Statute of Limitations on Assault in Virginia

The legal system places restrictions on the amount of time a person has to file a claim in court once certain crimes have been committed. Virginia statute of limitations vary based on the crime.

Statute of Limitations

Statute of limitations are intended to protect people against false, fraudulent accusations and to ensure that cases are tried while the evidence is fresh and available. Once the statute of limitations has expired, a person can no longer file a claim in court regarding a crime.

Virginia Assaults

In Virginia, the statute of limitations on assault (and other injuries) is two years. That means that a person has two years from the date of the assault to file a claim in a Virginia court.

Comparison

The two year Virginia statute of limitations on assault is the same as the statute of limitations on libel, fraud, and injury to property. Two years is a fairly standard assault statute of limitations on assault in the U.S. By comparison, the statute of limitations in Maine is six years, while in Kentucky, Louisiana, and Tennessee it is just one year.

References

• FindLaw: Virginia Civil Statute of Limitations Laws
• Civil Tree: What Is Statute of Limitations?
• Legal Dictionary: Statute of Limitations