Time
Which limitation period applies, when did it begin, and is there an earlier notice deadline?
Signature research hub
Personal injury laws by state: a research atlas
Personal injury rules are not uniform across the United States. Use this atlas to identify the right questions, open official sources, and continue to a state or city directory. It is a research starting point, not a deadline calculator or legal advice.
The four-coordinate method
Question frameworkMap the issue before reading a rule
Fault
How does the jurisdiction allocate fault among the claimant, defendants, and nonparties?
Defendant
Is a government body, employer, product maker, property owner, or other specially regulated party involved?
Forum
Which state’s law may apply, and which court or county could hear the dispute?
Learn on demand
Open the full glossary →Four concepts worth recognizing
TimingAccrual
The event that starts a limitations period. It may not always be the injury date, so confirm the governing rule and exceptions.
FaultComparative fault
A rule that may reduce or bar recovery based on a claimant’s share of responsibility. The threshold and formula vary by state.
ForumVenue
The proper geographic location for a case within a court system. Venue is different from whether a court has legal authority.
InsuranceSubrogation
A payer’s potential right to recover money it paid from a later settlement or judgment. The source and amount should be verified.
Official-source briefs
Reviewed September 24, 2026Priority state law maps
| Jurisdiction | Timing orientation | Fault orientation | Primary source |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 generally states a two-year period for an action involving injury or death caused by another person’s wrongful act or neglect. Different claims, defendants, and tolling rules can change the analysis. | California Civil Code § 1431.2 addresses allocation of noneconomic damages in actions based on comparative fault. The effect of fault on a particular claim requires case-specific analysis. | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1 ↗ |
| Florida | Florida Statutes § 95.11 contains multiple limitation periods. Negligence deadlines were amended in 2023, so the incident date, cause of action, and transition language matter; do not select a deadline from a generic summary. | Florida Statutes § 768.81 provides for proportional reduction and, for covered negligence actions, a greater-than-50-percent bar, subject to statutory scope and exceptions. | Fla. Stat. § 95.11 ↗ |
| Washington | Washington RCW 4.16.080 generally provides three years for an action for injury to the person, although another provision can govern a particular claim. | RCW 4.22.005 says contributory fault proportionately reduces compensatory damages in a covered action but does not bar recovery. | RCW 4.16.080 ↗ |
| Arizona | Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-542 generally places listed personal-injury actions in a two-year category measured from accrual, subject to other statutes and exceptions. | A.R.S. § 12-2505 generally reduces damages in proportion to relative fault rather than applying a fixed 50-percent cutoff, subject to its stated limitations and other applicable law. | A.R.S. § 12-542 ↗ |
| Illinois | 735 ILCS 5/13-202 generally provides two years after accrual for an action for damages for injury to the person, while exceptions and other claim categories can apply. | 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 bars a plaintiff in a covered action when contributory fault is more than 50 percent of the proximate cause and otherwise reduces damages proportionately. | 735 ILCS 5/13-202 ↗ |
| North Carolina | North Carolina General Statutes § 1-52 provides a three-year period for many personal-injury actions, with separate accrual provisions and exceptions. | Contributory negligence remains a consequential issue in North Carolina. The applicable law and facts should be assessed rather than assuming shared fault merely reduces damages. | North Carolina G.S. § 1-52 ↗ |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Revised Statutes § 413.140 generally places an action for injury to the person in a one-year category, with separate accrual and claim-specific rules. | KRS § 411.182 directs courts to allocate fault among relevant parties in covered tort actions. The evidence and current law determine the effect in a particular matter. | KRS § 413.140 ↗ |
| Michigan | Michigan Compiled Laws § 600.5805 contains limitation periods for injury and death claims, including a general three-year provision, while other claim types and accrual rules may differ. | MCL § 600.2959 reduces damages by the injured person’s percentage of comparative fault and sets an additional rule for noneconomic damages when that percentage is greater than the aggregate fault of others. | MCL § 600.5805 ↗ |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts General Laws c. 260, § 2A generally places tort actions and actions of contract to recover for personal injuries in a three-year category measured from accrual, except as otherwise provided. | Massachusetts General Laws c. 231, § 85 provides a comparative-negligence framework for covered actions. Recovery is barred when claimant negligence is greater than the total negligence attributable to the persons against whom recovery is sought; otherwise damages are reduced proportionately. | Mass. Gen. Laws c. 260, § 2A ↗ |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Statutes § 541.07 places many tort actions resulting in personal injury in a two-year category, while the section’s exceptions and other limitation statutes can control particular claims. | Minnesota Statutes § 604.01 states that contributory fault does not bar recovery in a covered action when it is not greater than the fault of the person against whom recovery is sought. Allowed damages are reduced in proportion to the claimant’s fault. | Minn. Stat. § 541.07 ↗ |
| New York | CPLR 214 lists a three-year period for many personal-injury actions, while CPLR 214-a and other provisions impose different rules for particular claims. Accrual and defendant-specific notice rules also matter. | CPLR 1411 states that culpable conduct attributable to the claimant diminishes recoverable damages in proportion to that conduct but does not bar recovery. | New York CPLR Article 2 ↗ |
| Ohio | Ohio Revised Code § 2305.10 generally provides a two-year period for bodily-injury actions, with separate accrual provisions and exceptions for specified claims. | Ohio Revised Code § 2315.33 allows recovery when the plaintiff’s contributory fault is not greater than the combined tortious conduct of the other persons described by the statute, and reduces damages proportionally. | Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10 ↗ |
| Oregon | ORS 12.110 generally places an action for injury to a person or another’s rights, not arising on contract and not specially enumerated, in a two-year category. Specialized claims and statutes can change the period or accrual analysis. | ORS 31.600 allows recovery in a covered action when fault attributable to the claimant is not greater than the combined fault of the persons the statute specifies. Allowed damages are reduced by the claimant’s percentage of fault. | ORS chapter 12 — § 12.110 ↗ |
