What are the time limits to make a to make compensation claim?
The Limitation Act of 1980 specifies different periods of pursuing legal personal injury compensation claims. For example actions for damages in most personal injury claims for anyone who is 21 years of age or over, must be bought within three years of either the date when the accident occurred (this is usually when the personal injury is suffered), or within three years from ‘date of knowledge’, which ever is later. If the victim is under the age of 21, then he/she can claim for incidents that have occured from birth onwards. This is due to the fact that anyone under the age of 18 will require a litigation friend (a parent or guardian) to represent the victim. In cases were the victims litigation friend has not logged a claim on behalf of the victim, by the time the victim has turned 18 years of age. Then the victim has three years starting from the 18th birthday in which to make a claim for accidents or medical negligence that might have occurred or been diagnosed from birth onwards.
