What is the statute of limitations in California?

What is the Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Cases in California?

If you’ve been injured in an accident here in Orange County, you may be wondering: How long do I have to file a personal injury claim? The answer comes down to something called the statute of limitations - and missing this deadline could cost you your entire case.

What Does “Statute of Limitations” Mean?

The statute of limitations is the legal time limit for filing a lawsuit in court. For personal injury cases in California - including car accidents, slip and falls and other injuries caused by someone else’s negligence - you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a claim.

If you try to file a lawsuit after this deadline has passed, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case, no matter how strong your claim is.

Please refer to the table below to check the statute of limitations for your specific injury type or damages, or reach out to us with your questions - you can schedule a free consultation anytime.

Injury type	California statute of limitations (generally)
Recovery or conversion of personal property left at a hotel, hospital, or similar temporary lodging	90 days
Government negligence	6 months
Asbestos exposure/mesothelioma Defamation Felony (SOL is tolled until after judgment) Malpractice (legal, medical, or veterinary)	1 year
Breach of oral contract False imprisonment Personal injury (such as car accidents, slip-and-falls, dog bites, etc.) Wrongful death	2 years
Fraud Property damage/trespass	3 years
Breach of written contract	4 years
Wrongful birth	6 years
Serious felony	10 years
Child sex abuse/assault	When you turn 40 or 5 years after you discover the abuse (whichever is later) 14 CCP §340.2(a) CCP §341a CCP Title 2