{"id":94317,"date":"2026-07-04T05:17:05","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T05:17:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scrantonlawfirm.com\/legal-knowledge-hub\/california-personal-injury-statute-of-limitations\/"},"modified":"2026-07-04T06:12:05","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T06:12:05","slug":"california-personal-injury-statute-of-limitations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/scrantonlawfirm.com\/es\/california-personal-injury-statute-of-limitations\/","title":{"rendered":"Plazo de prescripci\u00f3n de lesiones personales en California"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"headline\":\"California Personal Injury Statute of Limitations\",\"description\":\"How long you have to file a personal injury claim in California: the two-year general rule, the six-month government deadline, the discovery rule, and the exceptions that can change your deadline.\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-03T08:00:00-07:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-03T08:00:00-07:00\",\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Scranton Law Firm\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/scrantonlawfirm.com\/#organization\"},\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Scranton Law Firm\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/scrantonlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Scranton_Law_Firm_Logo.svg\"},\"@id\":\"https:\/\/scrantonlawfirm.com\/#organization\"},\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/scrantonlawfirm.com\/california-personal-injury-statute-of-limitations\/\"},\"about\":[{\"@type\":\"Thing\",\"name\":\"Statute of limitations\"},{\"@type\":\"Thing\",\"name\":\"Personal injury deadline\"},{\"@type\":\"Thing\",\"name\":\"Government claim deadline\"},{\"@type\":\"Place\",\"name\":\"California\"}],\"keywords\":[\"California statute of limitations personal injury\",\"how long to file injury claim California\",\"car accident filing deadline California\",\"government claim six months California\"]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/scrantonlawfirm.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Legal Knowledge Hub\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/scrantonlawfirm.com\/legal-knowledge-hub\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"California Personal Injury Statute of Limitations\"}]},{\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim in California?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Generally two years from the date of injury, under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. 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These exceptions are narrow, so you should never assume one applies without confirming with an attorney.\"}}]}]}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<style>\n  :root{--slf-red:#C02C26;--slf-gold:#D4AF37;--slf-dark:#0f0f0f;--slf-gray:#555555;--slf-light-gray:#f8f8f8;--slf-border:#e0e0e0;--font-main:inherit;}\n  .slf-knowledge-article *{margin:0;padding:0;box-sizing:border-box;}\n  .slf-knowledge-article{font-family:var(--font-main);color:#111;background:#fff;line-height:1.7;}\n  .slf-knowledge-hero{background:#fff;padding:80px 20px 50px;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;}\n  .slf-knowledge-hero-wrap{max-width:800px;margin:0 auto;}\n  .slf-knowledge-breadcrumb{font-size:.8rem;color:#888;margin-bottom:20px;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;flex-wrap:wrap;}\n  .slf-knowledge-breadcrumb a{color:var(--slf-red);text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;}\n  .slf-knowledge-breadcrumb a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}\n  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h2{font-size:1.8rem;font-weight:900;color:#fff!important;margin-bottom:12px;line-height:1.25;}\n  .slf-knowledge-cta-sub{font-size:1.05rem;color:#aaa;margin-bottom:25px;}\n  .slf-knowledge-cta-phone{font-size:1.7rem;font-weight:900;margin-bottom:20px;}\n  .slf-knowledge-cta-phone a{color:var(--slf-gold);text-decoration:none;}\n  .slf-knowledge-cta-btn{display:inline-block;background:var(--slf-red);color:#fff!important;padding:16px 45px;border-radius:6px;font-weight:800;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:1px;text-decoration:none;transition:background .3s,transform .3s,box-shadow .3s;}\n  .slf-knowledge-cta-btn:hover{background:#a0241f;transform:translateY(-2px);box-shadow:0 8px 25px rgba(192,44,38,.3);}\n  .slf-knowledge-cta-trust{font-size:.85rem;color:#666;margin-top:18px;}\n  .slf-knowledge-disclaimer{padding:25px 20px;background:var(--slf-light-gray);border-top:1px solid var(--slf-border);}\n  .slf-knowledge-disclaimer-wrap{max-width:800px;margin:0 auto;}\n  .slf-knowledge-disclaimer p{font-size:.8rem;color:#888;line-height:1.6;margin:0;}\n  @media (max-width:768px){.slf-knowledge-hero{padding:60px 20px 40px;}.slf-toc-list{grid-template-columns:1fr;}.slf-related-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr;}}\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"slf-knowledge-article\">\n<section class=\"slf-knowledge-hero\">\n<div class=\"slf-knowledge-hero-wrap\">\n<nav class=\"slf-knowledge-breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\">\n        <a href=\"\/\">Home<\/a><br \/>\n        <span>\u203a<\/span><br \/>\n        <a href=\"\/legal-knowledge-hub\/\">Legal Knowledge Hub<\/a><br \/>\n        <span>\u203a<\/span><br \/>\n        <span>California Personal Injury Statute of Limitations<\/span><br \/>\n      <\/nav>\n<div class=\"slf-knowledge-meta\">\n        <span class=\"slf-knowledge-category\">Deadlines &amp; Filing<\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"slf-knowledge-reading-time\">6 min read<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<h1>California Personal Injury Statute of Limitations<\/h1>\n<p class=\"slf-knowledge-summary\">In California, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury claim. Miss that deadline and the court will almost always refuse to hear your case. Some situations shorten the window sharply, a claim against a government agency can be just six months, so knowing your deadline early is critical.