A Brief Introduction to New Jersey’s Statutes of Limitations

Plenty of prospective clients here at DeMichele & DeMichele call our office to schedule an initial consultation and want to know whether or not they have a case. What too few of them ask? How long he or she has to file a claim before it’s too late for all intents and purposes. We refer to this concept as the “Statutes of Limitations” – laws passed by state legislatures which set a maximum time after an event (e.g. a car accident) during which a lawsuit must be brought. If it isn’t? Like I said, the litigant will be forever barred from filing a lawsuit for that particular claim borrowing narrow, extraordinary circumstances. Another key term: the Date of Accrual, the date upon which the state of limitations period begins to run. To use our car accident example, the date of accrual would be the date that the actual injury occurred. Here is a chart identifying some of the more common legal causes of actions and the associated statutes of limitations:

Cause of Action	Years	Statute
Assault and Battery	Two (2)	N.J. Stat. § 2A-14-2(a)
Contract (in writing)	Six (6) or Sixteen (16)	N.J. Stat. § 2A:14-1; N.J. Stat. § 2A:14-4
Contract (oral)	Six (6)	N.J. Stat. § 2A:14-1
False imprisonment	Two (2)	N.J. Stat. § 2A:14-2(a)
Fraud	Six (6)	N.J. Stat. § 2A:14-1
Legal malpractice	Six (6)	N.J. Stat. § 2A:14-1
Libel	One (1)	N.J. Stat. § 2A:14-3
Medical malpractice	Two (2)	N.J. Stat. § 2A:14-2(a), (b)
Personal injury	Two (2)	N.J. Stat. § 2A:14-2(a)
Product liability	Two (2)	N.J. Stat. § 2A:14-2(a)
Property damage	Six (6)	N.J. Stat. § 2A:14-1
Slander	One (1)	N.J. Stat. § 2A:14-3
Trespass	Six (6)	N.J. Stat. § 2A:14-1
Wrongful death	Two (2)	N.J. Stat. § 2A:31-3

Remember: time is not on your side. Don’t let the complexities of New Jersey’s legal system deter you from pursuing the recovery you deserve. The attorneys at DeMichele & DeMichele will thoroughly evaluate your potential claim, develop a comprehensive plan, conduct the necessary discovery, interface with expert witnesses on your behalf, explain the litigation process to you in detail including the applicable regulations, and vigorously labor to compile the physical and/or medical evidence necessary to establish a successful personal injury case. Don’t rest on your rights. We’re here to help. To arrange a free personal injury consultation with DeMichele & DeMichele, please CLICK HERE to contact us online today or call (856) 546-1350 to speak with one of our personal injury attorneys. ____