thumbnail

There’s almost nothing as sad in our line of work as when we receive a call from a person who is still really suffering after an accident, and they have waited too long, missing the deadline for taking legal action to receive compensation for their injuries through a personal injury claim.

It’s truly tragic when that badly injured person has waited longer than the two years allowed in West Virginia to file a lawsuit. They have forever forfeited the ability to receive financial compensation for those many months of pain, medical bills, surgeries, and lost work income.

Here are the time limits (statute of limitations) in West Virginia for personal injury and wrongful death.

Statute of Limitations | Time Limits for Lawsuits in West Virginia

West Virginia law provides that you have two years from the date of the incident that caused your injuries to take legal action (i.e., file a lawsuit) against responsible individuals and companies, including insurance companies, to seek compensation for the damages (i.e., your injuries and losses) you have experienced.

If you do not file a lawsuit within the two-year statute of limitations period, your claim will be forever time-barred.

Two years may sound like a long time from now, but believe me, it is not when considering all the things that must be done to secure your legal rights against the responsible parties. Every day that you wait to seek legal counsel equates to a loss of opportunity to obtain full compensation for your injuries.

If the statute of limitations time limit has not passed, we may be able to greatly help your efforts to move forward with your life by discovering all of the details of your case, determining who should pay, and filing a lawsuit if necessary to ensure you received the maximum compensation due to you for your damages and losses.

“Every day that you wait to seek legal counsel equates to a loss of opportunity to obtain full compensation for your injuries.”

Jeff Robinette

Time Limit for a Personal Injury Claim in West Virginia

Don’t Miss The Deadline for Your Only Chance for a Fair Insurance Settlement

There are laws that protect you and your family from the consequences of the negligent and wrongful behavior of others who caused your injuries and losses. Your damages, which include your medical and financial losses and obligations, should be paid by the parties responsible for causing your injuries and losses — but they won’t pay, that is, not without a legal battle.

An experienced West Virginia personal injury lawyer knows how to enforce your legal rights against the wrongdoers that caused your injuries and losses in a fair and professional way to obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

You have one chance to gain fair compensation for your injuries. Make sure it is done right.

Jeff Robinette

Wrongful Death Statute of Limitations

A wrongful death lawsuit must be filed within two years of the date of death.

Time Limit For an Auto Collision Lawsuit

In West Virginia, the law gives you two years to file a lawsuit for any kind of personal injury or property damage caused by someone else’s vehicle. So, that means any lawsuit over car accident injuries or damage to a vehicle or other property— by any driver, passenger, motorcycle rider, bicyclist, pedestrian, or property owner affected by the crash — will be subject to this two-year filing deadline, and the two-year “clock” starts running on the date of the accident.

Death from a Car Accident Claims Time Limit

If anyone was killed as a result of the car accident, West Virginia Code section 55-7-6 also sets a two-year statute of limitations deadline for any wrongful death claim that might be brought by the deceased person’s family. The two-year “clock” starts running on the date of the accident victim’s death (as opposed to the date of the accident itself).

Personal Injury Actions

Personal injury actions must be brought within two years of the date that the injury occurred.

Time Limits for Lawsuits Filed for Minors

A cause of action for medical injury to a minor under 10 at the time of the injury must be brought within two years of the date of the injury or prior to the minor’s 12th birthday, whichever provides the longer period. This period is not subject to the 10-year maximum limitation.

Except in cases of wrongful death, the statute of limitations of two years begins to run on the minor’s 18th birthday.

Products Liability Actions

Product liability lawsuits must be filed within two years after the plaintiff suffers the injury or within two years of the date the injury was discovered.

Workers’ Compensation

A workers’ compensation action must be filed within six months from the time you were injured, three years from the time your doctor informs you that you have an occupational disease or three years from your last exposure to a hazardous work site condition.

What Could Happen if I Wait to Contact a Lawyer?

The first 60 to 90 days following your auto collision or workplace injury can make or break your case. It is within this shorter time period that necessary evidence and testimony must be secured, treatment rendered and medical opinions obtained.

If you wait until after this time period has passed, and you have not developed your claim properly, it will make the job of even a good lawyer very hard to obtain a full recovery for you.

Worse yet, if you wait until close to the two-year statute of limitations period to consult with a lawyer, it is almost guaranteed that your claim has already been compromised.

What is the Time Limit for a Personal Injury Case in West Virginia?

If you need assistance with an insurance claim regarding a personal injury or wrongful death, we can help.

Call the Robinette Legal Group, PLLC today for a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney:

CALL TODAY 24/7: 304-594-1800

You don’t have to handle this alone.

“Every day that you wait to seek legal counsel equates to a loss of opportunity to obtain full compensation for your injuries.”

Jeff Robinette

Call us today to find out how we can help you.

img
case results
Our Case Results

Brain Injury

While timbering in WV, a heavy equipment operator sustained a permanent brain injury while performing the duties of his job. What price can you put on the loss of a fully functioning, fully reasoning brain? Jeff Robinette was able to negotiate a settlement that was annuitized to provide for this man for the rest of his life.

Crushed Leg Injury

Imagine having your leg crushed so badly in an accident that you have to undergo two surgeries to insert multiple pins and have a rod hammered into the bone just to stabilize the femur. Unfortunately, the first rod inserted into the bone didn’t accomplish the desired effect, so the rod had to be removed and surgically reinserted. Imagine the great pain, the months of therapy and recovery, and the frustration of knowing you can never return to the type of work you have performed for decades.

Jeff Robinette was able to obtain a great enough settlement to pay this man’s medical bills in their entirety and money enough to start a new business so he could work and live a productive life even with his permanent impairment.

Crushed Foot Injury

While working in Morgantown, WV for a large national retailer, our client, a young woman in her early twenties, was ordered to use equipment that she was not properly trained to use. In the course of attempting to complete her task, she sustained a severe crush injury to her foot. Due to this incident, our client lost full use of this foot for the rest of her life and was living with chronic, persistent pain.

Our firm was able to obtain a sizable settlement which took care of all her medical bills and future treatment for her foot injury. The settlement was ample enough to allow this young woman to go back to college and retrain for employment which will accommodate her permanent disability.

img
img
img
img

Our Awards and Certifications

img
img
Jeffery Robinette
Jeffery Robinette
FOUNDER
Jeffery Robinette is a West Virginia Personal Injury Lawyer based in Morgantown who represents individuals who have been seriously injured or killed due to motor vehicle collisions or catastrophic workplace accidents.
star rating
My case was resolved favorably and I consider Jeff a TRUE friend.
Former Client
Construction Client
I am so glad I chose Robinette Legal Group to represent me in a recent car accident case.
Barbara
Car Accident Injury Client
I truly appreciate all his advice and help.
Betty
Contracts Client Client
img
img
img
img

Free Case Evaluation

(304) 594-1800 CALL 24/7