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State law reference

Car accident statute of limitations by state

The deadline to sue for injuries from a car accident is 2 years in most states, but it ranges from 1 year to 6 years. Property damage and wrongful death claims have their own deadlines. Here is every state, checked against the statute.

Checked against official sources November 5, 202651 cited sourcesHow we calculate

Deadlines by state

StateInjuryProperty damageWrongful deathLaw
Alabama2 yearsVaries2 yearsAla. Code 6-2-38(a) and (l); Ala. Code 6-2-34(2); Ala. Code 11-47-23
Alaska2 years2 years2 yearsAS 09.10.070(a)(2), (a)(3); AS 09.55.580(a)
Arizona2 years2 years2 yearsA.R.S. 12-542(1), (2), (3); A.R.S. 12-821.01; A.R.S. 12-821
Arkansas3 years3 years3 yearsArk. Code Ann. 16-56-105; Ark. Code Ann. 16-62-102(c)(1)
California2 years3 years2 yearsCode Civ. Proc. 335.1; Code Civ. Proc. 338(c)(1); Gov. Code 911.2(a)
Colorado3 years3 years2 yearsC.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)(I); C.R.S. 13-80-102(1)(a), (1)(d), (2); C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)
Connecticut2 years2 years2 yearsConn. Gen. Stat. 52-584; Conn. Gen. Stat. 52-555(a)
Delaware2 years2 years2 years10 Del. C. 8119 (personal injury); 10 Del. C. 8107 (wrongful death, injury to personal property)
District of Columbia3 years3 years2 yearsD.C. Code 12-301(3) and (8); D.C. Code 16-2702; D.C. Code 12-309
Florida2 years2 years2 yearsFla. Stat. 95.11(5)(a) and (5)(e); Fla. Stat. 768.28(6)(a)
Georgia2 years4 years2 yearsO.C.G.A. 9-3-33; O.C.G.A. 9-3-32; O.C.G.A. 36-33-5(b); O.C.G.A. 50-21-26(a)(1)
Hawaii2 years2 years2 yearsHRS 657-7; HRS 663-3; HRS 46-72
Idaho2 years3 years2 yearsIdaho Code 5-219(4); Idaho Code 5-218(3); Idaho Code 6-906
Illinois2 years5 years2 years735 ILCS 5/13-202; 735 ILCS 5/13-205; 740 ILCS 180/2(d); 745 ILCS 10/8-101(a)
Indiana2 years2 years2 yearsIC 34-11-2-4(a); IC 34-23-1-1; IC 34-13-3-8
Iowa2 years5 years2 yearsIowa Code 614.1(2) (injuries to the person); Iowa Code 614.1(4) (injuries to property); Iowa Code 669.13; Iowa Code 670.5
Kansas2 years2 years2 yearsK.S.A. 60-513(a)(2), (a)(4), (a)(5); K.S.A. 12-105b(d)
Kentucky2 years2 years2 yearsKRS 304.39-230(6) (motor vehicle tort actions); KRS 413.140(1)(a) (general personal injury, 1 year); KRS 413.125 (personal property, 2 years); KRS 413.180 and 411.130 (wrongful death); KRS 49.120 (Board of Claims)
Louisiana2 years2 years2 yearsLa. Civ. Code art. 3493.1 (delictual actions, 2 years); La. Civ. Code art. 2315.2(B) (wrongful death)
Maine6 years6 years3 years14 M.R.S. sec. 752 (6 years, PI and property); 18-C M.R.S. sec. 2-807(2) (wrongful death, 3 years after death); 14 M.R.S. sec. 8107(1) (Maine Tort Claims Act notice)
Maryland3 years3 years3 yearsMd. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. sec. 5-101 (general 3 years); sec. 3-904(g)(1) (wrongful death); sec. 5-304 (Local Government Tort Claims Act notice); State Gov't sec. 12-106 (Maryland Tort Claims Act)
Massachusetts3 years3 years3 yearsM.G.L. c. 260, sec. 2A (tort, 3 years); M.G.L. c. 229, sec. 2 (wrongful death, 3 years); M.G.L. c. 258, sec. 4 (Tort Claims Act presentment)
Michigan3 years3 years3 yearsMCL 600.5805(1)-(2); MCL 600.6431; MCL 691.1404
