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BlogsDoes the Statute of Limitations apply to workplace injuries?

January 29, 20220

A plaintiff can file a lawsuit within a set period of time without it being barred by the statute of limitations. If the time limit has passed, the plaintiff will lose the right to bring the lawsuit. There are a number of factors that determine when a plaintiff has the right to sue. If the victim doesn’t know the applicable statute of limitations, a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles should be consulted.

Statute of Limitation Varies From State to State

The statute of limitations varies from state to state. Kentucky and Tennessee, for example, have a one-year deadline for filing suit. There are some states that have a longer statute of limitations, such as Maine and North Dakota.

Statute of Limitation Varies According to Claim Types

The statute of limitations can also be affected by the type of lawsuit. Some personal liability claims are subject to one statute of limitations, whereas workers’ compensation claims are subject to a separate statute of limitations. 

Workers’ compensation statutes of limitations, like personal injury statutes of limitations, differ from state to state. This is due to the fact that workers’ compensation is governed by a state body. There is a one-year statute of limitations in several states for filing a workers’ compensation claim. Other states, such as Wisconsin, have significantly more permissive time limits, such as 12 years.

Furthermore, other time constraints may apply to workers’ compensation claims involving workplace illnesses or major traumatic injuries. Even though a worker is wounded on the job, a victim may be responsible for filing a personal injury claim rather than a workers’ compensation claim and benefit from a possibly lengthier statute of limitations. This circumstance may arise if the employer is not protected by workers’ compensation insurance or if the accident was caused by a third party who was not the victim’s direct boss.

Time Limits for Notification

If the case is submitted under workers’ compensation legislation, the employee may be required to inform the employer of the accident or illness within a certain amount of time. Typically, this time restriction is 30 days, if not sooner. Workers’ compensation rules may stipulate that you must notify your employer of your working accident or illness.

Injuries of a Minor Nature

A worker who was injured as a minor will not be able to file a claim until he or she turns 18. For example, if an employee who is 16 years old is injured in a state with a statute of limitations of three years, the statute of limitations starts to run when they turn 18.

The Moment You Actually Discovered Your Injury

A further element that influences how long you have to submit a workplace injury claim is when you found the injury. The statute of limitations usually begins to run when the victim becomes aware that he or she has been hurt. Because the statute of limitations is predicated on rationality, it may start to run when the plaintiff reasonably should have realized that he or she had incurred a workplace injury or was suffering from a working disease.

Siman Law Firm can assist you if you have a valid claim of Workplace injury in Los Angeles.

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