Like many areas of the law, it depends. The deadline to file a lawsuit is generally known as the statute of limitations. The deadline to file a lawsuit is critical because, once it passes, you may permanently lose your right to seek justice.

The statute of limitations depends on who you are suing and for what. For example, an individual hurt by medical malpractice at a private hospital generally has three years to file a lawsuit in New Mexico. In comparison, an individual hurt by medical negligence or misconduct in a prison or a jail will have different deadlines depending on the severity of the misconduct and the specific laws under which they sue.

Beyond the statute of limitations, there are often deadlines to provide notice of a potential lawsuit and requirements to go through administrative procedures before filing a lawsuit. The statute of limitations and notice requirements are incredibly case specific. You should always consult with an attorney as soon as possible to identify potential deadlines, notice requirements, and administrative pre-requisites applicable to your case.

To get started, reach out through our contact form or schedule a call to conduct an intake. During the intake process, we will need to know:

• Names of all potential defendants.

• Dates when the injuries occurred.

• Potential evidence that exists of the misconduct, including, police reports, video recordings, audio recordings, emails, text messages, and medical records.

The more information you are able to share before the intake meeting, the better.

Atkins & Walker Law prides itself on communication. Contrary to popular belief, filing a lawsuit is a long and emotional endeavor. Our goal is for our clients to feel that they understand what is happening at all times and that they a integral parts of the litigation process. Atkins & Walker can never guarantee an outcome. However, we can guarantee that we work as hard as any other law firm in the state and will always be open, honest, and available to our clients.