How Long After A Car Accident Can You Claim Injury?

A “statute of limitations” refers to how long an individual can wait to file a claim or lawsuit. The time limit can differ based on the type of claim, such as bodily injury or property damage. Currently, the state of Arizona allows individuals to file a claim for bodily injury or property damage up to years following the car accident.

Other states that have the same two-year statute of limitations include:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• California
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Indiana
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Texas
• West Virginia

What Happens If You Don’t File A Claim Right Away?

Your auto insurance policy could say that you should file a claim right away, or no more than 24 hours after the accident occurred. However, waiting longer will not prevent you or another driver from filing a claim/lawsuit months or even years later. It all depends on your state’s statute of limitations. Some injuries or types of mechanical damage may not even be noticeable until days or even weeks after the accident.

If you or another party waits to file a claim, insurance companies could become suspicious of the wait time. They will likely investigate whether the damage was truly the result of the reported accident or if the damage came later on. If the insurance company finds legitimate reasons to doubt your claim, they can deny coverage.

Do You Make The Claim Through Your Insurance Or The Other Driver’s?

File the claim under your own insurance if the following applies:

• Another driver was at fault.
• The accident occurred in a no-fault state.

File the claim with the other driver’s insurance if the following applies:

• You suffer from permanent or ongoing physical injuries.
• Your treatment costs exceed your policy coverage.

How Long Do You Have To Report A Car Accident?

In Arizona, drivers are required to report any accident immediately. Some states do allow up to 30 days to report an accident, but it’s always recommended to call the police at the scene of the accident.

Reporting the accident soon after the collision takes place will likely smooth your claim process, increasing your chances of recovering losses. Insurance companies and courts alike rely on police reports as crucial evidence.

Do You Have To Report A Car Accident?

Minor accidents featuring no insurance claim(s) to be filed, will not require reporting. Most states will require you to report accidents involving injuries or more than $2,000 of property damage.

Source: “How Long After A Car Accident Can You File A Claim” Value Penguin https://www.valuepenguin.com/auto-insurance/how-long-to-file-insurance-claim