How Long Do You Have To File A Personal Injury Claim In Illinois?

Illinois State has many major laws concerning personal injury cases. These laws are applicable if a lawsuit is filed in the state’s civil court and also when settling injury-related claims with an insurance company.

Time Limit of Two Years

A time limit of two years is set for filing a personal injury lawsuit in the court in Illinois. This limit is known as the “statute of limitations”and typically becomes operative on the date of the accident. But in some cases, the statute of limitations may become applicable from the date you found out about your injury and not when the incident that caused the injury occurred. This is called the “discovery date”.

When an injury claim lawsuit is filed against a city or county, a longer limit of one year is available to file it. Though a two years limit to sue the state exists, a formal claim needs to be filed within one year to enable you to sue the state. It is important for litigants to follow this time frame and guidelines for a personal injury lawsuit. It is useful to consult a personal injury lawyer for correct information and guidance in this matter.