How long you have to bring an injury claim

California: two years

For injury to, or the death of, a person caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another, California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 says the action must be started within two years. We read it on the day shown under Sources.

Washington: three years

For an injury to a person that no other section names, subsection (2) of Revised Code of Washington 4.16.080, Actions limited to three years says the action must be started within three years. We read it on the day shown under Sources.

What these two lines leave out

Other deadlines exist. Some kinds of claims have different time limits, and some have special rules about when the clock starts. This page does not state them, because we have not read them for this guide. A claim against a government body, for example, can have its own rules and its own steps. Do not assume your claim is covered by the two lines above.

What to do with this

Ask early which deadline applies to you. A lawyer licensed in your state can tell you. You can ask any lawyer, and you can use every page of this guide to choose a different one than the firm.

Write down the date of the injury now, and keep your records. The first call page lists what to gather.

In another state

Every state has its own deadlines. This page states California’s and Washington’s because those are the sources it cites. For another state, ask that state’s bar.