Georgia car accident statute of limitations: two years for you, four for your car
The Georgia car accident statute of limitations gives you two years for injuries. Call free to check your date.
Georgia splits the clock in two. You have two years to sue for your injuries under O.C.G.A. 9-3-33, but four years for damage to your car under section 9-3-31. Both start on the day of the crash and the shorter one is the one people miss.
The deadlines in Georgia
| What | Time limit | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Injury lawsuit | Two years | O.C.G.A. 9-3-33 |
| Car or property damage lawsuit | Four years | O.C.G.A. 9-3-31 |
| Shared fault | Barred at 50 percent or more | O.C.G.A. 51-12-33(g) |
| Minimum liability cover | $25,000 / $50,000 / $25,000 | Georgia Insurance Commissioner |
| Crash that is also a crime | Clock paused during the prosecution, up to six years | O.C.G.A. 9-3-99 |
What can stop or stretch the Georgia deadline
When the crash is also a crime, such as drunk driving, Georgia pauses the victim’s clock. It stays paused until the criminal case ends, for up to six years, under section 9-3-99.
A child gets extra time as well. The two years do not begin until the injured child turns 18, under section 9-3-90. Long talks with the insurer never pause anything, however slow they get.
Georgia’s 50 percent fault line
Georgia trims your award by your share of the blame. Reach 50 percent and you get nothing, under section 51-12-33. So a jury that finds you 30 percent at fault turns a $10,000 loss into $7,000. Split it evenly and the same claim pays zero.
Insurance and your car in a Georgia claim
Georgia is an at-fault state. The driver who caused the wreck, through their insurer, pays for your injuries and your car. Each driver must carry at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for injuries, plus $25,000 for property, says the Georgia Insurance Commissioner.
The four-year car deadline leaves room to argue over repairs. A fixed car can still be worth less than before the wreck. This site has a separate Georgia diminished value page that explains that loss. Uninsured motorist cover on your own policy helps when the other driver has none.
When to call a Georgia car accident lawyer
Call soon if you were hurt, because the two-year injury clock is the one that bites. An attorney can pull the police report, gather your medical bills and file in the right county before time runs out. There is no charge for the call and the lawyer earns a fee only if you win.
Other states: Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina or every state on one page.
Georgia car accident statute of limitations questions
How long do I have to sue after a car accident in Georgia?
Two years for injuries and four years for car damage, both counted from the crash date.
What if I was 50 percent at fault in Georgia?
Then Georgia law bars you from recovering. Below 50 percent, your award shrinks by your share.
Does a DUI charge give me more time in Georgia?
It can. The civil clock pauses while the criminal case is open, for up to six years, under section 9-3-99.
Is Georgia a no-fault state?
No. Georgia is an at-fault state, so the driver who caused the crash pays through their liability insurance.
Before the clock runs out
In Georgia, being found half to blame means no recovery, so what you tell the adjuster matters. Call before you sign a release and get your deadline and offer checked at no cost.
Call about my deadline(833) 716-6705
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