Have You Been Hurt in a Glasgow car accident and Wonder “Is there a time limit on insurance claims for personal injury?” The answer is yes – generally, you have three years from the day your injury was first noticed to start the legal process for personal injury claims Glasgow. This rule ensures cases are handled while evidence remains fresh; we’ll cover this car insurance claim time limit and how it applies to various cases further in this article.
How Long After An Accident Can You Make a Claim?
Glasgow and Scotland generally allow three years to make a claim following an accident, so if you are injured, you must begin your claim within that period. Doing so ensures evidence remains fresh while witnesses recall what occurred.
For example, if a car accident happened on January 1st, 2022, you have until January 1st, 2025, to initiate your accident injury claim. Any attempt after this timeframe might no longer be valid and could void all chances for compensation claims altogether.
There are a few exceptions to this rule, such as children injured before turning 16 have their 3-year limitation period for personal injury frozen until turning 16. So someone who was injured at age ten can make a claim until 19 (not necessarily on the date of injury itself). Also, if an injury wasn’t immediately evident to you when it first happened, its three-year clock may start ticking from when you realised your condition rather than on its date of occurrence.
After an accident occurs, it’s wise to consult professionals like Wallace Legal as soon as possible. We can explain your time limitations and ensure your claim starts on schedule – also, taking this approach can ensure all necessary evidence is still available and that your case is as strong as possible.
Can I Claim For An Accident After Three Years?
One such case would be when you did not initially recognize your injury; for instance, if something harmful at work made you sick but only became known years later; in such a scenario, the 3-year accident at work claim time limit begins when you became aware of illness instead of when exposure occurred.
When an accident happens to a child under 16, you usually have until their 19th birthday or three years post-16 birthday to start their claim.
Special rules exist for those unable to make decisions for themselves due to mental disabilities; in such instances, the 3-year personal injury claims time limit might not apply at all or might start at another date (when the patient regains their mental clarity).
When you think you might have a claim but more than three years have passed since an accident, speaking with a solicitor from our panel is advisable. They can assist in understanding if any special exceptions apply to your case and whether you are still eligible to make a claim.
Are There Any Exceptions To The Three-year Personal Injury Time Limit?
Here are the exceptions to Scotland’s three-year personal injury claim time limit, with additional content for each section:
Criminal Injury Claims:
Suppose you have been the victim of a violent crime in Scotland and injured as a result of it; you have two years available before making a claim, as this timeframe can often be shorter compared to other personal injury claims, so make haste.
Fatal Claims:
In Scotland, families making claims on behalf of someone who has died have three years from the date of death. However, if the actual cause of the death came to light after an accident or illness caused their demise, the family members can make claims within three years from the date of knowledge. This gives families ample opportunity to seek justice and compensation on their loved one’s behalf.
Accidents on Board Ships:
If you are involved in an accident on board a cruise liner or ferry in Scottish waters, you have a two-year deadline for making a claim, starting from when you left the vessel to when the injury was suffered; cargo ships usually follow this rule, too – although maritime accidents often have their own individual timeframes for claims initiations.
International Flights:
For accidents on international flights arriving or departing Scotland, victims have two years after arrival at their final destination to make a claim – this includes injuries that occur after you have passed passport control; it is, therefore, vital that travellers abroad remain mindful of this deadline.
Domestic Flights:
Accidents on domestic flights within Scotland and the UK; the claim must be submitted within two years after landing; this timeframe differs from other personal injury claims, so swift action must be taken if injured on such an encounter.
Accidents or Illnesses Abroad:
When experiencing an accident or becoming sick while travelling overseas, time limits for making a claim can differ depending on local laws. As soon as an accident occurs, legal advice must be sought to understand specific timeframes and requirements for the country where this has happened – this process may be more complex than in Scotland, so legal guidance will likely be essential in getting an appropriate claim underway.
What Are The Limits On Common Accident Types?
Glasgow generally allows three years for making personal injury claims following most types of accidents, such as car crashes, work accidents or slips and falls, with some limited exceptions. For instance, two years are available to make a claim with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) if you’ve been injured due to criminal misconduct. If a doctor or healthcare provider makes an error that results in injury to you, you have three years from when you realised their negligence has led to the injury to claims against them. Failure to claim within this deadline could prevent compensation from being awarded; for further guidance regarding time limits, consult a lawyer immediately.
Get in Touch With Our Team Now!
If you have been injured in an accident and were unsure if making a claim was possible, reach out to Wallace Legal today! You can reach us on 0141 2809789 or by emailing us at contact@wallacelegal.co.uk; our panel of No Win No Fee Solicitors Glasgow is here to assist with your claim and answer any queries that arise.