Minnesota6 years6 years3 yearsMinn. Stat. 541.05, subd. 1(4) and (5); Minn. Stat. 573.02, subd. 1 (wrongful death); Minn. Stat. 466.05; Minn. Stat. 3.736
Mississippi3 years3 years3 yearsMiss. Code Ann. 15-1-49 (general 3 years); 11-46-11 (Tort Claims Act)
Missouri5 years5 years3 yearsRSMo 516.120(4) (injury to person or goods, 5 years); RSMo 537.100 (wrongful death, 3 years)
Montana3 years2 years3 yearsMont. Code Ann. 27-2-204(1) and (2); 27-2-207; 2-9-301 (claims against the State)
Nebraska4 years4 years2 yearsNeb. Rev. Stat. 25-207 (4 years); 30-810 (wrongful death, 2 years); 13-919 (Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act)
Nevada2 years3 years2 yearsNRS 11.190(4)(e) (personal injury and wrongful death, 2 years); NRS 11.190(3)(c) (injury to personal property, 3 years); NRS 41.036
New Hampshire3 years3 years3 yearsRSA 508:4, I (personal actions, 3 years); RSA 507-B:7 (bodily injury actions against governmental units)
New Jersey2 years6 years2 yearsN.J.S.A. 2A:14-2(a) (personal injury, 2 years); 2A:14-1(a) (tortious injury to personal property, 6 years); 2A:31-3 (wrongful death, 2 years); 59:8-8 (Tort Claims Act notice)
New Mexico3 years4 years3 yearsNMSA 1978, 37-1-8 (injury to the person, 3 years); 37-1-4 (injury to property, 4 years); 41-2-2 (wrongful death, 3 years from death); 41-4-16 (Tort Claims Act notice)
New York3 years3 years2 yearsN.Y. CPLR 214(4) and (5); EPTL 5-4.1; General Municipal Law sec. 50-e
North Carolina3 years3 years2 yearsN.C. Gen. Stat. 1-52(4), (5), (16) (3 years); 1-53(4) (wrongful death, 2 years)
North Dakota6 years6 years2 yearsN.D.C.C. 28-01-16(4)-(5) (6 years: injury to person not arising on contract; injuring goods or chattels); N.D.C.C. 28-01-18(4) (2 years: death); N.D.C.C. 32-12.2-04(1); N.D.C.C. 32-12.1-10(1)
Ohio2 years2 years2 yearsR.C. 2305.10(A); R.C. 2125.02(F)(1); R.C. 2744.04(A); R.C. 2743.16(A)
Oklahoma2 years2 years2 years12 O.S. 95(A)(3); 12 O.S. 1053(A); 51 O.S. 156(B)
Oregon2 years6 years3 yearsORS 12.110(1); ORS 12.080(4); ORS 30.020(1); ORS 30.275(2)
Pennsylvania2 years2 years2 years42 Pa.C.S. 5524(2), (3); 42 Pa.C.S. 5522(a)
Rhode Island3 years10 years3 yearsR.I. Gen. Laws 9-1-14(b); 9-1-13(a); 10-7-2(c); 45-15-5
South Carolina3 years3 years3 yearsS.C. Code 15-3-530(4), (5), (6); 15-78-110; 15-78-80(d)
South Dakota3 years6 years3 yearsSDCL 15-2-14(3); SDCL 15-2-13(4); SDCL 21-5-3; SDCL 3-21-2
Tennessee1 year3 years1 yearTenn. Code Ann. 28-3-104(a)(1), (a)(2); 28-3-105(1); 29-20-305(b)
Texas2 years2 years2 yearsTex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.003(a), (b); 101.101
Utah4 years4 years2 yearsUtah Code 78B-2-307(3), (4); 78B-2-305(1)(c)(ii) (as reenacted by 2026 H.B. 260); 78B-2-304(2); 63G-7-402
Vermont3 years3 years2 years12 V.S.A. 512(4), (5); 14 V.S.A. 1492(a)
Virginia2 years5 years2 yearsVa. Code 8.01-243(A), (B); 8.01-244(B); 15.2-209(A); 8.01-195.6(A)
Washington3 years3 years3 yearsRCW 4.16.080(2); RCW 4.96.020(4)
West Virginia2 years2 years2 yearsW. Va. Code 55-2-12(a), (b); 55-7-6(d); 29-12A-6(a)
Wisconsin3 years3 years2 yearsWis. Stat. 893.54(1m)(a), (2m); 893.52(2); 893.80(1d)
Wyoming4 years4 years2 yearsW.S. 1-3-105(a)(iv)(B), (C); W.S. 1-38-102(d); W.S. 1-39-113(a)
Lawsuit deadlines, usually counted from the accident (wrongful death: often from the death). Checked November 5, 2026.

