If you are injured due to someone else’s negligence, such as in an auto wreck, while an active-duty member of the U.S. military, it can be complicated to get compensation. Part of this is because you may be transferred to a new base at any given time, even if your injury claim is still ongoing in the area where your previous base was located. However, it is not impossible to still get compensation.
It is important that you speak with a personal injury lawyer experienced with handling cases involving military servicemembers about your claim as soon as possible. They can talk you through your options to ensure your best chances of getting the compensation you’re entitled to. At the Law Offices of Gary Bruce, we’ve helped many servicemembers currently and formerly stationed at Ft Moore (formerly Ft Benning), as well as their families, get the compensation they are entitled to after injuries caused by someone else’s negligence.
Related Reading: I’m a Member of the U.S. Military and Got into a Car Accident—Now What?
Your Case Can Be Legally “Put on Hold”
Active-duty servicemembers are granted some legal protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) that most ordinary civilians don’t have. One of those is “tolling” the statute of limitations.
The statute of limitations determines how much time someone has to file a lawsuit for an injury before they lose the right to sue for that injury forever. For example, most personal injuries in Georgia and Alabama have a statute of limitations of two years from the date of the injury. Tolling allows you to “stop the clock” on the statute of limitations until your term of military service ends. After that point, it will start counting down again.
Through this, injured servicemembers can wait until their lawsuit no longer interferes with their military duties without having to give up their chances of getting compensation altogether. This is especially useful for servicemembers who have been transferred across the country or even overseas, as well as troops who have been deployed.
We Can Represent You No Matter Where You Go
While U.S. servicemembers can put their lawsuits on hold as long as they need to without losing their chances to get compensation, it is not always the best option. This is because evidence can get lost over time, and witnesses’ memory of the event will only get worse. It is preferable to get your claim rolling while both are still fresh.
Unfortunately, when you move with an active case open, your case does not move with you. It will stay in the court where it was filed. But your lawyer can act as your “boots on the ground.” The most important thing in these cases is maintaining communication.
Our law firm has worked with clients in locations spanning from Ft Moore (formerly Ft Benning) all the way to Afghanistan and everywhere in between. Regardless of distance or time zone, we will make sure that you receive all the information you need on the progress of your claim, when you need it, and that we only take action with your approval.
Call Gary Bruce for Legal Services for Military Families
With decades of experience under our belts, military families can rest assured that we know what we’re doing, and when and how the laws change when active-duty servicemembers are involved. When dealing with a law firm that may be unfamiliar with military cases, you could miss out on important steps in filing your claim.
Our firm offers free, no-obligation consultations. That means you can speak to a lawyer about whether you have a case and what your options are without having to pay. Furthermore, if you hire our firm, you will never have to pay attorney fees unless we win you money.
Get in touch today for your free case review.