If you’re involved in a car accident, there’s a specific deadline, known as the statute of limitations, within which you must resolve your case or risk being forever barred. Generally, this period is two years, provided there are no public entities potentially responsible for the case. For instance, if a private individual rear-ends you, you have two years to file a lawsuit for your bodily injury claim.

It’s crucial to engage legal assistance early due to the time constraints. The goal is to settle the case before resorting to a lawsuit, and the two-year window can pass quickly, especially with increasingly serious injuries requiring extensive care. In cases involving public entities, like a city vehicle crash, a law enforcement vehicle collision, or similar scenarios, you have precisely six months from the date of loss to file a specific claim form with each public entity clerk’s office.

Filing this claim is distinct from a private insurance claim. Failure to submit the claim within six months could result in being forever barred from pursuing your claim. If the public entity rejects the case in writing, you have six months from the date of rejection to file a lawsuit. If there’s no written rejection after 45 days, typically, you have two years to sue the public entity. However, due to the complexities involved, it’s advisable to file a claim promptly and not wait for the rejection. This proactive approach helps navigate the technicalities associated with government code claims and lawsuits against governmental entities.