If you have ever watched “Law & Order,” or any other show that deals with lawyers, you’ve probably heard the term “statute of limitations” before. The statute of limitations is one of the most important deadlines in your legal case; miss it, and you might lose your chance of pursing a case at all. In addition, the statute of limitations usually varies by state and type of legal case. If your claim is against a government — federal, state, or local — there may be other equally important deadlines to meet.
For example, if you were involved in a car accident with a school bus, fell on government property because of a hazardous condition, or were involved in an accident or altercation while under the supervision of government employees, you may have a legal case against a government entity or entities. But you may also have a duty to notify those entities of your claim for injuries. In some cases, this deadline can come several years before the statute of limitations! Missing these deadlines can be a disaster for your case because if you wait too long to put the government on notice, they might be protected from being held responsible for your injuries.
Providing a government with “notice” of your claim means notifying the correct government entity (usually in writing) about your accident, your injuries, and why you believe the government is responsible. However, this can be more complicated than it seems at first glance, as different governments have different rules about what information to include in a written notice, how to format it, where it must be sent, to whom to send it, and how to send it. If you make a mistake along the way, and do not realize it until after the deadline, you may lose your right to recover compensation from the government. Moreover, you may be trying to deal with all of these rules and deadlines in the first months after your injury, when your plate is already full.
If your potential case could involve a government entity, it only makes sense to consult an experienced attorney as soon as possible. Simeone & Miller, LLP has the experience and knowledge needed to assist you throughout the legal process in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. We will fight against the responsible party with great tenacity; our past success in doing so has earned us myriad awards and, more importantly, many satisfied client testimonials. We have fought for thousands of wronged individuals, and now, we want to fight for you.
Contact Simeone & Miller, LLP online today to speak to an attorney about your claim against a government entity.