In the aftermath of your slip and fall accident, you may take the time away needed to heal from your incurred bodily injuries. What’s more, you may even be waiting to see if you can recover from your bodily injuries unaided; in other words, without having to pursue financial compensation via legal action. However, you must strongly consider whether you wish to file a slip and fall accident claim before you are no longer afforded this option; that is, before the statute of limitations rapidly comes and goes. Continue reading to learn New Jersey’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims and how one of the experienced Bergen County slip & fall accident attorneys at McNerney & McAuliffe can do everything in their power to let you meet this deadline.
What is the statute of limitations for a slip and fall accident claim in the state of New Jersey?
Firstly, the statute of limitations is the law that sets the maximum time that a party has to initiate legal proceedings. In the state of New Jersey, the enforced statute of limitations is two years. This means that you may only have two years from the date on which your slip and fall accident occurred to take legal action against the at-fault party.
Missing this deadline signifies that you may be permanently barred from holding the at-fault party accountable for their negligent actions. Further, it signifies that you may be permanently barred from financially recuperating from the economic and non-economic damages that were brought on by your accident event.
What are the exceptions to this deadline?
Of note, you may qualify for an exception that extends the statute of limitations for your slip and fall accident claim.
For one, there is the exception of the discovery rule. Here, you may present evidence that proves that your bodily injuries were not discoverable immediately following your accident event. As an example, it may take days, weeks, or even months for your traumatic brain injury to be officially diagnosed. In turn, your statute of limitations of two years may start on the date on which your bodily injuries became known or should have reasonably been known; rather than the date on which your accident occurred.
Secondly, there is an exception if you were a minor at the time your slip and fall accident occurred. In this case, then your statute of limitations may be two years from the date on which you turn 18 years old; rather than the date on which your accident occurred.
All in all, when dealing with an urgent matter like this, you must drop everything and contact one of the skilled Bergen County personal injury attorneys. Our team at McNerney & McAuliffe can help you pick up the pieces.
