File your claims at the following times:
- Within one year of the date of the injury. Claims for child abuse should be filed within one year of the report to the police, but no later than the child's 19th birthday.
- Within one year of discovering that an injury, originally thought to be accidentally or naturally cause, was caused by criminal conduct. A longer time to file a claim will be allowed after a written request shows good reason (e.g, someone helping the victim did not follow through, a child's injuries were more serious than originally believed, etc.).
You do not have to wait until the investigation or trial is over.