How long do I have to file a personal injury claim?

In Washington, the amount of time you have to file a personal injury claim is determined by the statute of limitations. This law sets a maximum amount of time you can wait before you can no longer legally bring a claim for personal injury. Generally speaking, in Washington, you must file a claim for personal injury within three years from the date of the injury or from the date you discovered or reasonably should have discovered the injury. If you are trying to file a claim against the government, there may be shorter time limits that must be followed. For example, if you are suing the state of Washington or a county or city within the state, you must provide written notice of the claim within one year of the injury. In addition, you will usually have to officially file your claim with the court within three years of the injury. Similarly, if you are trying to file a claim involving a slip-and-fall on government property, you must generally provide written notice to the government within 180 days of the injury and must file a claim with the court within one year. If you fail to comply with the applicable statute of limitations, your potential claim will be barred from legal proceedings. For this reason, it is important to speak with a qualified personal injury attorney as soon as possible after your injury occurs so that you do not miss any important deadlines.

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How long do I have to file a personal injury claim?

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