Blog > Personal Injury Claims Have a Time Limit in Cherry Hill

A serious injury changes your life in an instant. Whether you were injured by a negligent driver on Route 70, a slip and fall at a store near the Cherry Hill Mall, or a bike crash at Cooper River Park, you’re left juggling medical bills, lost wages, and the emotional toll of recovery. If you’re injured because of someone else’s negligent or reckless actions and you choose to pursue damages from the at-fault party, your personal injury claim will face several time constraints. Top among those is the New Jersey statute of limitations. New Jersey law gives you a limited window of time to file a personal injury claim, and waiting too long could cost you the chance to recover compensation you deserve. Consulting with an experienced Cherry Hill personal injury lawyer is one of the most critical steps you can take after an accident. It’s also the best thing you can do to ensure your case stays on track and meets every critical deadline.

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How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Cherry Hill?

In New Jersey, you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury claim in Cherry Hill.

Car, slip and fall, or bike crash: The 2-year deadline applies to most cases.
Wrongful death claims: The clock starts from the date of death, not the accident.
Government claims: You must file a notice within just 90 days.
Some exceptions: Cases involving minors or delayed discovery may extend the time limit.
Why act fast: Evidence fades, and insurance companies use delays to reduce payouts.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims in Cherry Hill?

In New Jersey, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident or injury. This means you generally have up to 24 months to file a lawsuit in civil court seeking compensation for injuries caused by someone else’s negligence. This time limit applies to a wide range of injury cases, including:

Car accidents on Route 70 or near the Cherry Hill Mall
Pedestrian injuries in residential neighborhoods like Barclay-Kingston
Slip and falls at commercial properties in areas like Garden State Park
Construction accidents on job sites throughout Camden County

If you wait too long, the court can—and likely will—dismiss your case, even if your injuries are serious and your claim is valid.

Are There Any Exceptions to the Two-Year Deadline?

Yes, exceptions exist that could affect the timeline of your case. Here are a few limited scenarios where the statute of limitations might be extended:

Minors: If the injured person is under 18 at the time of the accident, the two-year period typically begins on their 18th birthday.
Mental incapacity: If a person is mentally incapacitated when the injury occurs, the clock may not start until capacity is restored.
Discovery rule: In rare cases, the two-year countdown may start when the injury is discovered (or reasonably should have been discovered), rather than when the event occurred—this sometimes applies in medical malpractice cases.

However, assuming you have more time without talking to a personal injury lawyer first can be a risky mistake. Statute of limitations exceptions are complex and fact-specific. The best way to find out how long you truly have is to speak with a personal injury attorney in Cherry Hill who knows New Jersey personal injury law.

Statute of Limitations for Fatal Bicycle Accidents in Cherry Hill

When a loved one is killed in a bicycle accident or later succumbs to injuries sustained in a bike accident, the emotional toll on surviving family members is devastating. The last thing you want to think about is filing a legal claim, but if someone else’s negligence caused the crash, your family may find some relief through a wrongful death lawsuit. While no amount of money can ease your grief, the right compensation can help you cope and remove some of the financial strain. In New Jersey, the wrongful death statute of limitations generally allows surviving family members two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim. This two-year period is separate from the personal injury statute of limitations that applies to non-fatal injuries. Under New Jersey law, the clock begins ticking on the date of death, not the date of the accident, though in some cases, these may be the same. If you miss the deadline, your family may lose the right to seek financial compensation for:

Funeral and burial costs
Medical expenses related to the fatal injury
Lost financial support and benefits
Loss of companionship, care, and guidance

Why Waiting to File Can Hurt Your Case

Even though two years might sound like a long time, waiting to take legal action can work against you in many ways. Personal injury cases require thorough investigation, documentation, and strategy. The longer you wait, the more challenging it can be to secure the evidence needed to prove your claim.

Key challenges with delays:

Witness memories fade: People who saw the accident may no longer remember important details.
Surveillance footage gets deleted: Businesses may only retain camera footage for a few days or weeks.
Physical evidence disappears: Skid marks, damaged property, and other scene evidence can be lost over time.
Medical documentation may be incomplete: Delays in treatment can be used against you by insurance companies, who might claim your injuries aren’t serious or weren’t caused by the accident.

And perhaps most importantly, insurance companies are not on your side. They’re often quick to reach out with lowball offers, hoping you’ll accept before speaking to a lawyer and understanding the full value of your claim. They may also try to delay or deny your claim outright. Working with a personal injury attorney from the start helps protect your rights, preserves key evidence, and ensures your case is being handled by someone who knows how to build a strong legal claim.

How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Cherry Hill?

Some states allow more time for personal injury claims resulting from motor vehicle crashes, but New Jersey isn’t one of them. Car crashes are one of the most common reasons people file personal injury claims in Cherry Hill. Whether you were rear-ended near the I-295 corridor or struck by a distracted driver on Haddonfield Road, New Jersey’s two-year statute of limitations still applies. Dealing with car accident cases involves additional layers, especially when insurance companies are involved. Before any claim is filed, your lawyer will likely need to:

Review the police crash report from the Cherry Hill Police Department
Gather your medical records and bills
Investigate the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage
Consult with medical experts or accident reconstruction specialists
Communicate with your insurance company and the other party’s insurer

This work can take considerable time. The sooner it begins, the better your chances of recovering full compensation.

