Contract law, money claims law and tort law

Når du har krav på erstatning – enten etter en personskade, kontraktsbrudd eller økonomisk tap – er det viktig å handle innen visse tidsfrister. Hvis du venter for lenge, kan kravet ditt være foreldet, og du mister retten til å få det oppfylt.

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What is obsolescence?

Foreldelse betyr at et krav ikke lenger kan gjøres gjeldende dersom det ikke er meldt innen bestemte frister. For erstatningskrav gjelder dette både:

• Ved kontraktsbrudd (f.eks. mangelfull håndverkertjeneste)
• Ved skade utenfor kontrakt (f.eks. personskade eller økonomisk tap)

Et krav kan foreldes enten fordi det har gått for lang tid fra kravet kunne vært oppfylt til du faktisk krever betaling, eller fordi du ikke kan påberope deg noen tilleggsfrister.

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Hvorfor foreldes erstatningskrav?

Foreldelsesreglene har en viktig funksjon i rettssystemet. De er laget for å:

• Beskytte den ansvarlige mot svært gamle og uavklarte krav
• Sørge for at tvister løses mens bevis og dokumentasjon fortsatt er tilgjengelige
• Skape forutsigbarhet for både skadelidte og den som eventuelt må betale

Kort sagt: Jo eldre et krav er, desto vanskeligere blir det å bevise hva som faktisk skjedde. Derfor finnes det absolutte frister.

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Når starter foreldelsesfristen?

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Hovedregel - 3 år

Den alminnelige foreldelsesfristen er 3 år. Det følger av foreldelsesloven § 2. Når fristen begynner å løpe, avhenger av hvilken type krav det er snakk om.

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Erstatningskrav ved kontraktsbrudd

Ved kontraktsbrudd løper foreldelsesfristen fra tidspunktet misligholdet inntraff – normalt ved overtakelse eller levering, ikke fra når du oppdager feilen.

• Hovedregel**: 3 år** fra misligholdet (kjøp/levering/overtakelse)
• Unntak: Mulig tilleggsfrist på 1 år, regnet fra da du oppdaget eller burde ha oppdaget feilen

Eksempel: Du får utført rørleggerarbeid i 2018, men oppdager i februar 2023 at det er gjort en feil. Foreldelsesfristen løp likevel fra 2018, og når feilen ble oppdaget har det gått mer enn tre år og fristen for foreldelse har dermed gått ut. Dersom du ikke kunne oppdaget dette tidligere har du mulighet til å få tilleggsfrist på ett år – til februar 2024 – på å fremme kravet, selv om det har gått mer enn tre år siden arbeidet ble utført.

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Erstatningskrav utenfor kontrakt

Hvis du krever erstatning fra en part som du ikke er i et kontraktsforhold med, løper fristen fra du fikk eller burde ha fått nødvendig kunnskap om både skaden og den ansvarlige.

• Hovedregel: 3 år fra faktisk kunnskap
• Unntak: Absolutt maksfrist på 20 år fra skadetidspunkt

Eksempel: Du skader deg etter å ha falt på is utenfor en butikk i 2022, men legen påviser varig skade først i 2024. Foreldelsesfristen starter i 2024.

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Hvordan kan du stanse foreldelse?

Foreldelse kan avbrytes på følgende to hovedmåter:

1. Erkjennelse – den ansvarlige erkjenner kravet, f.eks. ved delbetaling
2. Rettslige skritt – du sender forliksklage, stevning eller klage til en instans med myndighet
3. Avtale – den ansvarlige godkjenner at foreldelsesfristen utsettes gjennom avtale

Når foreldelse blir avbrutt blir den opprinnelige foreldelsesfristen avbrutt og nullstilt. Det betyr at det starter en ny foreldelsesfrist – vanligvis på tre nye år – fra det tidspunktet avbrytelsen skjedde.

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Slik sikrer du dine rettigheter

• Følg med på datoene – Noter når skaden oppsto og når du oppdaget den.
• Dokumenter alt – Samle kvitteringer, e-poster, avtaler og annen relevant kommunikasjon.
• Søk hjelp tidlig – Snakk med en advokat dersom du er usikker på hvilke frister som gjelder.

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Do you need legal assistance?

Foreldelsesreglene kan være krevende å navigere, spesielt når det er usikkerhet rundt når fristen starter eller om den er avbrutt. Dersom du er i tvil om kravet ditt fortsatt kan gjøres gjeldende, kan det være lurt å få en juridisk vurdering.

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Hos Insa advokater får du bistand fra en erfaren advokat innen erstatningsrett som kjenner regelverket og vet hva som må til for å sikre dine rettigheter.

Understanding the statute of limitations for monetary claims is essential for both the creditor (claimant) and the debtor (debtor). Statute of limitations means that a claim lapses after a certain period of time, which means that the creditor loses the right to collect the monetary claim. This is regulated in the Statute of Limitations Act.

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What is obsolescence?

Statute of limitations means that the right to collect a debt disappears after a certain period of time. This is stipulated by law and exists to ensure that claims cannot be collected many years after they arose.

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When a claim becomes statute-barred, it means that the person who owes money no longer has a legal obligation to pay, even if the debt was originally valid.

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The general limitation period

The general statute of limitations for monetary claims is 3 years . When the three-year statute of limitations applies, it means that if someone owes you money, you must claim it back within three years, otherwise you lose the right to get it back. As a general principle, the statute of limitations starts to run when the claim becomes due.

