Often in TV shows or in movies, we hear about something called a statute of limitations. It usually acts as a dramatic point that either helps or hinders the police. A statute of limitations is a real legal concept and is defined as the deadline by when a lawsuit must be filed. Statutes are important because once the ones relevant to a case run out, the legal claims of a lawsuit may no longer be legitimate.
The most common legal claims
Depending on the context, most civil legal claims have their own statute of limitations. Some of the most common legal claims have the following limitations from the date of accident/damage/injury: injury to persons, 2 years; defamation, 1 year; property damage, 3 years; medical malpractice, 3 years; wrongful death, 2 years; product liability, 2 years; written contracts, 4 years; fraud, 2 years; claims against government agencies, 6 months to 1 year. However, there are certain classifications of crimes that do not have a statute of limitations. As such, charges against said crimes can be brought forth at any point.
While the legal claims for some cases can be simple and clear-cut, this is not true for many of the complex ones. In order to know the statute of limitations that apply, you must also know the legal claims that are appropriate for the case. Therefore, when coming across a statute of limitations issue, it is best to consult an experienced attorney. Another reason why an attorney may be of great help is when a statute of limitations is tolled. This means that the statute was suspended for a period of time but can now run again. An attorney can help understand when tolling occurs and how lawsuits can be brought forth afterward.
