Time allowed to initiate legal proceedings: 3 years.
Starting point: The day you got hurt. Miss this deadline and you’re probably out of luck.
Look, here’s what happens: You get injured in Massachusetts – maybe a car hits you, or you slip on someone’s icy sidewalk. The clock starts ticking right then. You’ve got three years to get your paperwork filed with the court. Not a day more, unless something unusual is going on.
Important exceptions to the standard timeline:
- Kids: Different rules apply
- Hidden injuries that show up later: Timing might shift
- Defendant skips town: Could buy you more time
- Someone deliberately hurt you (assault, etc.): Still 3 years
Every case has its quirks. Laws are tricky. Get a lawyer involved early – they’ll tell you if your situation has weird timing issues that could help or hurt your case.
