How Long Do I Have to Make a Claim After a Car Accident?

Deadline for Filing a Claim in the State of Georgia

When the accident has been reported, there is still a deadline for filing a claim with the courts. These deadlines, as discussed, are governed by state laws called Statute of Limitations. Georgia’s statute of limitations is as follows:

1. If you are filing a claim for injuries, you have 2 years from the date of the accident, in most cases.

2. If you are filing a claim for damages, such as vehicle repairs, you have 4 years from the date of the accident, in most cases.

It’s important to speak with an attorney immediately after being involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault. Your attorney can reiterate the importance of filing a claim in a timely manner, and they can advise you on whether or not you have a legitimate claim.

Related Article: 10 common mistakes after a car accident

Do not Press the Timeline

So now that we know and understand the deadline for filing a claim after a car accident, that does not mean put off filing a claim for 1.5 years because the deadline is 2. It’s never going to be a good idea to wait to get things moving after being involved in a car accident for several reasons:

1. When you file a claim immediately after the accident, it shows that you took the accident seriously from the beginning, insurance companies will not be able to claim that your injuries were “made up”.

2. Waiting gives the insurance company the ammunition to say you made your injuries worse by delaying treatment and they are therefore not responsible for paying all your medical bills.

3. The longer you wait, the less useful any potential witnesses become.

4. Police officers tend to forget details of specific cases as the time goes on. If they are needed to make a statement or review facts, they may be unable to help.

5. The longer you wait to file a claim, the longer you wait to receive compensation for your medical bills and the damage reimbursement for your vehicle.

Just because you technically have 2 years to file a claim does not mean you should wait nearly that long. It’s always advised then when you’re involved in a car accident, especially when you’re not at fault, to go immediately to a doctor and have yourself examined.

This is advice for everyone, not just for people with obvious injuries. There are many injuries that may not present symptoms right away, and when you delay medical treatment you can potentially make your injuries worse, and give the insurance company reason to claim that you were not hurt after the accident so they will not cover any of your medical expenses.