1 year: 1 state; 2 years: 25 states; 3 years: 18 states; 4 years: 3 states; 5 years: 1 state; 6 years: 3 states.

When the clock starts

For most car accident injuries the clock starts on the day of the crash, even if you are still treating. Settlement talks do not stop it. If the insurer has not resolved the claim as the deadline approaches, a lawsuit has to be filed to keep the claim alive; that is one of the main reasons people bring in a lawyer.

Exceptions

  • Minors: many states pause the clock for an injured child until adulthood.
  • Incapacity: many states pause it while the injured person is legally incapacitated.
  • Discovery: some states start the clock when an injury was or should have been discovered, which matters for injuries that show up later.
  • Defendant absent: some states pause it while the at-fault person is out of the state.

Each exception has conditions written into the state's statute, so check the state page and the statute before counting on one.

Claims against a government

If a government vehicle or a road condition was involved, state tort claims acts usually require a written notice of claim long before the regular deadline, and some cap damages. Where we verified a state's notice period, it appears on the state page.

Frequently asked questions

What is the statute of limitations for a car accident?

It is the deadline to file a lawsuit. For injuries from a car accident it is 2 years in 25 states, as short as 1 year in Tennessee, and as long as 6 years in Maine and Minnesota and North Dakota. The clock usually starts on the date of the accident.

Does the statute of limitations apply to insurance claims?

It applies to lawsuits. Insurance claims have their own, much shorter, reporting requirements in the policy, often "prompt" notice. Insurers know the lawsuit deadline, and a claim that cannot be filed in court loses most of its settlement value once the deadline passes.

Can the deadline be extended?

Sometimes. Many states pause (toll) the clock for injured minors until they become adults, and some for people who are legally incapacitated or when the at-fault person leaves the state. A few apply a discovery rule for injuries not found right away. These exceptions are narrow, so do not rely on them without a lawyer.

Is the deadline different for a claim against a city or state?

Usually yes. Claims against a government agency, such as a crash with a city bus or a road defect, often require a written notice of claim within a few months, long before the regular deadline, before you can sue.

What is the deadline for wrongful death?

Wrongful death has its own deadline in each state, usually counted from the date of death rather than the accident. It is listed in the table above.

Sources

Checked November 5, 2026.

