If you have been injured financially, you may be entitled to recover damages from the person or business that is at fault. However, a lawsuit must be filed within the time allowed by law if you wish to recover.
The legal time limit that is placed on your pursuit of recovery is referred to as the statute of limitations (or SOL).
If you fail to pursue a civil action before the SOL expires, you can be permanently barred from recovering monetary or other damages.
How long is the statute of limitations period?
The length of the SOL period may vary from state to state. Thus, it is imperative that you are aware of the time you have to pursue an action.
If your loss occurred in Florida, the SOL can range from 2 to 5 years, depending on the type of case you have. Click here to learn more about the SOL for cases involving broken contracts, fraud, professional malpractice, and slander.
Calculating the statute of limitations
Generally, the SOL begins to run from the moment an injury is sustained. However, there are some exceptions to the rule and other factors you must consider.
For starters, it is possible to have more than one cause of action (each with its own SOL period) as a result of one incident. Although you may be unable to recover under one, it is possible you can pursue another.
Also, in some instances a business will shorten the statute of limitations period by adding a clause to a written contract. This is an example of a “legal exception” to the rule that has been upheld by the Florida courts on several occasions.
If you believe you (or your business) is a victim of any wrongdoing, contact our Florida attorneys to discuss your legal options.
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Tags: civil action, legal remedy, SOL, statute of limitation
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