{"id":376061,"date":"2016-03-31T21:36:32","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:36:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/pennsylvania-law\/pennsylvania-statutes-of-limitations.html"},"modified":"2025-03-28T14:51:02","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T19:51:02","slug":"pennsylvania-statutes-of-limitations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/pennsylvania-law\/pennsylvania-statutes-of-limitations.html","title":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania Statutes of Limitations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n \n Pennsylvania Statutes of Limitations\n <\/h1>\n \n Learn about your state’s laws by using the links below.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

All states, including Pennsylvania, have laws that regulate how long a person has to file a lawsuit or prosecute a crime. These time limits are called statutes of limitations<\/a>. Every state, including the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, has two types of statutes of limitations: criminal and civil.<\/p>\r\n

Pennsylvania criminal statute of limitations<\/a> dictates how long the state has to pursue criminal charges against an offender. The filing deadlines vary depending on the seriousness of the crime. For example, the time limit to prosecute a defendant for a misdemeanor charge is two years. There is no statute of limitations on murder.<\/p>\r\n

Pennsylvania’s civil statutes of limitations<\/a> dictate how long a plaintiff has to file a personal injury lawsuit against a defendant. The statute of limitations period for civil cases ranges from one to 20 years.<\/p>\r\n

The most common type of civil case, the personal injury claim<\/a>, has a two-year statute of limitations. For example, if you’re in a car accident and the insurance company doesn’t pay your claim, you may have to file a personal injury case. You’ll have two years from the date of the injury to file your cause of action.<\/p>\r\n

Other types of civil actions have varying filing deadlines.<\/p>\r\n

Understanding the statute of limitations that applies to your situation is very important if you plan to file legal action or are involved in a criminal case<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Why Are Statutes of Limitations Important to Your Case?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

The Pennsylvania courts<\/a> are very strict about enforcing the statutes of limitations. If a plaintiff misses the filing deadline by one day, the judge will dismiss the case as untimely filing.<\/p>\r\n

Even if their case somehow makes it onto the court’s calendar, the defendant will file a motion to dismiss<\/a> since you missed the limitations period. The judge will have no choice but to grant their motion. This means you’ll lose your chance to pursue damages.<\/p>\r\n

Similarly, if the state prosecutor doesn’t file criminal charges before the criminal statute of limitations<\/a> period expires, they will have to dismiss the charges. Defendants should not have to wait years for the state to prosecute their case. At some point, it’s only fair that an alleged offender can stop looking over their shoulder. The statute of limitations laws dictate how much time the prosecutor has to move forward.<\/p>\r\n

Do the Courts Ever Extend the Statute of Limitations?<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

The courts rarely extend the statute of limitations, civil or criminal. Part of this is because the rationale for these filing deadlines is strong. Another reason is that court rules and procedures<\/a> are there for a reason. People need to follow the rules, or there will be consequences.<\/p>\r\n

Sometimes, it makes sense to make an exception to these rules.<\/p>\r\n

Some of these exceptions include:<\/p>\r\n