After another motorist hit your vehicle, you might have filed a personal injury claim through their insurance company. Likely, you assumed that it would provide you adequate compensation for your injuries. Yet, your payout might not have covered your medical expenses. Or, your accident may have led to prolonged pain and suffering on your part. In either case, you have the option to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault motorist. It is important, though, to understand Ohio’s statute of limitations for proceeding with one.
Understanding Ohio’s laws
In normal circumstances, Ohio’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases is two years from the accident’s date. If you try to file a lawsuit outside this window, it is unlikely that state courts will hear your case. As a result, you will lose your ability to receive compensation for your injuries.
Your window for filing your lawsuit, though, might have ended between March 9, 2020 and July 30, 2020. In response to the current health crisis, which has delayed court proceedings, state officials passed House Bill 197. This bill tolled time for all civil, criminal and administrative cases that had their statute of limitations expire between these dates. Since your personal injury lawsuit qualifies as a civil case, this action gives you more time to file than you otherwise would have had.
Filing in a timely manner
Tolled time may provide you some relief if you have yet to file your personal injury lawsuit. Yet, even with extra time, you will want to proceed promptly. You will also want to make sure that your window for filing, with tolling in mind, has not already closed.
Whether in normal or exceptional circumstances, it is crucial to file your personal injury lawsuit within the appropriate time frame. A legal professional can help you determine the window you have to pursue your case.