Full Answer
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims varies by state. Most states fall in the two-to-four-year range — for example, two years in California, Texas, and Pennsylvania; three years in New York and Maryland; and four years in Florida (recently reduced from four to two for negligence in 2023).
Claims against a city, county, state, or federal government have much shorter deadlines. Many require a formal 'notice of claim' within 60 to 180 days of the injury. Missing this notice deadline almost always bars the lawsuit, regardless of how strong the claim is.
Certain situations toll (pause) the statute — minors, mental incapacity, fraud or concealment, or the 'discovery rule' for injuries not immediately apparent. If you are uncertain whether your claim is still timely, consult an attorney immediately.
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