Example: If you lend money to a friend on January 1, 2025, and you have not agreed on a specific repayment date, your claim will become statute-barred on January 1, 2028.

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Exceptions to the general deadline

Some types of claims have longer deadlines. For example:

• Claims with a written agreement (debt) which typically include bank loans – If you have a written agreement for the loan, the statute of limitations may be 10 years .
• Compensation claims – If you claim compensation for an injury, there may be special rules that provide a longer period, up to 20 years in certain cases.

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What if you didn't know about the requirement?

In cases where one has not been aware of the requirement, an additional period of one year may be granted from the day one gained or should have gained such knowledge, cf. the Limitation Act, Section 10, No. 1. For contractual obligations, there is an absolute limit of 13 years from the due date, which includes the general period of three years plus a possible extension of ten years.

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Interruption of the limitation period

The limitation period can be interrupted in several ways. The most common method is to take legal action against the debtor, for example by filing a settlement complaint or summons. The period can also be interrupted if the debtor acknowledges the claim, either by paying part of the amount owed or otherwise acknowledging the debt.

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Absolute limitation periods

For claims for damages outside of a contract, an absolute limitation period of 20 years applies from the date on which the damaging act or the basis for liability ceased, cf. the Limitation Act, Section 9, No. 2. This means that even if the creditor was not aware of the damage or the person responsible, the claim cannot be brought after 20 years. There are exceptions for personal injuries under certain circumstances, where no absolute limitation period applies.

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How to avoid the claim becoming time-barred?

If you want to make sure you don't lose your right to your money, you can interrupt the statute of limitations. This can be done in two ways:

1. Collect the money in an official way
   • Send a payment reminder or dunning letter
   • Hire a debt collection agency
   • Take the case to the conciliation board or court
2. That the debtor confirms that he or she owes you money
   • Pays part of the claim
   • Written or verbal confirmation that the debt still exists

If the limitation period is interrupted, a new period starts to run from that point.

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It is a good idea to know the statute of limitations

Being aware of the statute of limitations is crucial for both creditors and debtors. For the creditor, it ensures that necessary steps are taken to collect claims before they become time-barred. For the debtor, it can mean avoiding paying claims that are no longer valid.

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We understand that the rules surrounding statutes of limitations can be complex. If you are unsure about what applies to your situation, it may be a good idea to speak to a lawyer experienced in monetary claims law .

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An occupational injury can have significant consequences for both health and finances. It is therefore important to understand what rights and possibilities you have for compensation if you are exposed to such damage.

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What is an occupational injury?

An occupational injury is a personal injury, illness or death that occurs as a result of an accident at work or harmful effects as a result of the working environment. For an injury to be classified as an occupational injury, it must have occurred during work at the workplace during working hours. Typical examples include falls, crushing injuries, and exposure to harmful substances that lead to illness.

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What is occupational injury compensation?

Occupational injury compensation is compensation you may be entitled to if you have suffered an occupational injury. The purpose of the compensation is to cover financial losses and any non-financial consequences as a result of the damage. This may include coverage of treatment expenses, lost income, and compensation for permanent medical disability.

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Employer's duties

In Norway, all employers are required by law to take out occupational injury insurance for their employees. This insurance should ensure that employees receive the compensation they are entitled to if they are exposed to an occupational injury. It is important to note that the self-employed and freelancers are not automatically covered by this scheme, but they have the option of taking out voluntary occupational injury insurance, which is recommended.

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What should you do in the event of an occupational injury?

1. Report the injury: Inform your employer immediately about the injury. The employer is responsible for reporting the damage to NAV and the insurance company.
2. See a doctor: Seek medical help and ensure that all injuries and symptoms are documented. This is important to establish a connection between the accident and the damage.
3. Documentation: Collect all relevant documentation, including medical records, injury reports and any witness statements.
4. Seek advice: You may want to contact a solicitor with experience in professional injury compensation for guidance through the process.

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Compensation items in case of occupational injury

In the event of an approved occupational injury, you may be entitled to several types of compensation:

• Incurred and future expenses: Coverage of necessary expenses for treatment, medication and any aids.
• Lost income: Compensation for loss of income as a result of the injury, both during the period you are on sick leave and for future loss if the injury results in reduced ability to work.
• Compensation: Compensation for permanent medical disability as a result of the injury.
• Compensation: In cases where the employer has shown gross negligence, compensation may be applicable.

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Limitation periods

It is important to be aware that there are deadlines for reporting claims for occupational injury compensation. In general, the damage must be reported to NAV within one year after the damage occurred. For claims against the insurance company, a limitation period of three years applies from the time you became aware of, or should have become aware of, the circumstances that justify the claim.

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Coverage of legal expenses

In many cases, reasonable and necessary legal expenses will be covered by the insurance company as part of the compensation settlement. It may therefore be a good idea to seek legal assistance to ensure that you receive the compensation you are entitled to.

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Being exposed to an occupational injury can be a stressful experience. It is therefore important to know your rights and what steps you should take to ensure that you receive the compensation you are entitled to. By following the advice above and seeking the necessary help, you are better equipped to handle the situation and look after your interests.

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Insa lawyers help clients all over the country. We can assist with complaints about refusals from NAV or insurance companies, provide advice on compensation claims and proceedings, as well as represent you in court.