How long after I am injured do I have to file a lawsuit?
You have as long as two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit in most personal injury cases. Note that this deadline may be longer or shorter in specific cases, so be sure and contact a lawyer soon after the injury to discuss your claim.
A lawsuit can be filed at any time within the two-year statute of limitations, but your lawyer will typically wait until you are medical stationary before filing. It can take several months for you to reach this stage, depending on your injury. Once you are medically stationary, your attorney likely has all the information needed to negotiate a settlement. If a satisfactory agreement cannot be reached, your attorney will discuss with you the pros and cons of filing a lawsuit at that time.