People look to a personal injury law attorney for advice on the strength of a claim, for general consultation, to develop negotiation strategies, and to obtain realistic opinions on the amount of recovery to be had from an injury. Many of these questions arise as the facts and circumstances of a personal injury case develop. However, there are a number of procedural reasons to contact a personal injury law attorney immediately, especially after any accident in which you suffer physical or psychological injury.
Where to File
The very first step in seeking recovery for any personal injury is filing a claim. Even this simple process can require expert legal advice. There is a specific jurisdiction in which to file and it’s dependent on the location of the accident or event. The proper place to file, if the accident occurred within the city of Saint Paul, is in the Ramsey County District Court. However, it is necessary to contact a personal injury law attorney in Saint Paul to confirm that this is the proper venue for your case. Click here for more information on the state court for personal injury.
The amount of a claim could alter the proper court for filing. For example, when the amount of compensation is $7,500 or less, the case must be filed in the appropriate Minnesota Small Claims Court. Therefore, quickly hiring a personal injury law attorney will allow you to assess the proper financial amount for your claim, a realistic amount of recovery, and the location where it needs to be filed.
When to File
There are also timing requirements related to the filing of a personal injury claim. In the State of Minnesota, a claim must be filed within six years of the accident. This is known as the statute of limitations. However, other types of injuries and sources of injury have different time limits. For example, injuries from medical malpractice must be filed within four years of the malpractice.
A personal injury law attorney can clarify what statute of limitations applies to your situation and when the clock for that time period begins to run.
