Slip and falls accidents happen a lot. While it may appear harmless, it can actually lead to serious physical injuries. And if you suffered injuries from a slip and fall accident because of someone else’s negligence, then you may be entitled to compensation.

But you have to act quickly. In California, the deadline to file a slip and fall lawsuit is two (2) years from the date of the accident. However, that 2-year deadline only applies to cases involving private defendants like commercial establishments or residential property owners. If your slip and fall accident happened on a government-owned area and you want to file a lawsuit against them, then you only have six (6) months from the date of the accident to take action.

If the time limit for filing your slip and fall lawsuit has already run out, you may still have a slim chance. One exception to the deadline is called the discovery of harm rule. The rule states that the time limit to file a slip and fall lawsuit does not begin until the date the victim learn that they have been injured in some way. Some slip and fall accidents result in delayed injuries, and that’s where the discovery of harm rule can come into play.

It is important that you keep these deadlines in mind. If you failed to act on time, then you might just lose your right to take legal action and get the compensation that you deserve.