If you suffered one or more injuries caused by a slip and fall, you have a limited amount of time to claim damages. Each state has established what is referred to as a statute of limitations. The statute dictates how long an injured party has to file a civil lawsuit that seeks compensation for all of their damages.
Most states have established a deadline for filing a slip and fall lawsuit between two and four years. Florida Statutes section 95.11(3)(a) sets the deadline for filing a slip and fall lawsuit at four years. This requirement means that, in most cases, you have four years from the date of a slip and fall incident to file all the proper paperwork required to initiate a claim.
Four years seems like plenty of time to build a case against another party. However, you should act with a sense of urgency by contacting an experienced Treasure Coast slip and fall attorney as soon as you are hurt or discover you are injured. The sooner you start, the more likely it is that you can gather a preponderance of evidence needed to prove your claim. Also, the faster you initiate legal action, the faster you might receive monetary damages to take care of costly medical bills and other financial losses.
If you fail to meet the four-year statute of limitations for filing a slip and fall lawsuit in Florida, you can expect the court to dismiss your case in most instances. However, there are exceptions that may apply, so never assume you have no legal standing until you have an experienced attorney review your case.