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"slf-toc\">\n<div class=\"slf-toc-card\">\n<div class=\"slf-toc-header\">\n<h2>In This Article<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"slf-toc-body\">\n<ul class=\"slf-toc-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#what\">What It Means<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#how-long\">How Long You Have<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#clock\">When the Clock Starts<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#government\">The 6-Month Government Rule<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#exceptions\">Exceptions to the Deadline<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#miss\">If You Miss the Deadline<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<article class=\"slf-knowledge-content\">\n<div class=\"slf-knowledge-content-wrap\">\n<h2 id=\"what\">What Is a Statute of Limitations?<\/h2>\n<p>A statute of limitations is a legal deadline for filing a lawsuit. Once it passes, the person you are trying to hold responsible can ask the court to dismiss the case, and the court almost always will, no matter how strong your claim was. It exists so that disputes are resolved while evidence and memories are still fresh.<\/p>\n<p>For injured people, the practical takeaway is simple: a valid claim becomes worthless the day the deadline passes. That is why understanding your specific deadline early matters so much.<\/p>\n<div class=\"slf-key-takeaway\">\n<div class=\"slf-key-takeaway-label\">\u2696 Common California deadlines at a glance<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Personal injury:<\/strong> 2 years from the date of injury.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Claim against a government agency:<\/strong> 6 months to file the initial claim.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Property damage:<\/strong> 3 years from the date of damage.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Injury to a minor:<\/strong> the 2-year clock generally starts at their 18th birthday.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"how-long\">How Long Do You Have for an Injury Claim?<\/h2>\n<p>For most personal injury claims in California, including car accidents, motorcycle crashes, slip and falls, and dog bites, the deadline is two years.<\/p>\n<div class=\"slf-legal-code\">\n<div class=\"slf-legal-code-label\">The Core Rule<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;An action for injury to an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another must be filed within two years.&#8221; Cal. Code Civ. Proc. \u00a7 335.1. Damage to property has a separate three-year deadline under \u00a7 338.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Two years can feel like plenty of time, but building a strong case takes months of investigation, medical documentation, and negotiation. Waiting until the deadline is near limits what a lawyer can do and weakens your position.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"clock\">When Does the Clock Start?<\/h2>\n<p>In most cases, the clock starts on the date of the injury, the day of the crash or the fall. But not every injury is obvious right away, so California recognizes the discovery rule.<\/p>\n<p>Under the discovery rule, if you did not know and could not reasonably have known you were harmed, the clock may not start until you discover the injury or should have discovered it. This matters for injuries that surface later or harm that was not immediately connected to its cause. The rule is applied narrowly, so it should never be assumed without legal advice.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"government\">The Six-Month Government Deadline<\/h2>\n<p>This is the exception that catches people off guard and ends otherwise strong cases. If your injury involved a government agency, a city or county vehicle, a state-owned road, a public bus, or a dangerous public property, you do not get two years to start.<\/p>\n<div class=\"slf-warning-box\">\n<div class=\"slf-warning-box-label\">\u26a0 Six months, not two years<\/div>\n<p>Before you can sue a public entity in California, you generally must file a formal written claim with that entity within six months of the incident (Gov. Code \u00a7 911.2). Miss that six-month window and your right to sue the government can be lost before the two-year period is anywhere close to running out.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Because it is not always obvious that a government entity is involved, any crash with a public vehicle or on public property is worth a quick legal review right away.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"exceptions\">Exceptions That Can Change the Deadline<\/h2>\n<p>A limited set of circumstances can pause or extend the standard deadline. The most common ones:<\/p>\n<div class=\"slf-value-table-wrap\">\n<table class=\"slf-value-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Situation<\/th>\n<th>Effect on the deadline<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Injured person is a minor<\/td>\n<td>The two-year clock generally does not start until the child turns 18.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Injury discovered late<\/td>\n<td>Under the discovery rule, the clock may start when the harm was or should have been discovered.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At-fault party leaves California<\/td>\n<td>Time the defendant is out of state may not count against the deadline.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Injured person is incapacitated<\/td>\n<td>The deadline may be paused while a person is legally unable to act on their own behalf.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<p>These exceptions are narrow and fact-specific. Do not rely on one without confirming it applies to your situation, because guessing wrong means losing the claim entirely.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"miss\">What Happens If You Miss the Deadline?