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Legal Injury Guide
All 50 US States

Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury by State

Find filing deadlines for every state — miss the deadline, lose your case. Select your state below to see the complete breakdown of every claim type including medical malpractice, wrongful death, and government claims.

States covered: 50
SOL range: 1–6 years
Med Mal range: 1–4 years

Critical: Missing the statute of limitations permanently bars your personal injury claim — courts dismiss time-barred cases with no exceptions in most circumstances. Consult an attorney immediately after any accident to protect your rights.

All 50 States — Filing Deadlines

StateGeneral SOLMed Mal SOLWrongful DeathGovt Notice
AlabamaAL
2 yrs2 yrs2 yrs6 months notice required before filing suit against governme…Full details →
AlaskaAK
2 yrs2 yrs2 yrs2 years (same as general SOL; notice best practice within 60…Full details →
ArizonaAZ
2 yrs2 yrs2 yrs180 days notice required before suing any Arizona public ent…Full details →
ArkansasAR
3 yrs2 yrs↓3 yrs6 months notice required before suit against state or local …Full details →
CaliforniaCA
2 yrs3 yrs2 yrs6 months to file government tort claim; then 6 months to sue…Full details →
ColoradoCO
2 yrs2 yrs2 yrs182 days notice to government entity; then 1 year to file su…Full details →
ConnecticutCT
2 yrs2 yrs2 yrs6 months notice required before suit against state or munici…Full details →
DelawareDE
2 yrs2 yrs2 yrs1 year notice before suit against state; 60 days for county …Full details →
FloridaFLNo-Fault
2 yrs2 yrs2 yrs3 years (same as prior general SOL); notice to agency recomm…Full details →
GeorgiaGA
2 yrs2 yrs2 yrsAnte-litem notice required: 6 months for state, 30 days for …Full details →
HawaiiHINo-Fault
2 yrs2 yrs2 yrs2 years (same as general SOL); notice to state within 6 mont…Full details →
IdahoID
2 yrs2 yrs2 yrs180 days notice to government entity required before filing …Full details →
IllinoisIL
2 yrs2 yrs2 yrs1 year notice to local government; 2 years for state agencie…Full details →
IndianaIN
2 yrs2 yrs2 yrs270 days notice to Indiana government entity before filing s…Full details →
IowaIA
2 yrs2 yrs2 yrs60 days notice to government entity; must file suit within 2…Full details →
KansasKSNo-Fault
2 yrs2 yrs2 yrs120 days notice to Kansas governmental entity required befor…Full details →
KentuckyKYNo-Fault
1 yr1 yr1 yr1 year notice required before suit against state or local go…Full details →
LouisianaLA
1 yr1 yr1 yr1 year prescriptive period for government claims — same as g…Full details →
MaineME
6 yrs3 yrs↓2 yrs↓180 days notice to state or municipality before filing suitFull details →
MarylandMD
3 yrs5 yrs3 yrs1 year notice to local government; then suit must be filed w…Full details →
MassachusettsMANo-Fault
3 yrs3 yrs3 yrsPresentment letter required within 2 years to government; 3 …Full details →
MichiganMINo-Fault
3 yrs2 yrs↓3 yrs6 months notice to government before filing; then 3-year SOL…Full details →
MinnesotaMNNo-Fault
2 yrs4 yrs3 yrs180 days notice to government entity; then 2-year SOL for mo…Full details →
MississippiMS
3 yrs2 yrs↓3 yrs90 days notice to government entity before filing a tort cla…Full details →
MissouriMO
5 yrs2 yrs↓3 yrs↓90 days notice to Missouri government entity required before…Full details →
MontanaMT
3 yrs2 yrs↓3 yrs3 years (same as general SOL); notice to government entity b…Full details →
NebraskaNE
4 yrs2 yrs↓2 yrs↓1 year notice to Nebraska government entity before filing su…Full details →
NevadaNV
2 yrs3 yrs2 yrs2 years (same as general SOL); 6-month notice to Nevada gove…Full details →
New HampshireNH
3 yrs2 yrs↓3 yrs90 days notice to government entity before filing suit in Ne…Full details →
New JerseyNJNo-Fault
2 yrs2 yrs2 yrs90 days notice to government entity required; then 2-year SO…Full details →
New MexicoNM
3 yrs3 yrs3 yrs90 days notice to New Mexico government entity before suitFull details →
New YorkNYNo-Fault
3 yrs2.5 yrs↓2 yrs↓90 days to file notice of claim against NYC or other municip…Full details →
North CarolinaNC
3 yrs3 yrs2 yrs↓1 year notice to government entity required before filing su…Full details →
North DakotaNDNo-Fault
6 yrs2 yrs↓2 yrs↓2 years (same as general SOL); notice to government entity w…Full details →
OhioOH
2 yrs1 yr↓2 yrs180 days notice to Ohio government entity required before fi…Full details →
OklahomaOK
2 yrs2 yrs2 yrs1 year notice to Oklahoma government entity required before …Full details →
OregonOR
2 yrs2 yrs3 yrs180 days notice to Oregon government entity required before …Full details →
PennsylvaniaPANo-Fault
2 yrs2 yrs2 yrs6 months notice to Pennsylvania government under SPCA; then …Full details →
Rhode IslandRI
3 yrs3 yrs3 yrs3 years (same as general SOL); notice to government entity w…Full details →
South CarolinaSC
3 yrs3 yrs3 yrsTort Claims Act notice required within 1 year to appropriate…Full details →
South DakotaSD
3 yrs2 yrs↓3 yrs3 years (same as general SOL); no special notice law for mos…Full details →
TennesseeTN
1 yr1 yr1 yr12 months notice required before suit against Tennessee gove…Full details →
TexasTX
2 yrs2 yrs2 yrs6 months formal notice to Texas government entity under TTCA…Full details →
UtahUTNo-Fault
4 yrs2 yrs↓2 yrs↓1 year notice to Utah government entity required before fili…Full details →
VermontVT
3 yrs3 yrs3 yrs3 years (same as general SOL); notice to government entity w…Full details →
VirginiaVA
2 yrs2 yrs2 yrs6 months notice to Virginia government entity required befor…Full details →
WashingtonWA
3 yrs3 yrs3 yrs60 days written notice to Washington government required bef…Full details →
West VirginiaWV
2 yrs2 yrs2 yrs2 years (same as general SOL); notice to government entity w…Full details →
WisconsinWI
3 yrs3 yrs3 yrs120 days notice to Wisconsin government entity required befo…Full details →
WyomingWY
4 yrs2 yrs↓4 yrs2 years (same as general SOL); notice to Wyoming government …Full details →

Why the Statute of Limitations Matters

The statute of limitations is a legal deadline set by state law. If you do not file your personal injury lawsuit before the deadline expires, the defendant can file a motion to dismiss and the court will grant it — permanently ending your right to compensation regardless of how strong your case is.

Stops the clock for minors

Most states toll (pause) the SOL until the injured person turns 18. The clock then starts on their 18th birthday.

Discovery rule exceptions

For hidden injuries (toxic exposure, surgical errors), the clock may start when you discovered or should have discovered the injury.

Government claims are shorter

Injuries caused by government entities require a formal notice filed weeks or months before you can sue — often 60–180 days.

Related Legal Terms

Statute of Limitations·Comparative Negligence·Negligence·Browse full glossary →

Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Statutes of limitations change frequently and vary by claim type and circumstances. Always verify current deadlines with a licensed personal injury attorney in your state before filing or forgoing any legal action.

Statute of Limitations by State

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

Legal Injury Guide — For informational purposes only. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney.

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