Editing Statute of Limitations by State (section)

== Why Do Filing Deadlines Matter So Much for Mesothelioma Cases? ==

The statute of limitations represents the most unforgiving aspect of mesothelioma litigation because courts have absolutely no discretion to accept late filings regardless of circumstances. Unlike other procedural requirements that might be waived, corrected, or excused, missing your filing deadline permanently extinguishes all legal rights to compensation. Even the strongest case with overwhelming evidence becomes worthless the moment the deadline passes—no judge can override this barrier regardless of sympathy for your situation.

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| style="padding:15px; color:#004085;" | '''ℹ️ The Discovery Rule Protects Mesothelioma Patients:''' Unlike most injuries where the statute begins at the time of harm, mesothelioma cases benefit from the "discovery rule"—your deadline starts when you receive your diagnosis or when you knew or should have known about the disease's connection to asbestos. This principle, established in [https://dandell.com/mesothelioma-law-lawsuits/mesothelioma-statute-of-limitations/ Borel v. Fibreboard (1973)], recognizes that mesothelioma's 20-50 year latency period would otherwise eliminate all claims before patients even knew they were sick.
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Understanding your specific deadline requires more than simply knowing your state's general personal injury statute. Mesothelioma cases involve complex interactions between state law, federal law, discovery rules, and various tolling provisions. The deadline may depend on where exposure occurred (not just where you live), whether federal maritime or railroad law applies, and whether any defendant's fraudulent concealment tolled the statute. For comprehensive guidance on navigating these complexities, experienced mesothelioma attorneys at [https://www.mesotheliomalawyercenter.org/asbestos-lawyer/ Mesothelioma Lawyer Center] provide free case evaluations.

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! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:15px; text-align:left;" | 💬 Legal Perspective
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| style="padding:20px; font-style:italic; border-left:4px solid #e65c00;" | "The statute of limitations is the first thing we evaluate in any mesothelioma case. We've seen too many families lose their entire claim—sometimes worth over a million dollars—simply because they waited too long to call. If you've been diagnosed, protecting your deadline is as important as starting treatment."
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| style="padding:10px 20px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;" | — Paul Danziger, [https://dandell.com/lawyers/paul-danziger/ Danziger & De Llano]
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