<\/h2>\n<p>If you file after the statute of limitations has run, the other side will move to dismiss, and the court will almost certainly grant it. The strength of your case does not matter at that point. This is why the safest approach is to treat the deadline as sooner than it is and get a claim moving well before it arrives.<\/p>\n<p>If you are unsure which deadline applies to you, a free call can pin it down in minutes and make sure nothing is running out while you wait.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<section id=\"faq\" class=\"slf-knowledge-faq\">\n<div class=\"slf-knowledge-faq-wrap\">\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<details class=\"slf-faq-item\">\n<summary>What is the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim in California?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"slf-faq-item-content\">\n<p>Generally two years from the date of injury, under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If you miss the deadline, the court will usually refuse to hear the case and you lose the right to recover.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"slf-faq-item\">\n<summary>What is the deadline for a claim against a government agency in California?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"slf-faq-item-content\">\n<p>You generally must file a written claim with the government entity within six months of the incident under Government Code section 911.2, before you can file a lawsuit. This short deadline applies to crashes involving city, county, or state vehicles or dangerous public roads.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"slf-faq-item\">\n<summary>When does the clock start on the statute of limitations?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"slf-faq-item-content\">\n<p>Usually on the date of the injury. Under the discovery rule, if an injury was not immediately known and could not reasonably have been discovered, the clock may start when you discovered, or should have discovered, the harm.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"slf-faq-item\">\n<summary>Is the deadline different for minors?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"slf-faq-item-content\">\n<p>Yes. For most injury claims, the two-year clock for a minor does not begin until their 18th birthday, giving them until age 20 to file. Claims against government entities have their own rules and much shorter deadlines, so early legal advice matters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"slf-faq-item\">\n<summary>Can the statute of limitations be extended?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"slf-faq-item-content\">\n<p>Sometimes. Limited exceptions can pause or extend the deadline, such as the injured person being a minor, the injury being discovered late, or the at-fault party leaving the state. These exceptions are narrow, so you should never assume one applies without confirming with an attorney.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"slf-knowledge-cta\">\n<div class=\"slf-knowledge-cta-wrap\">\n<hr class=\"slf-knowledge-cta-rule\" \/>\n<h2>Not sure how much time you have left?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"slf-knowledge-cta-sub\">Deadlines in California can be far shorter than people expect. A free call pins down yours before it is too late.<\/p>\n<div class=\"slf-knowledge-cta-phone\"><a href=\"tel:+18007070707\">(800) 707-0707<\/a><\/div>\n<p>      <a href=\"\/contact\/\" class=\"slf-knowledge-cta-btn\">Get My Free Case Review<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"slf-knowledge-cta-trust\">100% Confidential \u00b7 No fee unless we win \u00b7 Over $1 billion recovered<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"slf-knowledge-related\">\n<div class=\"slf-knowledge-related-wrap\">\n<h2>Related Legal Guides<\/h2>\n<div class=\"slf-related-grid\">\n        <a href=\"\/what-to-do-after-a-car-accident-in-northern-california\/\" class=\"slf-related-card\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"slf-related-label\">Legal Knowledge Hub<\/div>\n<div class=\"slf-related-title\">What to Do After a Car Accident<\/div>\n<div class=\"slf-related-desc\">The step-by-step from the scene to the claim.<\/div>\n<p>        <\/a><br \/>\n        <a href=\"\/how-much-is-my-car-accident-case-worth\/\" class=\"slf-related-card\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"slf-related-label\">Legal Knowledge Hub<\/div>\n<div class=\"slf-related-title\">How Much Is My Car Accident Case Worth?<\/div>\n<div class=\"slf-related-desc\">What determines your claim&#8217;s value, and why there is no honest average.<\/div>\n<p>        <\/a><br \/>\n        <a href=\"\/do-i-need-a-lawyer-after-a-car-accident\/\" class=\"slf-related-card\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"slf-related-label\">Legal Knowledge Hub<\/div>\n<div class=\"slf-related-title\">Do I Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident?<\/div>\n<div class=\"slf-related-desc\">When you can handle it yourself and when you should call.<\/div>\n<p>        <\/a>\n      <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"slf-knowledge-disclaimer\">\n<div class=\"slf-knowledge-disclaimer-wrap\">\n<p><strong>Disclaimer:<\/strong> This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is unique. For advice on your specific situation, contact a licensed California personal injury attorney.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home \u203a Legal Knowledge Hub \u203a California Personal Injury Statute of Limitations Deadlines &amp; Filing 6 min read California Personal Injury Statute of Limitations In California, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury claim. Miss that deadline and the court will almost always refuse to hear your [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-94317","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 5.0.3 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Home \u203a Legal Knowledge Hub \u203a California Personal Injury Statute of Limitations Deadlines &amp; Filing 6 min read California Personal Injury Statute of Limitations In California, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury claim. 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