If you or someone you know was injured in an auto accident, there are a number of laws and regulations that you are most likely coming across as you deal with your particular situation. You probably have a lot of questions. And one of the most common questions that we get is this: How much time do I have to file an auto accident lawsuit? In this blog, we will answer this question and others that pertain to those in Oregon. 

Do Not Wait Beyond Two Years

We will go over some of the specifics to the time period that you have to file after an auto accident, but it’s safe to say that you should not wait beyond two years to file. Under Oregon Revised Statutes Section 12.110, the victim of a car accident has two years from the date of the accident to file suit. It’s important to have the proper documentation (such as a police report) to validate the exact date of the accident. If you wait past two years to file, you will not receive any compensation from the defendant. 

An Exception to the Rule

As we mentioned above, two years is the magic number to keep in mind. However, there is an exception to this rule. If a victim dies as a result of the accident, the victim’s family members have three years to file a suit. Once again, the date of the accident is the starting point for the three year count down. 

File as Soon as Possible

Our recommendation is that you file your auto accident as soon as you can. Waiting only makes it more difficult to gather the proper evidence. It’s best to have a fresh account of the events that took place leading up to and following the accident. The longer you wait, the harder it is to gather accurate witness interviews and other key pieces of evidence. Reach out to a personal injury attorney so that he or she can launch an immediate investigation that will get you the best results.  

How Long Will it Take to Receive Compensation?

We get this question a lot when we talk about the timelines of cases. The honest truth is that there is no set amount of days that can be promised as far as when you will receive your settlement. In cases where liability is obvious, compensation may be issued in a few months. If liability is an ongoing question, the case may take even longer. Although it’s rare for persona injury cases to go to court, if this is the situation, these cases often drag out to a year or longer. 

If you or someone you know needs to file an auto accident law suit here in the state of Oregon, contact us today for a free case evaluation. You can also reach us directly at: 1-800-285-8678. Our team of highly skilled personal injury attorneys will do everything possible to make sure you receive the justice that you deserve.