Virginia Auto Accident Victim Misses Statute of Limitations

Recently, I received an inquiry from the friend of a client wanting to know if he had lost his right to sue for injuries he suffered in an auto accident in late August of 2008. The reason he called is that the other driver's insurance company had been refusing to meet his price to settle his claim, and finally told him it owed him nothing because the statute of limitations had expired. He called me because he did not believe the insurance company representative.

Well, Virginia has a 2 year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. If you do not file suit within 2 years, you lose the right to do so thereafter unless you are a minor; i.e., under 18 years old at the time thr injury occurs.

Another exception applies in certain cases involving sexual abuse of minors.

If you are unsure of what to do when injured by the intentional or negligent actions of someone else, contact a Virginia attorney for advice as soon as possible.