Limitation of Actions

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Limitation of Actions

Limitation of actions is also known as a statute of limitations and is the time period that a person or organization has to file a claim or lawsuit. The limitation of actions varies depending on a number of factors including the nature of the crime, whether the lawsuit is against the government, an individual, or a company; and if the suit is a federal or state suit and where it is being filed. 

The limitation of actions is commonly used in personal injury lawsuits as a means to urge people to file their claims in a timely manner. Many people are unable to file a suit after their limitation of actions time limit has passed.  People who let the time period pass have to incur costs relating to their injuries regardless of who is at fault for them.

The start of the limitation of actions varies as well depending on what kind of lawsuit is being filed.  The usual beginning of the limitation of actions in a criminal or personal injury case begins when the incident occurred (such as an accident or crime). Other limitation of actions may begin when a person discovers a defective product, or remembers crimes that they had forgotten (such as child abuse).

A statute of repose is a limitation of actions that applies to buildings, properties, aircrafts, and other types of vehicles. The statute of repose limits the time that an action may be taken based on some defect of the property or vehicle in question.

The reasoning behind developing limitation of actions says that the more time that has passed between the incident and the crime, the less evidence there usually is. Evidence has a greater chance of being lost or forgotten as time passes by. Many times people or organizations that are at fault try and illegally dissuade people from filing suits until their limitation of actions are over.

Lengths vary but some crimes have no limitation of actions, such as murder, war crimes, or other crimes that are so severe that a judge allows the pursuit of redress. The length of time may be somewhat controversial because sometimes a crime is discovered to have occurred and evidence is uncovered that was not previously known but cannot be introduced before a court of law due to the passing of its limitation of actions.

There are several variations in the limitation of actions that make past crimes accountable for even if their time limit is up.  One often-used facet of limitation of actions occurs when a medical malpractice is committed but is not discovered for some time.  The malpractice might have occurred as far back as childbirth and not get discovered for decades later.  In these and several other cases, the limitation of actions may be challenged legally.

In all cases involving some injurious event, the offended party should contact an experienced attorney for a free consultation.  Only experienced limitation of actions lawyers can know for sure what a person’s rights are and the time limits they have in which to file a claim.