{"id":352988,"date":"2016-04-04T10:46:31","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:46:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/accident-injury-law\/time-limits-to-bring-a-case-the-statute-of-limitations.html"},"modified":"2024-05-21T17:53:00","modified_gmt":"2024-05-21T22:53:00","slug":"time-limits-to-bring-a-case-the-statute-of-limitations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/accident-injury-law\/time-limits-to-bring-a-case-the-statute-of-limitations.html","title":{"rendered":"Time Limits for a Personal Injury Case: The Statute of Limitations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n<div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\"><h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Time Limits for a Personal Injury Case: The Statute of Limitations<\/h1>\n\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/ty-mcduffey-j-d\/\">Ty McDuffey, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/katrina-wilson-esq\/\">Katrina Wilson, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            May 21, 2024\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n    <div class=\"fl-callout-text article-blockquote\">\n        <p>A statute of limitations is a personal injury law that determines how long you have to file a claim after an accident. The filing deadline for a claim varies based on factors like state laws and the type of injury case.<\/p>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;ve been involved in a car accident or another type of personal injury, it&#8217;s important to understand the legal process and your legal rights. A key to this understanding is the concept of the statute of limitations.<\/p>\n<p>This legal rule sets a time limit within which you must take legal action to seek compensation for a potential claim, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Personal injury<\/li>\n<li>Property damage<\/li>\n<li>Wrongful death<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In most cases, the clock starts ticking as soon as an injured person knows (or should have known) about their injury. Because time is a critical factor in any claim, don&#8217;t delay in finding legal representation. Contact a <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/personal-injury-plaintiff\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">local personal injury lawyer<\/a> today for advice.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Understanding the Statute of Limitations<\/h2>\n<p>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit\/is-there-a-time-limit-to-file-a-lawsuit-what-are-statutes-of.html\">statute of limitations<\/a>\u00a0for\u00a0car accidents and other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries.html\">torts<\/a> varies from state to state. For instance, Nevada law has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. It has a three-year limit for <a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/property-damage-liability.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">property damage<\/a>\u00a0claims. This means that you have a specific amount of time from the date of the accident to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/accident-injury-law\/personal-injury-law-the-basics.html\">file a lawsuit<\/a> against the at-fault party.<\/p>\n<h2>Time Limits for Different Types of Claims<\/h2>\n<p>Different types of cases have different statutes of limitations. The time limits under state law for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/car-accidents.html\">car accidents<\/a> usually differ from those for other types of injury cases, such as medical malpractice claims.<\/p>\n<h3>Personal Injury Statute of Limitations<\/h3>\n<p>For personal injury cases, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/product-liability.html\">product liability<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/accident-injury-law\/premises-liability-faq.html\">premises liability<\/a>, the time limit usually begins from the date of the injury or when the injury was discovered. For property damage claims, the clock usually starts ticking from the date the damage occurred.<\/p>\n<p>Car accident cases involve both personal injury and property damage claims, so you may be dealing with different statutes of limitations in connection with the same car accident.<\/p>\n<h3>Wrongful Death Statute of Limitations<\/h3>\n<p>For\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/wrongful-death-claims-time-limits-and-the-discovery-rule.html\">wrongful death<\/a> claims, the time limit typically starts from the date of the individual&#8217;s death. This might be later than the date of the accident.<\/p>\n<p>Suppose a car accident victim initially survives the accident. They later die from their injuries. In that case, the clock for the wrongful death claim would start from the day of the person&#8217;s death rather than the accident date.<\/p>\n<p>As an example, in California, the statute of limitations for a wrongful death claim is two years from the date of the person&#8217;s death. If a person gets into a car accident on January 1, 2023, but passes away from their injuries on February 1, 2023, the deadline to file a wrongful death claim would be February 1, 2025.<\/p>\n<h3>Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitations<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/medical-malpractice.html\">Medical malpractice<\/a>\u00a0claims may have a different statute of limitations entirely. Medical malpractice refers to a situation where a patient is harmed by a doctor\u00a0or other medical professional\u00a0who fails to\u00a0perform their medical duties competently.