What If You Were Partially at Fault?

If you were hurt in a Cherry Hill accident and think you may be partly to blame, you can still recover damages under New Jersey’s “modified comparative negligence” rule, as long as you are not more than 50% responsible for the incident. However, if the court finds you partially at fault for the accident that injured you, your total recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. This rule is another reason why working with an experienced Cherry Hill personal injury attorney is so important. They can help protect you from undue allegations of blame by the other party or their insurer.

What Happens If the At-Fault Party Is a Government Entity?

If your injury involves a government agency or public employee, such as a fall on municipal property or an accident with a public vehicle, your timeline to take action is much shorter. Under the New Jersey Tort Claims Act, you must file a “Notice of Claim” within 90 days of the accident. This is a strict deadline that applies to any claim against state or local government entities. If you miss it, you may lose your right to seek compensation entirely. Cherry Hill is home to several public buildings, schools, and municipal services. If you’re injured on public property or by a government-operated vehicle, don’t assume you have two years. Consult with a personal injury lawyer immediately to make sure your rights are protected.

Time Considerations for Different Types of Personal Injury Cases

While New Jersey’s two-year statute of limitations covers most personal injury claims, each case type brings unique challenges, and some may involve added requirements. Let’s take a closer look at a few common types of personal injury cases we handle in Cherry Hill and some of the factors that affect them.

Slip and fall accidents

If you were injured after slipping on a wet floor at a grocery store near Route 38 or tripping on uneven pavement at a retail center like Market Place at Garden State Park, you’ll likely be filing a premises liability claim. These claims still fall under the two-year rule, but proving fault may take time. Property owners often deny responsibility or attempt to shift blame. Fast action helps preserve evidence, like video surveillance and maintenance records.

Medical malpractice

Cherry Hill residents harmed by negligent medical care—whether during surgery, childbirth, routine treatment, or something else—must also file a medical malpractice case within two years. However, the discovery rule may apply if the injury wasn’t immediately apparent. Still, even with that exception, you should act quickly to ensure all deadlines are met and expert opinions are secured.

Construction site injuries

Workers hurt at construction sites in Cherry Hill, such as on Route 70 or near major developments, may qualify for personal injury claims if a third party (not their employer) caused their injury. These claims also follow the two-year statute, but an investigation may require access to site records, contracts, and witness accounts. Early legal intervention is key.

Rideshare, bicycle, pedestrian, and motorcycle accidents

From bicycle crashes on Chapel Avenue to rideshare accidents near Cherry Hill Station, the statute remains two years. But because these accidents often involve multiple parties—including rideshare companies or uninsured drivers—getting a lawyer involved early ensures no detail is missed and every responsible party is held accountable.

Why You Should Never File a Claim Without a Lawyer

When someone else’s negligence injures you, filing a claim may seem straightforward, especially if an insurance company quickly offers you a settlement. However, personal injury law in New Jersey is not simple. Every experienced personal injury lawyer in Cherry Hill has likely seen countless injured people taken advantage of by insurers eager to close cases fast and cheap. The moment you file without legal help, you lose a valuable opportunity: the chance to have someone fighting exclusively for you. Here’s what a lawyer does for you in a personal injury claim:

Handles all communications with insurance companies so you don’t say something that can be used against you.
Calculates the full value of your claim, including long-term impacts like chronic pain, job loss, and emotional suffering.
Builds your case with the help of investigators, medical professionals, and courtroom experts.
Meets all legal deadlines and prepares your claim for trial if a fair settlement isn’t offered.

Personal injury law is filled with technical requirements and tactical decisions. You deserve a legal team that understands the stakes and treats your case as if it were their own family’s future on the line.

What to Do If You’ve Already Waited

If you’ve already waited weeks or months after your accident to speak with a lawyer, don’t give up hope. The clock may still be running, and even if your case is more difficult because of delays, you may still have time to act. Many reputable personal injury law firms offer free consultations to make the process of seeking legal help easy, efficient, and affordable.

Cherry Hill Injury Victims Deserve a Strong Legal Advocate

Situated just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Cherry Hill is a thriving community, but it’s not immune to serious accidents. Whether you were injured while shopping at Cherry Hill Mall, hit by a car near Cooper River Park, or slipped in a restaurant parking lot, you deserve real support. At The Rothenberg Law Firm LLP, we’ve spent over 50 years fighting for injured people in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. We treat every client with care and compassion, offering legal support when you need it most. We don’t take every case—we take the right cases, and we fight to win them. Our firm has secured billions of dollars in compensation for clients injured in:

Contact The Rothenberg Law Firm LLP Today

If you were injured in Cherry Hill or the broader South Jersey area, don’t wait another day to get the legal guidance you deserve. Time matters—and the sooner you consult an experienced personal injury attorney, the better your chances of a successful claim may be. The Rothenberg Law Firm LLP offers free consultations, and you pay nothing unless we win your case. Call us today at (800) 624-8888 or fill out our online contact form to get started.

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