Personal injury lawsuits often begin with filing a claim with a respondent insurance company and then negotiating a proper settlement in a relatively short time frame. Claimants usually do not take a case to trial unless the insurance company is being unreasonable or if the amount of settlement offered is well short of whole compensation. A standard personal injury claim in Ohio must be filed within two years of the date of the accident causing the injury or the date from which the injury was realized.
Medical malpractice cases differ from standard personal injury cases in Ohio. Most medical injury claims must be filed within one year of the time of injury, but a case can also be extended when the injury does not manifest until later. This technicality when filing a lawsuit is a primary reason why it is recommended to have an Ohio medical malpractice attorney representing the case when the statute of limitations can be contested. Injury cases filed with any municipal agencies also carry a much shorter filing limitation period of 180 days.
These timelines apply in every personal injury claim, which is commonly discussed at the beginning of any formal legal action. Experienced Ohio personal injury attorneys understand this particular barrier to being fairly compensated for injuries, so they may work quickly to file a case within the specified time limit.
