You are here: Home > Personal Injury > Statute

State Statutes of Limitations in Civil Cases

Most states, including California, establish an outside limit on the amount of time you can wait to file a lawsuit after an even which gives rise to a claim for damages. The laws which set out that period of time within which a lawsuit must be filed are referred to as the "Statute of Limitations"; different states have different limitations periods, and almost every state has a different statute for different types of damage claims. Also, there may be special rules for particular defendants, such as doctors, attorneys, and government entities and their employees. Most courts strictly apply the Statute of Limitations, and there are very few situations which toll or stop the running of the applicable statute.

In California, most personal injury actions must be filed on or before the on year anniversary of the date on which the injury occurred. [-There is a Bill waiting for the Governor's signature which would increase that limitations period to two years, starting January 2003]. However, if the responsible party is a State or Local government entity or employee, you must make a "Tort Claim" to the governmental entity within 180 days of the date on which the injury occurred, then file a lawsuit within 180 days of the rejection of that claim.

If you have been injured in an accident in Orange County, you need to have an attorney closely review the facts of your claim to accurately determine the "statute date" for filing a lawsuit or presenting a governmental tort claim regarding your claims so that you do not lose the right to prosecute your claim against the responsible party.

We have found the following listing of personal injury Statutes of Limitations (effective as of January 1, 2002) from our searches on the Internet. We include the listing here for your convenience and reference: Do Not depend on this listing to decide on the Statute of Limitations for your own case. We are admitted to practice law only in California: you need to consult with an attorney in the appropriate jurisdiction for the litigation of your claim to make a determination of the proper Statute which applies to your claim. The listing follows:

STATE

STATUTE CODE

YEARS

Alabama

Code of Alabama Section 6-2-38

2 years

Alaska

Alaska Statutes Section 09 10.070

2 years

Arizona

Arizona Revised Statutes Section 12-542

2 years

Arkansas

Arkansas Stat. Annotated Section 16-56-115

5 years

California

Civil Civ. Procedure code Section 340

2 years

Colorado

Colorado Revised Statutes Section 13-80-102

2 years

Connecticut

Connecticut General Statutes Section 52-584

2 years

Delaware

Delaware Code Annotated cc 8107, 8119

2 years

D.C.

District of Columbia Code Section 12-301

3 years

Florida

Florida Statutes Section 95.11

4 years

Georgia

Georgia Code Ann. Section 3-1004

2 years

Hawaii

Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 657-7

2 years

Idaho

Idaho Code Section 5-219

2 years

Illinois

Illinois Statutes Ann. Section 13-202

2 years

Indiana

Indiana Code Ann. Section 34-1-2-2

2 years

Iowa

Iowa Code Annotated Section 614.1

2 years

Kansas

Kansas Statutes Annotated Section 60.513

2 years

Louisiana

Louisiana Civil Code Section 3492

1 year

Maine

Maine Revised Statutes Ann. Section 752

6 years

Maryland

Maryland Courts and Judicial Proceedings Code,Section 5-101

3 years

Massachusetts

Massachusetts General Laws Ann. Ch. 260,Section 2A4

3 years

Michigan

Michigan Compiled Laws Section 600.5805S

3 years

Mississippi

Mississippi Code Annotated Section 15-1-49

3 years

Missouri

Missouri Statute Annotated 35 Section 516.120

5 years

Montana

Montana Code Annotated Section 27-2-204, 27-2-207

3 years

Nebraska

Revised Statutes of Nebraska Section 25-208

4 years

Nevada

Nevada Revised Statutes Annotated Section 11.190

2 years

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Rev. Statutes Ann.Section 508:4

3 years

New Jersey

New Jersey Statutes Annotated Section 2A:14-2

2 years

New Mexico

New Mexico Statutes Ann. Section 37-1-8

3 years

New York

NEW YORK CIV. PRAC.R. Section 214

3 years

North Carolina

General Statutes of North Carolina Section 1-52

3 years

North Dakota

North Dakota Century Code Section 28-016

6 years

Ohio

Ohio Rev. Code Ann. Section 2305.10

2 years

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Statutes Annotated Title 12 Section 95

2 years

Oregon

Oregon Revised Statutes Section 12.110

2 years

Pennsylvania

42 PA Con. Stat. Annotated Section 5524

2 years

Rhode Island

General Laws of Rhode Island Section 9-14

3 years

South Carolina

South Carolina Code Ann. Section 15-3-530

3 years

South Dakota

South Dakota Comp. Laws Ann. Section 15-12-2, 15-2-14

3 years

Tennessee

Tennessee Code Annotated Section 28-3-104

1 year

Texas

Texas Civil Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. 2 Section 16.003

2 years

Utah

Utah Code Annotated Section 78-12-25

4 years

Vermont

Vermont Statutes Ann. Title 12, Section 512

3 years

Virginia

Virginia code Section 8.01-243

2 years

Washington

Revised Code of Washington Ann.Section 4.16.020

3 years

West Virginia

West Virginia Code Section 55-2-12

2 years

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Statutes Ann. Section 893.54

3 years

Wyoming

Wyoming Statutes Ann. Section 1-3-105

4 years

If you have been seriously injured in an accident or as a result of negligence, you need the advice of an experienced Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer. Call BISNAR | CHASE today for your FREE CONSULTATION or click here to fill out our convenient and confidential on-line case evaluation form.

800-561-4831

"WHEN RESULTS COUNT - COUNT ON BISNAR | CHASE"

HOLDING WRONGDOERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DAMAGES THEY CAUSE SINCE 1978


Super LawyersBISNAR | CHASE 2006-2011 - Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 60 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. BISNAR | CHASE has received this award for six consecutive years.


Million Dollar Advocates ForumLexis Nexis - AV Peer Review RatedBetter Business BureauPeople Over Profits

Orange County Personal Injury Attorneys - Orange County Personal Injury Lawyers - Southern California Accident Attorneys.

The Orange County Personal Injury Attorneys at Bisnar|Chase are licensed to practice in California, Nevada, Washington and New York. We represent Orange County Personal Injury clients in other states through our associations with local law firms. Through the local firm, we will be admitted to practice law in their State, "pro hac vice", meaning "for this particular occasion". When in our client's best interest, we employ the local law firm (at no additional cost to our client) to assist us with routine court appearances and discovery proceedings to more efficiently pursue our client's cause.

Cities We Serve: Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Habra, La Palma, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Orange, Placentia, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster, Yorba Linda

*Orange County Personal Injury Attorney Disclaimer: The Orange County personal injury, wrongful death, dog bite, nursing home negligence, amusement park accidents, negligence, product liability or other orange county legal information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer or attorney client relationship. Any results set forth here were dependent on the facts of that case and the results will differ from case to case. Please contact the Orange County personal injury lawyers and Orange County accident attorneys at our Orange County law firm. This web site is not intended to solicit clients for matters outside of the State of California, although we have relationships with attorneys and law firms in states throughout the Country. The lawyer to contact regarding this website is John Bisnar.

Copyright © 2011 BISNAR | CHASE. All rights reserved.

Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape

Original Website, SEO and Legal Internet Marketing by SLS Consulting | Sitemap

Google Analytics Alternative