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In every state, a law called a "statute of limitations" sets a limit on the amount of time you have to go to court and get a medical malpractice case started. That means filing the initial complaint against the doctor or other health care provider (or care facility) in the civil court system, and in some states it also means filing an affidavit or some other sworn statement in which an expert witness or your attorney The statute of limitations might set a specific time limit for filing a medical malpractice case, or there might be a larger deadline that applies to all injury-related lawsuits, including those stemming from medical malpractice. Whatever deadline the statute sets in your state -- two years, three years, etc. -- the "clock" typically starts running on the date on which the alleged malpractice occurred. But most states allow special rules where a patient did not know right away (and could not reasonably be expected to know) that they were harmed by a medical error. This is called the In the chart below, you'll find the standard statute of limitations for medical malpractice cases in your state, a link to the relevant laws, as well as the statute citation, if you'd like to look up the legal jargon from the state legislature. Keep in mind that while the statute of limitations differs from state to state, what remains true across these jurisdictions is that if you try to file your medical malpractice lawsuit after the statutory deadline has passed, the court will ...

• Contingency fees are a common fee arrangement when you hire a lawyer to sue someone who negligently or intentionally injured you. • Contingency fees aren't cheap—you'll probably end up paying your lawyer 33% to 40% of your final settlement or court award. But you pay no lawyer fees if you lose your case. • If you're paying a lawyer a contingency fee, make sure your written fee agreement specifies the lawyer's percentage and spells out who will pay which costs and expenses and when costs and expenses will be paid. • You can also pay for legal advice by the hour or enter into other types of fee arrangements. In most Contingency Fee Percentages: What Percentage Do Lawyers Take for a Personal Injury Case? In most personal injury cases, a lawyer's contingency fee is between 33% and 40% of whatever compensation the lawyer gets for you. A lawyer who takes a case on a contingency basis is making a high-risk, high-reward gamble on your case. You get the benefit of not having to come up with a lot of money upfront in exchange for giving the lawyer a pretty high stake in your case. In the majority of cases, a personal injury lawyer will receive 33% (or one-third) of any settlement or award. For example, if you receive a settlement of $30,000 from an at-fault party's insurance company, you would keep $20,000 and your lawyer would take $10,000. Win or lose, you will likely be responsible for reimbursing your lawyer for some expenses the lawyer paid to investigate, negotiate, and purs...

Statutes of limitations specific to certain types of lawsuits are listed on some of our other pages: • • • Statute of Limitation Types There is no single statute of limitations. State laws and federal laws set different periods of time in various civil and criminal statutes. Furthermore, some statutes have exceptions that can extend or shorten the deadlines by which legal claims must be submitted. • Assault/Battery • Breach of Contract (written or oral) • Damage to Real Property • Debt Collection • Emotional Distress • Fraud • • Negligence • • Sexual Conduct • Slip and Fall Accidents Some states may also have a general statute of limitations for civil cases, which covers situations that do not have a statute of their own. While many state statutes are related to the most common types of civil cases, some states may have additional laws that address other or more specific types of injury. Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Statutes The table below provides an overview of each state's statutes of limitations period for civil claims related to personal injury and wrongful death. Note that: • Certain exceptions can increase or decrease the amount of time you have to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. • Some states have other, more specific statutes for things like medical malpractice, premises liability, child abuse, sexual assault and other forms of negligence or assault. • Personal injury statutes are typically measured from the date the injury occurs, though ...