When it comes to personal injury, many do not think about the potential time limits for their claims. There are medical conditions to overcome and potential property damages to repair; the statute of limitations is likely low on the list.
However, a statute of limitations can certainly hinder your personal injury claim, and each state has its own rules when it comes to these time limits.
What is a Statute of Limitations?
A statute of limitations is a time limit for officially filing a case, including a personal injury claim or a crime. A statute of limitations is put into place in order to maintain a fair trial. This is because the more time that passes, the more muddled details and memories can become.
What is the Statute of Limitations in Tennessee?
In order to have a successful case, it’s important to become familiar with statute of limitations laws. Here are some important statutes of limitations for the state of Tennessee.
- Personal Injury. For a personal injury claim, you have exactly 1 year from the date of the incident to file your claim.
- Product Liability. Defective product claims also have a 1 year time frame for filing.
- Medical Malpractice. Medical malpractice claims must be filed 1 year from either the date the injury occurred or 1 year from the date the injury or foreign object was discovered.
- Personal Property Damage. Property damage claims have a longer 3-year statute of limitations from the time the damage occurred.
- Wrongful Death. Like other personal injury claims, wrongful death claims have a 1 year statute of limitations from the date of death.
- Breach of Contract. If you’ve suffered damages due to a breach in a contract or an oral agreement, you have a 6-year statute of limitations to file your claim.
Continue reading to learn more about the statute of limitations laws for the state of Tennessee.