California Personal Injury Deadlines: Don’t Miss Your Statute of Limitations

When you’re dealing with an injury, the last thing on your mind is legal deadlines. You’re focused on getting medical care and getting your life back to normal. But there’s one thing you can’t afford to ignore—the statute of limitations in California. This is the legal countdown clock that determines how long you have to file a lawsuit, and it’s strict. If you wait too long, your right to pursue an accident claim can disappear entirely.

What makes this even more important is that the timeline isn’t the same for everyone. Because different types of personal injury cases have different filing windows, knowing which timeline applies to your situation is crucial.

To make things easy, let’s break down the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in simple, clear terms so you know exactly what deadlines apply and how to protect your right to compensation.

Why the Statute of Limitations Matters

The statute of limitations for personal injury claims is essentially your deadline to take legal action. If you don’t file your lawsuit on time, the court will almost always dismiss your case. That’s why it’s important to act quickly and talk to an attorney who can help protect your rights.

California has three primary timelines depending on the situation. Let’s look at each one.

Standard Personal Injury Claims: Two-Year Deadline

For most adults involved in an accident, the statute of limitations on accident claims in California is two years from the date of the injury. This timeline applies to many types of cases, including car crashes, bicycle or motorcycle accidents, slips and falls, dog bites, pedestrian accidents, rideshare accidents, and trucking accidents.

If you don’t discover your injury right away—something that happens in certain cases, such as brain injuries—California allows one year from the date you discovered (or should have discovered) the injury to file.

Two years may seem like a long time, but evidence fades quickly, surveillance footage gets deleted, and witnesses can move. Working with an attorney early helps ensure your case is built properly and filed on time.

Claims Against Government Agencies: Six-Month Deadline

If your injury involves a government employee or property, such as a city bus accident or a fall on government-owned land, the deadline is much shorter—you must file a Government Tort Claim within six months of the injury.This is a formal process that includes specific forms, strict deadlines, and mandatory language.

After the government entity responds (or fails to respond), you may then be allowed to file a lawsuit—usually within one year from the denial. Missing any part of this process can prevent you from recovering compensation.

Personal Injury Claims Involving Minors: Extended Deadlines

California law recognizes that minors can’t pursue claims on their own, so the statute of limitations on injury claims involving children is different. For most personal injury cases, the two-year clock does not start running until the child turns 18. That means they generally have until their 20th birthday to file a lawsuit.
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However, this extended deadline does not apply to every situation. For example, medical malpractice claims involving minors follow a different timeline, and claims against government agencies still require the same six-month filing deadline—even if the injured person is a child.
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Because these exceptions can be confusing, it’s important to speak with a legal professional early to know which statute of limitation timeline applies to your case. Additionally, an attorney can gather evidence for your personal injury claim and make sure everything is filed promptly.

Need Legal Help in North Hollywood or Encino?

Understanding the statute of limitations in California can feel overwhelming, but missing your deadline can end your case before it even starts. Remember, seeking advice early is the best way to protect yourself. If you have questions or need a better understanding of timelines, contact our law firm in North Hollywood for a free consultation.

Call us today to speak with a personal injury attorney in North Hollywood or request to be connected to a personal injury attorney in Encino. 

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