Maybe you were rear-ended in Atlanta traffic or hit at an intersection in Dallas. At first, you focus on getting through the week. The pain lingers. Medical bills arrive. Work becomes harder. Then someone asks if you have filed a claim, and you realize you are not sure how much time you actually have.
Every car wreck claim has a legal deadline. If you miss it, you lose the right to recover compensation, even when the other driver was clearly at fault.
At 1-800-CarWreck, we help people in Dallas, Fort Worth, Atlanta, and Chicago protect their claims before time works against them.
The legal deadline to file a car wreck lawsuit is called the statute of limitations. This timeline is based on the state where the crash happened, not where you live. In most standard car wreck cases:
Once that deadline passes, courts will typically dismiss the case, no matter how strong the evidence may be. Insurance companies are fully aware of these deadlines and may delay negotiations if they believe time is on their side.
However, this two year timeline is not always as simple as it sounds.
Certain situations can pause the clock or shorten the time you have to act. These exceptions are state specific and often misunderstood.
If the injured person is a minor, the deadline may be paused until they turn 18. This applies in Texas, Georgia, and Illinois, but waiting still risks lost evidence and weaker claims.
If the wreck involved a government vehicle or public agency, special notice requirements may apply. In some cases, formal notice must be given within months of the crash. Missing this notice can eliminate your claim, even if the standard two year deadline has not expired.
If the injured person is physically or mentally incapacitated after the wreck, the timeline may be paused during that period. These situations are narrowly defined and require careful documentation.
In Georgia, if the at fault driver faces criminal charges related to the crash, such as DUI or hit and run, the civil filing deadline may be paused while the criminal case is pending. This rule is unique to Georgia and is often overlooked.
Because these rules depend on specific facts, assumptions about deadlines can be dangerous.
Even when an exception applies, waiting can seriously weaken a car wreck claim.
Crash scenes change. Vehicles are repaired or destroyed. Surveillance footage is erased. Witness memories fade. Insurance companies also use delays to argue that injuries were not serious or were caused by something else.
Starting early allows your legal team to preserve evidence, track deadlines, and build your case correctly from the beginning.
Timing is about more than filing paperwork. It is about protecting your position from day one. When you contact 1-800-CarWreck, we:
Our early involvement is especially important in serious wrecks or cases involving government vehicles, criminal charges, or complex liability issues.
Insurance companies will not warn you when deadlines are approaching. Once time runs out, they have no obligation to negotiate.
If you were injured in a car wreck in Dallas, Fort Worth, Atlanta, or Chicago, the clock is already ticking. The timeline may be straightforward, or it may depend on details you have not been told.
At 1-800-CarWreck, we help clients understand their deadlines and protect their right to compensation from the start.
If you are unsure how long you have to file a car wreck claim, call 1-800-CarWreck today and get clear answers before time costs you your case.
