State guides
Personal injury laws differ
state by state. Know yours.
Statute of limitations, comparative fault rules, damage caps — the rules that govern your claim vary significantly depending on where the accident happened. Find your state’s guide below.
States covered
Typical filing deadlines
Fault rule systems
Regularly for accuracy
In-depth guides
Popular state guides
Full guides to the filing deadline, fault rules and the exceptions that catch people out in each of these states.
CA
Statute of limitations
2 years
Fault system
Pure comparative
Key detail
Med mal cap: $470K (2026)
TX
Statute of limitations
2 years
Fault system
Modified comparative
Key detail
Med mal cap: $750K
FL
Statute of limitations
2 years
Fault system
Modified comparative
Key detail
PIP required
NY
Statute of limitations
3 years
Fault system
Pure (51% bar for car cases)
Key detail
90-day notice for city claims
IL
Statute of limitations
2 years
Fault system
Modified comparative
Key detail
1 year to sue a city or county
PA
Statute of limitations
2 years
Fault system
Modified comparative
Key detail
Choice no-fault
All 50 states
Complete state index
Every state with its general deadline for filing an injury lawsuit. States in bold have a full guide. See the 50-state table and map with statute citations, or work out your own filing date with the deadline calculator.
Northeast
- Connecticut — 2 yrs
- Maine — 6 yrs
- Massachusetts — 3 yrs
- New Hampshire — 3 yrs
- New Jersey — 2 yrs
- New York — 3 yrs
- Pennsylvania — 2 yrs
- Rhode Island — 3 yrs
- Vermont — 3 yrs
Southeast
- Alabama — 2 yrs
- Arkansas — 3 yrs
- Florida — 2 yrs
- Georgia — 2 yrs
- Kentucky — 1 yr (2 for car accidents)
- Louisiana — 2 yrs
- Maryland — 3 yrs
- Mississippi — 3 yrs
- North Carolina — 3 yrs
- South Carolina — 3 yrs
- Tennessee — 1 yr
- Virginia — 2 yrs
- West Virginia — 2 yrs
Midwest
- Illinois — 2 yrs
- Indiana — 2 yrs
- Iowa — 2 yrs
- Kansas — 2 yrs
- Michigan — 3 yrs
- Minnesota — 6 yrs
- Missouri — 5 yrs
- Nebraska — 4 yrs
- North Dakota — 6 yrs
- Ohio — 2 yrs
- South Dakota — 3 yrs
- Wisconsin — 3 yrs
South & Southwest
- Arizona — 2 yrs
- Delaware — 2 yrs
- New Mexico — 3 yrs
- Oklahoma — 2 yrs
- Texas — 2 yrs
West & Pacific
- Alaska — 2 yrs
- California — 2 yrs
- Colorado — 2 yrs (3 for car accidents)
- Hawaii — 2 yrs
- Idaho — 2 yrs
- Montana — 3 yrs
- Nevada — 2 yrs
- Oregon — 2 yrs
- Utah — 4 yrs
- Washington — 3 yrs
- Wyoming — 4 yrs
Not sure of your deadline?
Pick your state and the date of the injury. The calculator shows your general filing deadline and how many days are left.
Key legal concepts
Laws that vary by state - explained
These are the most important legal rules that differ between states. Understanding them helps you know what to expect from your claim.
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Statute of limitations
The deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing it means permanently losing your right to sue, regardless of how strong your case is. Most states set this at 2-3 years. See the deadline in every state →
Government claims often have a much shorter deadline – as little as 6 months to file a formal notice.
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Comparative vs. contributory fault
If you were partly at fault, your compensation may be reduced or eliminated. Pure comparative states let you recover even at 99% fault; modified comparative states cut you off at 50% or 51%, and a few places bar any fault at all. See the rule in every state →
Example (modified, 51% bar): 30% at fault in a $100,000 accident – you recover $70,000.
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Damage caps
Some states limit recovery, particularly for non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases. Caps vary widely – from $250,000 to over $1 million – some states have none.
California’s MICRA cap on med-mal non-economic damages is $470,000 in 2026 ($650,000 for wrongful death), rising each year until 2033.
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No-fault insurance states
In no-fault states, your own insurance pays your medical bills and lost wages after a car accident, regardless of fault. You can sue only if injuries meet a threshold.
No-fault states include Florida, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and several others.
Legal disclaimer: State law information on this page is provided for general educational purposes and may not reflect the most recent legislative changes. Personal injury laws are complex and fact-specific. Always consult a licensed attorney in your state before making decisions about a claim.