What is the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim in Missouri?

When it comes to filing a personal injury claim in Missouri, there are certain laws that dictate the statute of limitations for such claims. In essence, the statute of limitations is the deadline for when a person can take legal action to seek damages for an injury caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness. This deadline is important to keep in mind because if you miss it, your claim will most likely be dismissed and you will not be able to receive any compensation for your injury.

In Missouri, the statute of limitations on personal injury claims is generally five years from the date of the accident or incident that caused the injury. This means that you must file your personal injury claim within this five-year window in order to have a chance at recovering any damages. There are exceptions to this rule, however, such as when the injured party was a minor at the time of the incident or when a foreign object caused the injury. In these cases, the statute of limitations may be extended beyond five years.

It is important to note that this five-year window does not apply to all types of personal injury claims. For example, medical malpractice claims must be filed within two years from the date of the act or omission that caused the injury; or three years from when you should reasonably have known about the injury or harm. Similarly, workers’ compensation claims must typically be filed within two years from when you knew or should have known about your work-related injury.

Another thing to keep in mind is that there are also certain “tolling” provisions in place in Missouri that can affect your ability to file a personal injury claim. These provisions allow for an extension of time if certain circumstances prevent you from filing your claim within the normal five-year window. For example, if you were mentally incapacitated due to an illness or injury at any point during the five-year period, then the statute of limitations could potentially be extended until you regain mental capacity. Additionally, if a defendant leaves Missouri after being served with legal papers related to a personal injury claim, then they may not be able to return until after their absence has expired and this could potentially extend your ability to file a claim as well.

It is also important to note that even if you do file your personal injury claim before time runs out under Missouri’s statute of limitations, it does not necessarily guarantee that your case will be successful. Every case is different and there is no guarantee that you will receive any compensation for your injuries, no matter how soon after an accident or incident you take action. That being said, it is still important to file your claim as soon as possible so as not to miss any deadlines set by law and risk having your case dismissed due to technicalities outside of your control.

In conclusion, understanding Missouri’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is key if you want to make sure that you don’t miss any deadlines and maximize your chances of receiving compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness. Generally speaking, most claims must be filed within five years from when the incident occurred but there are exceptions and “tolling” provisions which could potentially extend this deadline depending on individual circumstances. It is also important to note that simply filing within this limit does not guarantee success – every case is different and ultimately it is up to a court or jury to determine whether or not damages are owed.