Statute of Limitations by State
Miss the statute of limitations and even a strong case is dismissed. Look up your state's deadline for personal injury, medical malpractice, and property damage — and estimate your filing date from the day of injury.
📌 Med-mal (MICRA): 3 yrs from injury OR 1 yr from discovery, whichever is first.
Data verified July 2026. Discovery rules, minority/tolling, claims against government entities, and statutes of repose can shorten or extend these periods — always confirm your deadline with a licensed attorney.
How limitation periods work
The clock usually starts on the date of injury. Personal-injury deadlines range from one year (Kentucky, Tennessee) to six (Maine, North Dakota); most states allow two or three. Medical malpractice often runs shorter, with 'discovery rules' for injuries you couldn't reasonably have found immediately — capped by an absolute statute of repose in most states.
Recent changes reflected here: Louisiana extended tort claims to two years (mid-2024), Utah extended medical malpractice to four years (2025), and Florida's 2023 reform cut general negligence to two years.
Exceptions that change the deadline
Common extensions ('tolling'): the injured person is a minor or legally incapacitated, the defendant left the state, or the injury was fraudulently concealed. Common shortenings: claims against government entities often require a formal notice within 6 months to 1 year — far shorter than the general statute. These exceptions are exactly why the lookup is a starting point, not a substitute for a lawyer's calendar.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I miss the statute of limitations?
The defendant moves to dismiss and courts almost always grant it, no matter how strong the case. Insurers also stop negotiating once the deadline passes, since you've lost the leverage of filing suit.
Which states have the shortest deadlines?
Kentucky and Tennessee allow only one year for most personal-injury claims — among car-accident victims the most commonly missed deadlines in the country. Louisiana was one year until its 2024 change to two.
When does the clock start?
Generally on the date of injury. Under discovery rules (mainly medical malpractice), it can start when you discovered or reasonably should have discovered the injury — but statutes of repose set an absolute outer limit.
Is the deadline different for suing the government?
Yes — claims against cities, states, or federal agencies typically require a notice of claim within 6 months to a year, and total deadlines are often shorter. Missing the notice window is fatal to the claim.
This tool is for general information only and is not legal advice. Deadlines and fault rules have exceptions that only a licensed attorney in your state can assess. Data verified July 2026.