Personal Injury

Did you know that 81% of the top 100 companies in America have a clause in their terms that says that you can’t sue them?

However, if you were personally injured, you might be entitled to a certain amount of compensation if you file within the statute of limitations.

But what is the statute of limitations for? And what are the rules around it? Keep reading to find out!

What is Statute of Limitations For

First, you’ll have to understand what the statute of limitations is for. It limits the amount of time a plaintiff can file a lawsuit, and it’s there for three reasons.

First, it gives people peace of mind. There is only a limited amount of time they can be sued for something, so people can’t keep bringing up old issues.

Second, it helps the case stay strong because the evidence won’t have as much time to deteriorate. The longer you wait to sue someone, even witnesses might have passed away, leaving it hard to rule in the case.

Third, it can reduce how much it costs to litigate a claim. The longer it goes on, the more money it will cost to track down witnesses and revive evidence.

North Carolina Statute of Limitation

In North Carolina, the statute of limitation is normally about three years, but it will depend on the types of damages and the particular claim.

For example, in a personal injury case, the injured people have to sue the responsible parties within three years of when they were injured.

You might think that you have enough time, but it will go by very quickly, and you should file the lawsuit as soon as possible.

South Carolina Statute of Limitation

In South Carolina, the rules are pretty much the same. In general, the statute is around three years, although it could be shorter depending on what type of case you’re pursuing.

You should file as soon as possible so that your personal injury lawyer has enough time to file a lawsuit.

However, keep in mind that there are three circumstances that could delay or pause the statute. This is called tolling.

This can happen when you have children who are under eighteen with a mental disability. Then the limitation period will extend one year after they turn eighteen.

Sometimes if a person leaves a state or has a period of nonresidence in South Carolina, this will be counted as part of the statute of limitations.

Finally, if a person tries to hide, then the period won’t start until they reveal themselves.

Learn More About the Statutes of Limitations in North and South Carolina

These are only a few things to know about the statutes of limitations in North and South Caorlina, but there are many more laws you should be aware of.

When in doubt, hire a lawyer, and they will help walk you through the entire process.

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