<\/p>\n<p>In New York, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice is typically two and a half years from the date of the malpractice or from the end of continuous treatment rendered by the party or entity you intend to sue for malpractice.<\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s a concept called the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/discovery-rule.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">discovery rule<\/a>\u00a0which could extend this time limit. If a patient discovers an injury caused by malpractice later on, such as\u00a0a surgical instrument left inside their body, the statute of limitations might not start until the patient discovered or reasonably should have discovered this injury.<\/p>\n<h2>Exceptions to the Time Limit Rule<\/h2>\n<p>There are situations where the statute of limitations for car accident claims can be &#8220;tolled&#8221; or paused. This might occur if the injured victim is a minor or mentally incapacitated. Tolling may also apply if the at-fault driver leaves the state for a period of time before a lawsuit can be filed.<\/p>\n<h3>Tolling Due to a Minor or Mentally Incapacitated Plaintiff<\/h3>\n<p>Imagine that a 15-year-old\u00a0suffers serious injuries\u00a0in a car accident caused by a negligent driver in Nevada. Under normal circumstances, Nevada&#8217;s statute of limitations would require the filing of a personal injury claim within two years of the accident.<\/p>\n<p>However, since the injured party is a minor, the statute of limitations is tolled or paused until the minor turns 18. Only then would the two-year period start running. This gives the now-adult victim until their 20th birthday to file a lawsuit.<\/p>\n<h3>Tolling Due to an At-Fault Party Leaving the State\u00a0<\/h3>\n<p>Suppose you&#8217;re injured in a car accident in Nevada and plan to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver.\u00a0Before you can take\u00a0legal action, the driver moves out of state for a year.<\/p>\n<p>In this case, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/statutes-of-limitations.html\">state law<\/a> may allow for the statute of limitations to be tolled for the time the defendant was out of the state. This means if the statute of limitations was two years and the at-fault driver was gone for one year, you would effectively have three years from the date of the accident to file your lawsuit.<\/p>\n<h3>Time Limits for Accident Claims Against Government Entities<\/h3>\n<p>If your auto accident involved a government employee or a motorist driving a government vehicle, different rules may apply. Often, you have a shorter amount of time to initiate a legal claim against a government entity.<\/p>\n<p>This is because government entities are protected by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/sovereign-immunity.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sovereign immunity<\/a>.\u00a0This is an old legal doctrine that protects the government from lawsuits without its consent.<\/p>\n<p>Over time, many jurisdictions have waived this immunity to a certain degree, allowing citizens to file lawsuits for damages caused by negligence of government employees or agencies. However, they usually impose stricter rules and shorter timelines to do so.<\/p>\n<p>These specific and often more strict rules are encapsulated in what is commonly referred to as\u00a0tort claim acts\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/accident-injury-law\/injury-claims-against-the-government.html\">government claim acts<\/a>.\u00a0Typically, these require you to first file a claim with the appropriate government agency before you can initiate a lawsuit.<\/p>\n<p>The time limit to file this initial claim is often much shorter than the typical statute of limitations for personal injury or property damage cases. For example, in California, you have just six months from the date of the accident to file a claim if it involves a state or local government agency. In contrast, you generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit against a private individual.<\/p>\n<p>If you miss this initial deadline, you might lose your right to obtain compensation from the government entity entirely. This is true regardless of how strong your case is.<\/p>\n<h2>When To Contact a Car Accident Attorney<\/h2>\n<p>Time is of the essence when it comes to legal action for car accidents. The statute of limitations imposes a strict limit. If you fail to file your lawsuit within this time, you may lose your right to compensation from the at-fault driver&#8217;s insurance company.<\/p>\n<p>To understand the specifics of your case, consult with a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/motor-vehicle-accidents-plaintiff\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">car accident attorney<\/a> or general <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/personal-injury-plaintiff\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">personal injury lawyer<\/a>. They can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Provide legal advice<\/li>\n<li>Help you with the insurance claim process<\/li>\n<li>Ensure your claim is filed within the required time<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>An attorney can also help with a case evaluation to assess the potential compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages.<\/p>\n<p>Always consult with a personal injury attorney to understand your state&#8217;s specific laws. Protect your legal rights and ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries and damages.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-up\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3418)\">\n                   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