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Know Your Deadline: California’s Statute of Limitations for Every Type of Personal Injury Claim In California, you have a limited time to file a personal injury claim—typically 2 years from the date of injury. Miss this deadline by even one day, and your right to recover is permanently barred by law. There are no exceptions, no second chances. At Sky Law Group in Orange County, we’ve seen victims forfeit cases worth $100,000+ because they waited too long. This guide breaks down every statute of limitations deadline by case type, plus the limited exceptions that might extend your time window. The Core Statute: California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1 California’s baseline statute of limitations for personal injury claims is 2 years from the date of injury (CCP §335.1). This means: If you’re injured on March 15, 2024, your deadline is March 15, 2026 Your lawyer must file a complaint in Orange County Superior Court by the last day of your deadline Waiting until the deadline is extremely risky—a single filing delay (computer error, lost documents, attorney mistake) can lose your case Settlement negotiations do NOT stop the clock; the deadline applies whether you’re in talks or not The 2-year deadline applies to the vast majority of personal injury cases: car accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and fall, dog bites, pedestrian accidents, and general personal injury claims. Specific Deadlines by Case Type Car Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, and Truck Accidents: 2 Years (CCP §335.1) Car accident, motorcycle accident, and truck accident claims have a […]