What does statute of limitations mean in personal injury?

The legal deadline by which a personal injury claim must be filed in court. Limitation varies by jurisdiction and by claim type. Most US states allow two or three years from the date of injury; UK general limitation is three years for personal injury; Ireland is two years. Missing it usually extinguishes the claim entirely.

Where does statute of limitations apply?

Statute of limitations is a concept used across most personal-injury systems on this site. See individual country pages for jurisdiction-specific application.

Is this legal advice?

No. This page describes the term as it appears in published authority and practitioner usage. For advice on your specific case, consult a solicitor or attorney qualified in your jurisdiction.

Statute of limitations — Personal Injury Glossary

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What does statute of limitations mean in personal injury?
The legal deadline by which a personal injury claim must be filed in court. Limitation varies by jurisdiction and by claim type. Most US states allow two or three years from the date of injury; UK general limitation is three years for personal injury; Ireland is two years. Missing it usually extinguishes the claim entirely.
Where does statute of limitations apply?
Statute of limitations is a concept used across most personal-injury systems on this site. See individual country pages for jurisdiction-specific application.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page describes the term as it appears in published authority and practitioner usage. For advice on your specific case, consult a solicitor or attorney qualified in your jurisdiction.

★ editorial note

This entry describes the term as it appears in published authority and practitioner usage. Nothing on this page is legal advice. For your specific case, consult a solicitor or attorney qualified in your jurisdiction. See /methodology for how we derive figures elsewhere on the site, /sources for the standing authority list, and /disclaimer for the scope statement.

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Statute of limitations

What it means in practice.