The statute of limitations sets a maximum amount of time for parties involved in an accident or other incident to initiate legal proceedings. In Florida, people have four years to file a lawsuit related to a car accident. Since Joe was hit by a private individual, he has 4 years to sue the truck driver for personal injuries and damage to his motorcycle. The closer the incident is to the time the claim was filed, the more likely you are to prove your injuries and the pain and suffering caused by the car accident.
If you try to file your personal injury claim after more than four years have passed since the underlying accident or incident, the defendant (the person you are suing) will almost certainly bring this fact to the court and the court will summarily dismiss your case. Whether you were involved in a car accident, a slip and fall, or any other incident where someone else's negligence caused you harm, if you're thinking of filing a personal injury lawsuit in Florida, it's crucial that you understand and comply with the statute of limitations for these types of cases. The time limit for suing for negligence in Florida applies to personal injury and property damage lawsuits.
