Knowing the statute of limitations in New Mexico after an accident is important. It’s a law that sets forth the time limit within which you must file a lawsuit. The statute of limitations is usually three years, but there are some exceptions. Understanding these exceptions is critical if you want to get compensation for your injuries and damages.
New Mexico Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims: 3 Years
In general, the statute of limitations in New Mexico for any personal injury claim is three years from the date of the accident or when you discovered your injury, whichever comes later. This means that if you have been involved in an accident and suffer from any physical or mental trauma due to that accident, you have three years from either the date of the accident or when you first noticed your injury to file a lawsuit against those who are responsible for causing that harm.
Exceptions to The Rule
Exceptions to this rule exist as well. For example, if you are making a claim against a government entity such as a state agency or municipality, then your time frame for filing can be much shorter than two years depending on the specific details of your case. Additionally, minors may have longer periods to bring claims due to their age and lack of legal capacity at the time of the incident. And finally, those who are mentally impaired (such as those with dementia or Alzheimer’s) can also have their statute of limitations extended until they regain capacity and can take legal action on their own behalf.
Final Thoughts
It is important to know what type of timelines apply to your situation when seeking recovery after an accident in New Mexico. It’s essential that injured parties understand how much time they have before their right to pursue compensation expires under state law. If you believe that someone else may be liable for your injuries or losses resulting from an accident, it’s best to speak with an experienced attorney before it’s too late.
An experienced lawyer will be able to review your case and advise you on whether there are any exceptions that could extend your statute of limitations so that you don’t miss out on any potential compensation owed to you following an incident like this one. Contacting qualified legal counsel soon after an incident occurs can help ensure that all applicable deadlines are met and no opportunities for recovery slip away due to ignorance about relevant laws in New Mexico.
