Free Tool · California
Statute of Limitations Deadline Checker
Enter your case type and incident date to see how much time California law may give you to file. This is general information — not legal advice. Exceptions can extend or shorten your deadline.
Timing Check
Select a case type and incident date to check your timing.
California Injury Filing Deadlines at a Glance
The standard statutory clocks for the case types we handle.
| Case type | Deadline | Citation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Injury (negligence) | 2 yr | CCP § 335.1 | 2 years from date of injury. |
| Wrongful Death | 2 yr | CCP § 335.1 | 2 years from date of death. |
| Hit by a Business Vehicle (company truck or car) | 2 yr | CCP § 335.1 | 2 years from date of injury. Commercial policies and employer liability make early evidence preservation critical. |
| Hit by a Government Vehicle (city bus, county or state vehicle) | 2 yr | CCP § 335.1 | 2-year injury statute, BUT a government claim must generally be presented within 6 months first (Gov. Code § 911.2). |
| Government Entity Override | 6 mo | Gov. Code § 911.2 | Claims against public entities (city bus, county vehicle, state agency, school district) generally require presenting a government claim within 6 MONTHS — before any lawsuit. A separate lawsuit deadline applies after the entity responds. |
This tool provides general information only and is not legal advice. It does not account for exceptions such as tolling, the discovery rule, cases involving minors, or revival statutes — those require attorney analysis. Using this tool does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you believe you have a claim, contact an attorney promptly.