Car accident statute of limitations by state
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The car accident statute of limitations by state sets your last day to sue for an injury, counted from the crash. Every row links to the law it comes from.
Deadlines to sue run from one to six years, two years in 25 states, and each state has its own fault rule.See every state.
Car accident statute of limitations in every state
| State | Deadline to sue | Fault rule |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | two years | Any fault can bar the claim |
| Alaska | two years | Pure comparative: your share comes off |
| Arizona | two years | Pure comparative: your share comes off |
| Arkansas | three years | Barred at 50 percent fault or more |
| California | two years | Pure comparative: your share comes off |
| Colorado | three years | Barred at 50 percent fault or more |
| Connecticut | two years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| Delaware | two years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| District of Columbia | three years | Any fault can bar the claim |
| Florida | two years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| Georgia | two years | Barred at 50 percent fault or more |
| Hawaii | two years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| Idaho | two years | Barred at 50 percent fault or more |
| Illinois | two years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| Indiana | two years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| Iowa | two years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| Kansas | two years | Barred at 50 percent fault or more |
| Kentucky | two years | Pure comparative: your share comes off |
| Louisiana | two years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| Maine | six years | Barred at 50 percent fault or more |
| Maryland | three years | Any fault can bar the claim |
| Massachusetts | three years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| Michigan | three years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| Minnesota | six years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| Mississippi | three years | Pure comparative: your share comes off |
| Missouri | five years | Pure comparative: your share comes off |
| Montana | three years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| Nebraska | four years | Barred at 50 percent fault or more |
| Nevada | two years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| New Hampshire | three years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| New Jersey | two years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| New Mexico | three years | Pure comparative: your share comes off |
| New York | three years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| North Carolina | three years | Any fault can bar the claim |
| North Dakota | six years | Barred at 50 percent fault or more |
| Ohio | two years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| Oklahoma | two years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| Oregon | two years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| Pennsylvania | two years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| Rhode Island | three years | Pure comparative: your share comes off |
| South Carolina | three years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| South Dakota | three years | Slight-fault rule |
| Tennessee | one year | Barred at 50 percent fault or more |
| Texas | two years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| Utah | four years | Barred at 50 percent fault or more |
| Vermont | three years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| Virginia | two years | Any fault can bar the claim |
| Washington | three years | Pure comparative: your share comes off |
| West Virginia | two years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| Wisconsin | three years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
| Wyoming | four years | Barred above 50 percent fault |
Deadlines follow the 50-state deadline table and fault rules the state fault table; Colorado and Kentucky use their motor vehicle statutes.
What stops the clock
Only filing a lawsuit stops it. Letters, calls and offers from the insurer do not. A claim against a city, county or state agency often has a much shorter notice deadline, sometimes six months.
Exceptions that can change your date
- The injured person was a minor: many states pause the clock until 18.
- A government vehicle or road was involved: a written notice is due first.
- The injury was found later: some states start the clock at discovery.
Statute of limitations questions
What is the statute of limitations for a car accident?
It is the deadline to file a lawsuit for your injury, counted from the day of the crash. It is two years in 25 states and runs from one to six years across the country.
Does an insurance claim stop the clock?
No. Talks with the insurer do not pause the deadline. Only filing a lawsuit does.
Which state gives only one year?
Tennessee gives one year for most injury claims after a crash. Kentucky gives two years for crash claims under its motor vehicle law.
Is the deadline for car damage the same?
Not always. Many states give longer for property damage than for injury. A lawyer on a free call checks both dates for your crash.
What to do now
Call about my deadline(833) 716-6705
Day or night we count your deadline free and connect a car accident lawyer who is paid only if you win.
Talks with the insurer do not pause the deadline, and only a filed lawsuit stops it. Most states give you two or three years from the crash to sue. Call now with your crash date and a lawyer counts the days for free.