Statute of Limitations for General Personal Injury / Negligence in United Kingdom

How the limitation period applies

The controlling primary authority for United Kingdom (England & Wales) statute of limitations for personal-injury / negligence actions — Limitation Act 1980, section 11 (3 years) is Limitation Act 1980, section 11.

Limitation Act 1980, section 11. 11 Special time limit for actions in respect of personal injuries. E+W (1) This section applies to any action for damages for negligence, nuisance or breach of duty (whether the duty exists by virtue of a contract or of provision made by or under a statute or independently of any contract or any such provision) where the damages claimed by the plaintiff for the negligence, nuisance or breach of duty consist of or include damages in respect of personal injuries to the plaintiff or any other person. (1A) This section does not apply to any action brought for damages under section 3 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. (2) None of the time limits given in the preceding provisions of this Act shall apply to an action to which this section applies. (3) An action to which this section applies shall not be brought after the expiration of the period applicable in accordance with subsection (4) or (5) below. (4) Except where subsection (5) below applies, the period applicable is three years from— (a) the date on which the cause of action accrued; or (b) the date of knowledge (if later) of the person injured. (5) If the person injured dies before the expiration of the period mentioned in subsection (4) above, the period applicable as respects the cause of action surviving for the benefit of his estate by virtue of section 1 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934 shall be three years from— (a) the date of death; or (b) the date of the personal representative's knowledge; whichever is the later.

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DocketMath's statute-of-limitations tool can model these timelines once you identify the controlling claim type and accrual date. Use the source panel for the verified primary-source citations.

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Sources

• Limitation Act 1980, section 11 — Special time limit for actions in respect of personal injuries

All sources are official primary law published by legislation.gov.uk.

Corroboration method: Single official primary source: legislation.gov.uk, the UK government's official statutory text publication (.gov.uk). Section 11 of the Limitation Act 1980 is the canonical primary-injury limitation provision and is cited as such across reported judgments without dispute on the basic 3-year rule.