California's Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury
4 min read
Miss the deadline and you lose your right to compensation. Here's how long you have to file in California.
The Two-Year Rule
In most California personal injury cases, you have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. If you wait even one day longer, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case and you will lose your right to recover anything.
Exceptions to the Deadline
Some situations pause or extend the deadline. If the injured person is a minor, the clock generally doesn't start until they turn 18. If the at-fault party left the state or was concealed, an extension may apply. Medical malpractice has its own shorter deadline — often one year from discovery, capped at three years.
Claims Against Government Entities
If your injury involved a government entity — a city bus, a public sidewalk, a government building — you must file a formal claim within six months of the incident. Missing this administrative deadline usually ends your case before it begins.
Don't Wait
Evidence fades, witnesses move, and memories blur. The sooner you contact an attorney, the stronger your case can be. The Law Office of Michael V. Jehdian offers free consultations. Call 888-977-8899 today.
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