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Personal injury statute of limitations by state
How long you have to file a personal injury claim depends on where the accident happened. Here is the general rule for each state — but call an attorney to confirm the deadline that applies to your case.
What is a statute of limitations?
A statute of limitations is the legal deadline for filing a lawsuit. File after the deadline and your case is usually barred, no matter how strong the facts are.
Deadlines vary by state and by the type of claim. Some states have different deadlines for car accidents than for slip-and-fall or wrongful death cases. Some start the clock at the date of the accident; others at the date the injury was discovered.
The table below lists the general personal injury deadline for each state. Do not rely on it as the final answer in your case — call an attorney as soon as possible so they can confirm the specific deadline.
All 50 states
Statute of limitations — all 50 states
General personal injury filing deadlines. Talk to an attorney to confirm the deadline that applies to your case.
| Standard PI Deadline | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2 years | From date of injury |
| Alaska | 2 years | From date of injury |
| Arizona | 2 years | From date of injury |
| Arkansas | 3 years | From date of injury |
| California | 2 years | From date of injury |
| Colorado | 2 years | 3 years for vehicle accidents |
| Connecticut | 2 years | From date of injury |
| Delaware | 2 years | From date of injury |
| Florida | 2 years | Reduced from 4 years in 2023 |
| Georgia | 2 years | From date of injury |
| Hawaii | 2 years | From date of injury |
| Idaho | 2 years | From date of injury |
| Illinois | 2 years | From date of injury |
| Indiana | 2 years | From date of injury |
| Iowa | 2 years | From date of injury |
| Kansas | 2 years | From date of injury |
| Kentucky | 1 year | 2 years for vehicle accidents |
| Louisiana | 1 year | From date of injury |
| Maine | 6 years | From date of injury |
| Maryland | 3 years | From date of injury |
| Massachusetts | 3 years | From date of injury |
| Michigan | 3 years | From date of injury |
| Minnesota | 6 years | From date of injury |
| Mississippi | 3 years | From date of injury |
| Missouri | 5 years | From date of injury |
| Montana | 3 years | From date of injury |
| Nebraska | 4 years | From date of injury |
| Nevada | 2 years | From date of injury |
| New Hampshire | 3 years | From date of injury |
| New Jersey | 2 years | From date of injury |
| New Mexico | 3 years | From date of injury |
| New York | 3 years | From date of injury |
| North Carolina | 3 years | From date of injury |
| North Dakota | 6 years | From date of injury |
| Ohio | 2 years | From date of injury |
| Oklahoma | 2 years | From date of injury |
| Oregon | 2 years | From date of injury |
| Pennsylvania | 2 years | From date of injury |
| Rhode Island | 3 years | From date of injury |
| South Carolina | 3 years | From date of injury |
| South Dakota | 3 years | From date of injury |
| Tennessee | 1 year | From date of injury |
| Texas | 2 years | From date of injury |
| Utah | 4 years | From date of injury |
| Vermont | 3 years | From date of injury |
| Virginia | 2 years | From date of injury |
| Washington | 3 years | From date of injury |
| West Virginia | 2 years | From date of injury |
| Wisconsin | 3 years | From date of injury |
| Wyoming | 4 years | From date of injury |
This table lists the standard personal injury deadline only. Claims against government entities, claims involving minors, and injuries discovered later often have their own rules. Contact an attorney to confirm the deadline that applies to your situation.
Important exceptions
Several common exceptions can shorten or lengthen the deadline.
• Claims against a government entity (city, county, state) almost always have far shorter filing windows — often 60 to 180 days — before you can sue. These are called “notice of claim” deadlines.
• Minor victims often have the clock paused until they turn 18.
• Injuries that were not discovered right away may start the clock on the date of discovery, not the date of the accident. This is the “discovery rule.”
• Wrongful death claims often have their own deadline, separate from personal injury deadlines.
Do not rely on general rules. Call an attorney to confirm the deadline in your specific situation.
Related
Related resources
How insurance companies handle claims
The adjuster’s playbook — and why early offers may be low.
Read more →What determines the value of an injury case
Medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
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