may even need to consider a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation for your expenses. At Brown, Moore & Associates, PLLC, our Charlotte car accident lawyers want to discuss how long after an accident you have to file a claim or a lawsuit.

Car accident timeframes to keep in mind

When you are involved in a car accident, you will most likely have to report it to law enforcement as well as your insurer. While each insurance company has different reporting requirements, most of them require you to inform them of the accident within a reasonable amount of time or as “promptly” as possible. You cannot avoid this, or you risk losing your insurance coverage. You enter into a contract with your insurer when you buy your coverage agreeing to report any incidents.

The time frame from the time you make an insurance claim to the time you get a settlement from them varies depending on the fact of your case. However, it may end up being necessary to file a personal injury lawsuit against an at-fault driver in the aftermath of a crash.

Car accident lawsuit statute of limitations

In North Carolina, you must file a personal injury lawsuit within three years from the date the car accident occurs to be able to recover any compensation for your injury-related expenses. If the car accident resulted in a death, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a wrongful death claim.

IF you file a lawsuit to recover compensation after the statute of limitations has passed, your case will almost certainly be dismissed by the court.

When we look at the latest year of data from the NC Department of Transportation, we can see that there were more than 275,000 vehicle crashes across the state. Out of those, there were:

  • 1,396 fatalities
  • 127,964 injuries

Crowded areas such as Charlotte experience more car accidents than other areas around the state.

 Let us get to work on your case

If you or someone you know has been involved in a car accident, you may need to speak to an attorney about your case. At Brown, Moore & Associates, PLLC, we are going to be by your side in the aftermath of a crash. Let our team investigate the incident so we can advise you the best path forward to recover:

  • Compensation for your medical bills
  • Lost wages if you are unable to work while you recover
  • General household expenses
  • Possible physical therapy expenses
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Possible punitive damages against a negligent party

We will ensure you get your claim filed on time. When you need a Charlotte car accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 704-335-1500.