Statute of Limitations Countdown
Check how many days you have left to file your injury claim before the statute of limitations expires. State-specific, real deadlines — miss the SOL and you lose your case forever.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-20
⚠ Filing late = permanent case loss. Insurance negotiations can take 6+ months — don’t run out of leverage at the end.
730 days left
to file personal injury (general) in California
Deadline: August 25, 2028 · 24-month SOL · 0% of window elapsed
Simplified SOL periods only — many states have tolling exceptions (minors, fraudulent concealment, discovery rule). Government entities often require shorter notice periods (30-90 days). Always verify with an attorney.
Revisado Editorialmente — Contenido revisado en cuanto a exactitud utilizando investigación legal publicada, datos gubernamentales y registros judiciales verificados. Vea nuestra metodología
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What Is a Statute of Limitations?
The statute of limitations (SOL) is a hard legal deadline for filing a lawsuit. After it expires, the court will dismiss your case no matter how strong the evidence. The insurance company knows this and will stall negotiations hoping you miss the deadline — then your leverage disappears.
SOL varies enormously by state and claim type: Louisiana gives you just 12 months for personal injury, while Maine gives 72 months (6 years). Medical malpractice often has shorter SOLs than general PI (Ohio: 1 year vs 2 years). Workers’ comp uses separate statutes entirely.
Critical: Government claims (suing a city, county, state, or federal entity) typically require a Notice of Claim within 30-90 days, separate from the SOL. Missing this notice is fatal — even if the main SOL hasn’t expired.
SOL Extensions (Tolling)
Several doctrines can pause or extend SOL:
- Discovery Rule: Clock starts when you discover or should have discovered the injury, not when the injury happened. Critical for latent injuries (asbestos, medical errors with delayed symptoms).
- Minor Tolling: SOL is paused until the injured person turns 18. In Michigan and some states, med-mal minor tolling ends at age 13, not 18 — verify.
- Fraudulent Concealment: If the defendant actively hid the injury (doctor covering up surgical error), SOL pauses during concealment.
- Continuous Treatment: In med-mal, SOL may not start until treatment by that provider ends.
- Mental Incapacity: SOL may pause while plaintiff lacks legal capacity to sue.
These exceptions are narrow and require documentation. Don’t rely on them — file on time.
What This Tool Does
Enter your state, claim type, and injury date. The tool calculates:
- Exact deadline — the date after which you cannot file
- Days remaining — running countdown
- Status indicator — SAFE (>1 year), WARNING (<1 year), URGENT (<90 days), EXPIRED
- Window elapsed percentage — visual progress bar
Caveats: This tool uses simplified state SOL values. It does NOT account for tolling exceptions, government-notice-of-claim requirements, or state- specific statute-of-repose caps. For any actual case, consult an attorney to confirm your precise deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does negotiating with insurance stop the clock?
NO. Only filing an actual lawsuit tolls SOL. Letters, phone calls, demand letters, insurance claim numbers — none of those stop the clock. Insurers exploit this by stalling.
What if I’m suing the government?
Separate notice-of-claim rules apply — typically 30 to 180 days from incident, much shorter than SOL. New York requires 90 days, New Jersey 90 days, Michigan highway claims 120 days. Miss the notice and your case dies even if SOL is fine. Check with attorney.
What about my SOL for workers’ compensation?
Workers’ comp has separate SOL + notice rules. Most states require you to notify employer within 30-90 days, then file with the state workers’ comp board within 1-3 years. Some states (Vermont) are as short as 6 months.
My injury happened years ago — is it too late?
Maybe not. Discovery rule, minor tolling, or concealment could apply. Common scenarios where older injuries remain actionable:
- Childhood injuries (you had until 18 + SOL years)
- Medical injuries you just recently discovered
- Asbestos / mesothelioma (discovery rule, often 1-3 years from diagnosis)
- Sexual abuse (many states have revival windows 2022-2026)
Always consult an attorney — don’t self-assess expired.