Illinois Statute of Limitations

Indeed, like all other lawsuits, Illinois personal injury cases do have a time limit which is set by a statute of limitations. In most personal injury cases, the time period covered by the statute of limitations begins on the date or the injury’s occurrence.

While the statute of limitations seems like a simple concept, it is not always as straightforward as it seems. Here’s why:

• If you discover a medical injury outside the statute of limitations, the discovery rule may apply and extend the period that you are able to collect damages.
• On the other hand, tolling the statute of limitations benefits the victim by stopping (tolling) the time period allowed.
• The time period covered by the statute of limitations is different for each state and every singular offense.
• Even so, the statute of limitations for negligence/personal injury in Illinois is 2 years with the Modified Discovery Rule, which states that parties knew or should have known injury was wrongfully caused even if plaintiff did not know it was actionable.
• For example, if you were struck and injured in a vehicle accident on June 14, 2010, you typically have until June 14, 2012 to file a personal injury suit and work to recover damages against those responsible for the injury. However, as in many areas of the law, many exceptions may apply.

There are nuances and clauses to the statute of limitations, so injured parties should seek the assistance of an experienced Chicago Personal Injury Attorney. Personal injury lawyers battle tested and very knowledgeable in the statute of limitations a applied to an assortment of personal injury suits. It is critical to contact them as close to the date of the injury or offense as possible to ensure that you are able to begin legal proceedings in order to ensure that you adhere to timeline requirements and receive just compensation.