  1. Alabama: Ala. Code 6-2-38(a) and (l); Ala. Code 6-2-34(2); Ala. Code 11-47-23
  2. Alaska: AS 09.10.070(a)(2), (a)(3); AS 09.55.580(a)
  3. Arizona: A.R.S. 12-542(1), (2), (3); A.R.S. 12-821.01; A.R.S. 12-821
  4. Arkansas: Ark. Code Ann. 16-56-105; Ark. Code Ann. 16-62-102(c)(1)
  5. California: Code Civ. Proc. 335.1; Code Civ. Proc. 338(c)(1); Gov. Code 911.2(a)
  6. Colorado: C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)(I); C.R.S. 13-80-102(1)(a), (1)(d), (2); C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)
  7. Connecticut: Conn. Gen. Stat. 52-584; Conn. Gen. Stat. 52-555(a)
  8. Delaware: 10 Del. C. 8119 (personal injury); 10 Del. C. 8107 (wrongful death, injury to personal property)
  9. District of Columbia: D.C. Code 12-301(3) and (8); D.C. Code 16-2702; D.C. Code 12-309
  10. Florida: Fla. Stat. 95.11(5)(a) and (5)(e); Fla. Stat. 768.28(6)(a)
  11. Georgia: O.C.G.A. 9-3-33; O.C.G.A. 9-3-32; O.C.G.A. 36-33-5(b); O.C.G.A. 50-21-26(a)(1)
  12. Hawaii: HRS 657-7; HRS 663-3; HRS 46-72
  13. Idaho: Idaho Code 5-219(4); Idaho Code 5-218(3); Idaho Code 6-906
  14. Illinois: 735 ILCS 5/13-202; 735 ILCS 5/13-205; 740 ILCS 180/2(d); 745 ILCS 10/8-101(a)
  15. Indiana: IC 34-11-2-4(a); IC 34-23-1-1; IC 34-13-3-8
  16. Iowa: Iowa Code 614.1(2) (injuries to the person); Iowa Code 614.1(4) (injuries to property); Iowa Code 669.13; Iowa Code 670.5
  17. Kansas: K.S.A. 60-513(a)(2), (a)(4), (a)(5); K.S.A. 12-105b(d)
  18. Kentucky: KRS 304.39-230(6) (motor vehicle tort actions); KRS 413.140(1)(a) (general personal injury, 1 year); KRS 413.125 (personal property, 2 years); KRS 413.180 and 411.130 (wrongful death); KRS 49.120 (Board of Claims)
  19. Louisiana: La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1 (delictual actions, 2 years); La. Civ. Code art. 2315.2(B) (wrongful death)
  20. Maine: 14 M.R.S. sec. 752 (6 years, PI and property); 18-C M.R.S. sec. 2-807(2) (wrongful death, 3 years after death); 14 M.R.S. sec. 8107(1) (Maine Tort Claims Act notice)
  21. Maryland: Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. sec. 5-101 (general 3 years); sec. 3-904(g)(1) (wrongful death); sec. 5-304 (Local Government Tort Claims Act notice); State Gov't sec. 12-106 (Maryland Tort Claims Act)
  22. Massachusetts: M.G.L. c. 260, sec. 2A (tort, 3 years); M.G.L. c. 229, sec. 2 (wrongful death, 3 years); M.G.L. c. 258, sec. 4 (Tort Claims Act presentment)
  23. Michigan: MCL 600.5805(1)-(2); MCL 600.6431; MCL 691.1404
  24. Minnesota: Minn. Stat. 541.05, subd. 1(4) and (5); Minn. Stat. 573.02, subd. 1 (wrongful death); Minn. Stat. 466.05; Minn. Stat. 3.736
  25. Mississippi: Miss. Code Ann. 15-1-49 (general 3 years); 11-46-11 (Tort Claims Act)
  26. Missouri: RSMo 516.120(4) (injury to person or goods, 5 years); RSMo 537.100 (wrongful death, 3 years)
  27. Montana: Mont. Code Ann. 27-2-204(1) and (2); 27-2-207; 2-9-301 (claims against the State)
  28. Nebraska: Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-207 (4 years); 30-810 (wrongful death, 2 years); 13-919 (Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act)
  29. Nevada: NRS 11.190(4)(e) (personal injury and wrongful death, 2 years); NRS 11.190(3)(c) (injury to personal property, 3 years); NRS 41.036
  30. New Hampshire: RSA 508:4, I (personal actions, 3 years); RSA 507-B:7 (bodily injury actions against governmental units)
  31. New Jersey: N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2(a) (personal injury, 2 years); 2A:14-1(a) (tortious injury to personal property, 6 years); 2A:31-3 (wrongful death, 2 years); 59:8-8 (Tort Claims Act notice)
  32. New Mexico: NMSA 1978, 37-1-8 (injury to the person, 3 years); 37-1-4 (injury to property, 4 years); 41-2-2 (wrongful death, 3 years from death); 41-4-16 (Tort Claims Act notice)
  33. New York: N.Y. CPLR 214(4) and (5); EPTL 5-4.1; General Municipal Law sec. 50-e
  34. North Carolina: N.C. Gen. Stat. 1-52(4), (5), (16) (3 years); 1-53(4) (wrongful death, 2 years)
  35. North Dakota: N.D.C.C. 28-01-16(4)-(5) (6 years: injury to person not arising on contract; injuring goods or chattels); N.D.C.C. 28-01-18(4) (2 years: death); N.D.C.C. 32-12.2-04(1); N.D.C.C. 32-12.1-10(1)
  36. Ohio: R.C. 2305.10(A); R.C. 2125.02(F)(1); R.C. 2744.04(A); R.C. 2743.16(A)
  37. Oklahoma: 12 O.S. 95(A)(3); 12 O.S. 1053(A); 51 O.S. 156(B)
  38. Oregon: ORS 12.110(1); ORS 12.080(4); ORS 30.020(1); ORS 30.275(2)
  39. Pennsylvania: 42 Pa.C.S. 5524(2), (3); 42 Pa.C.S. 5522(a)
  40. Rhode Island: R.I. Gen. Laws 9-1-14(b); 9-1-13(a); 10-7-2(c); 45-15-5
  41. South Carolina: S.C. Code 15-3-530(4), (5), (6); 15-78-110; 15-78-80(d)
  42. South Dakota: SDCL 15-2-14(3); SDCL 15-2-13(4); SDCL 21-5-3; SDCL 3-21-2
  43. Tennessee: Tenn. Code Ann. 28-3-104(a)(1), (a)(2); 28-3-105(1); 29-20-305(b)
  44. Texas: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.003(a), (b); 101.101
  45. Utah: Utah Code 78B-2-307(3), (4); 78B-2-305(1)(c)(ii) (as reenacted by 2026 H.B. 260); 78B-2-304(2); 63G-7-402
  46. Vermont: 12 V.S.A. 512(4), (5); 14 V.S.A. 1492(a)
  47. Virginia: Va. Code 8.01-243(A), (B); 8.01-244(B); 15.2-209(A); 8.01-195.6(A)
  48. Washington: RCW 4.16.080(2); RCW 4.96.020(4)
  49. West Virginia: W. Va. Code 55-2-12(a), (b); 55-7-6(d); 29-12A-6(a)
  50. Wisconsin: Wis. Stat. 893.54(1m)(a), (2m); 893.52(2); 893.80(1d)
  51. Wyoming: W.S. 1-3-105(a)(iv)(B), (C); W.S. 1-38-102(d); W.S. 1-39-113(a)