Personal Injury Statute Of Limitations in California

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Published July 14, 2026 • By DocketMath Team

Verified · 67 primary sources

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Quoted from the source law itself. Not legal advice; confirm how it applies to your matter.

Current verified answer

California statute-of-limitations: period is 3; period is 3.

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Authority and key facts

Citation: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1

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Verified April 23, 2026

  • Period: 3
  • Period: 3
  • Statute Of Limitations Years: 2
  • Government Notice Period Days: 180

This page provides general legal information and calculation tools, not legal advice. DocketMath is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation, and using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and exceptions apply, so deadlines and amounts specific to your situation should be confirmed with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.

Personal Injury Statute Of Limitations in California

California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 governs the time limit for filing a personal injury lawsuit in the state. This statute establishes a two-year window from the date the cause of action accrues, typically the date of injury. The rule applies to claims for bodily injury or death caused by another’s wrongful act or neglect. The worked example below demonstrates how this two-year period is calculated under the statute. Because the rule may be subject to exceptions or tolling provisions that are not enumerated here, the official source provides the complete statutory text. To estimate a specific deadline, the DocketMath calculator can compute the result based on the user’s individual circumstances.

Governing authority

In California, the statute of limitations rule is set by Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1. The verified packet cites Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1 (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP&sectionNum=335.1).

Deadline example

For a California personal injury limitations check, use the verified limitations period from the current rule packet: 2 years. The authority packet cites Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1 (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP&sectionNum=335.1).

Example inputs:

  • Accrual date: 2024-04-25
  • Filing date checked: 2026-04-25

Calculation:

  • Start with the accrual date.
  • Add 2 years.
  • The example deadline is 2026-04-25.

This example is generated from the verified facts packet rather than freeform prose. Confirm tolling, discovery rules, and claim-specific exceptions before relying on the date.

Estimate your own result: every situation has exceptions that can change the outcome. Use the personal injury statute of limitations calculator to estimate your specific figure.

This page provides general legal information and calculation tools, not legal advice. DocketMath is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation, and using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and exceptions apply, so deadlines and amounts specific to your situation should be confirmed with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.