Did you know that you have a legal time limit in which to bring a personal injury lawsuit before you lose the right to sue?
Most legal issues have a statute of limitation which restricts the period of time during which a plaintiff may bring legal proceedings against a defendant. It’s essentially the time limit you have in order to file a lawsuit, before you lose your right to sue. The legislature is responsible for enacting statutes of limitations and may also extend or reduce those time limits because of certain factors.
The list at the bottom of this page provides the statutes of limitation for personal injury claims in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim
It is essential for anyone interested in filing a personal injury claim to be aware of the statute of limitations in his or her home state. Failure to file a lawsuit with the court by the time the statute of limitations expires will result in your loss of the right to legally seek restitution. Since the timely filing of a lawsuit is essential to any personal injury claim, it is important to make sure you have documentation for the date of filing. If you enlist the services of a personal injury lawyer, this step is in the hands of your legal professional. However, you still want to follow up with your lawyer to 100% ensure that you do not miss the deadline for filing.
Extension of Filing Time
As indicated above, statutes of limitations are set by the legislature in the individual states. Being aware of the statute of limitations from the start can help you avoid missing the deadline and losing out on a damage award for your injuries.
If you have suffered injuries due to the negligence of another person or company, you need to seek the services of a personal injury attorney. We can help. All you need to do is fill out the contact form on the website or call 1-800-ATTORNEY 24-7.
| State | Time Limit | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2 Years | ||
| Alaska | 2 Years | ||
| Arizona | 2 Years | ||
| Arkansas | 3 Years | ||
| California | 2 Years | ||
| Colorado | 2 Years | ||
| Connecticut | 2 Years | ||
| Delaware | 2 Years | ||
| District of Columbia | 3 Years | ||
| Florida | 4 Years | ||
| Georgia | 2 Years | ||
| Hawaii | 2 Years | ||
| Idaho | 2 Years | ||
| Illinois | 2 Years | ||
| Indiana | 2 Years | ||
| Iowa | 2 Years | ||
| Kansas | 2 Years | ||
| Kentucky | 1 Year | ||
| Louisiana | 1 Year | ||
| Maine | 6 Years | ||
| Maryland | 3 Years | ||
| Massachusetts | 3 Years | ||
| Michigan | 3 Years | ||
| Minnesota | 2 Years | ||
| Mississippi | 2 Years | ||
| Missouri | 5 Years | ||
| Montana | 3 Years | ||
| Nebraska | 4 Years | ||
| Nevada | 2 Years | ||
| New Hampshire | 3 Years | ||
| New Jersey | 2 Years | ||
| New Mexico | 3 Years | ||
| New York | 3 Years | ||
| North Carolina | 3 Years | ||
| North Dakota | 6 Years | ||
| Ohio | 2 Years | ||
| Oklahoma | 2 Years | ||
| Oregon | 2 Years | ||
| Pennsylvania | 2 Years | ||
| Rhode Island | 3 Years | ||
| South Carolina | 3 Years | ||
| South Dakota | 3 Years | ||
| Tennessee | 3 Years | ||
| Texas | 2 Years | ||
| Utah | 4 Years | ||
| Vermont | 3 Years | ||
| Virginia | 2 Years | ||
| Washington | 3 Years | ||
| West Virginia | 2 Years | ||
| Wisconsin | 3 Years | ||
| Wyoming | 4 Years | ||
| *These statutes are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, speak with a local attorney… | |||