Last reviewed: October 2026 by the InjuryLawResource Editorial Team. This tool gives general information, not legal advice.
Choose the state where you were injured and the date it happened. The calculator shows the general deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit in that state and how much time is left. It uses the same statutes listed in our 50-state deadline table.
A few states set a different deadline for motor vehicle accidents.
How the deadline is worked out
Each state sets a statute of limitations, which is the time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit in court. The calculator takes the date of your injury and adds the number of years in that state's general statute for negligence claims. It adjusts for the states where the general rule does not apply:
- Colorado and Kentucky have a longer deadline for most motor vehicle accident claims.
- Florida changed its deadline from four years to two for claims arising after March 24, 2023.
- Louisiana changed its deadline from one year to two for injuries on or after July 1, 2024.
The result is the general deadline. It is a starting point for understanding how much time you have, not a substitute for advice on your own case.
What the calculator does not cover
- Claims against government bodies. These usually require a written notice of claim long before the lawsuit deadline, sometimes within weeks.
- Medical malpractice. Most states have a separate, often shorter, deadline with its own rules.
- Wrongful death. The deadline usually runs from the date of death and may be a different length.
- Children and people who lack legal capacity. The clock is often paused for them.
- Injuries discovered later. Many states start the clock when the injury was, or should have been, discovered.
- Insurance and workers' compensation deadlines. These are separate and usually much shorter.
If any of these might apply to you, or your deadline is within a few months, speak to a lawyer. See how to find a personal injury lawyer.
Frequently asked questions
Is the deadline counted from the accident or from when I found out I was hurt?
Usually from the date of the accident. Many states make an exception when an injury could not reasonably have been discovered at the time, but how far that goes varies, so do not rely on it without advice.
Does talking to the insurance company stop the clock?
No. Negotiating a claim does not pause the statute of limitations. Only filing a lawsuit, or a specific legal exception, does.
Which state's deadline applies if I live somewhere else?
Normally the state where the injury happened, because that is usually where the case would be filed. Choose that state in the calculator.
Does this calculator store what I enter?
No. The calculation runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent to us or saved.
Sources
Each deadline comes from the state statute shown in the result and listed in full in our statute of limitations table. Detailed guides: Texas, California.