| Pennsylvania | 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524 places many actions for injury to a person or death caused by another person’s wrongful act, neglect, unlawful violence, or negligence in a two-year category. Accrual, claim type, and other provisions can change the analysis. | 42 Pa.C.S. § 7102 provides that claimant negligence does not bar recovery in a covered negligence action when it is not greater than the causal negligence of the defendant or defendants, and otherwise reduces damages proportionately. The section also contains allocation rules and activity-specific provisions. | 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524 ↗ |
| New Jersey | N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2 generally states that an action for injury to a person caused by another person’s wrongful act, neglect, or default must be commenced within two years after accrual, except as otherwise provided by law. The statute contains additional provisions, and other claims can follow different rules. | N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1 states that contributory negligence does not bar recovery in a covered negligence action when it is not greater than the negligence of the person or combined persons against whom recovery is sought, and reduces damages by the attributed percentage. | N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2 ↗ |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island General Laws § 9-1-14 generally requires actions for injuries to the person to be commenced within three years after accrual. The section and other statutes contain exceptions for specific claims and circumstances. | Rhode Island General Laws § 9-20-4 provides that a claimant’s lack of due care does not bar recovery in covered personal-injury, death, or property-damage actions. Damages are diminished in proportion to the negligence attributed to the claimant. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14 ↗ |
| Texas | Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 generally provides a two-year period for personal-injury and wrongful-death actions, subject to accrual rules and statutory exceptions. | Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001 states that a claimant may not recover damages when the claimant’s percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent. | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code ch. 16 ↗ |
| Virginia | Virginia Code § 8.01-243(A) generally states that every action for personal injuries, whatever the theory of recovery, must be brought within two years after accrual unless another part of the section or another statute provides otherwise. | Virginia’s official civil model jury instruction 6.050 describes contributory negligence for covered negligence actions: the parties’ negligence is not compared, and claimant negligence that proximately caused the injury bars recovery. Exceptions and claim-specific doctrines require legal review. | Va. Code § 8.01-243 ↗ |
California injury law map →
Timing question
California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 generally states a two-year period for an action involving injury or death caused by another person’s wrongful act or neglect. Different claims, defendants, and tolling rules can change the analysis.
Fault question
California Civil Code § 1431.2 addresses allocation of noneconomic damages in actions based on comparative fault. The effect of fault on a particular claim requires case-specific analysis.
Florida injury law map →
Timing question
Florida Statutes § 95.11 contains multiple limitation periods. Negligence deadlines were amended in 2023, so the incident date, cause of action, and transition language matter; do not select a deadline from a generic summary.
Fault question
Florida Statutes § 768.81 provides for proportional reduction and, for covered negligence actions, a greater-than-50-percent bar, subject to statutory scope and exceptions.
Washington injury law map →
Timing question
Washington RCW 4.16.080 generally provides three years for an action for injury to the person, although another provision can govern a particular claim.
Fault question
RCW 4.22.005 says contributory fault proportionately reduces compensatory damages in a covered action but does not bar recovery.
Arizona injury law map →
Timing question
Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-542 generally places listed personal-injury actions in a two-year category measured from accrual, subject to other statutes and exceptions.
Fault question
A.R.S. § 12-2505 generally reduces damages in proportion to relative fault rather than applying a fixed 50-percent cutoff, subject to its stated limitations and other applicable law.
Illinois injury law map →
Timing question
735 ILCS 5/13-202 generally provides two years after accrual for an action for damages for injury to the person, while exceptions and other claim categories can apply.
Fault question
735 ILCS 5/2-1116 bars a plaintiff in a covered action when contributory fault is more than 50 percent of the proximate cause and otherwise reduces damages proportionately.
North Carolina injury law map →
Timing question
North Carolina General Statutes § 1-52 provides a three-year period for many personal-injury actions, with separate accrual provisions and exceptions.
Fault question
Contributory negligence remains a consequential issue in North Carolina. The applicable law and facts should be assessed rather than assuming shared fault merely reduces damages.
Kentucky injury law map →
Timing question
Kentucky Revised Statutes § 413.140 generally places an action for injury to the person in a one-year category, with separate accrual and claim-specific rules.
Fault question
KRS § 411.182 directs courts to allocate fault among relevant parties in covered tort actions. The evidence and current law determine the effect in a particular matter.
Michigan injury law map →
Timing question
Michigan Compiled Laws § 600.5805 contains limitation periods for injury and death claims, including a general three-year provision, while other claim types and accrual rules may differ.
Fault question
MCL § 600.2959 reduces damages by the injured person’s percentage of comparative fault and sets an additional rule for noneconomic damages when that percentage is greater than the aggregate fault of others.
Massachusetts injury law map →
Timing question
Massachusetts General Laws c. 260, § 2A generally places tort actions and actions of contract to recover for personal injuries in a three-year category measured from accrual, except as otherwise provided.
Fault question
Massachusetts General Laws c. 231, § 85 provides a comparative-negligence framework for covered actions. Recovery is barred when claimant negligence is greater than the total negligence attributable to the persons against whom recovery is sought; otherwise damages are reduced proportionately.
Minnesota injury law map →
Timing question
Minnesota Statutes § 541.07 places many tort actions resulting in personal injury in a two-year category, while the section’s exceptions and other limitation statutes can control particular claims.
Fault question
Minnesota Statutes § 604.01 states that contributory fault does not bar recovery in a covered action when it is not greater than the fault of the person against whom recovery is sought. Allowed damages are reduced in proportion to the claimant’s fault.
New York injury law map →
Timing question
CPLR 214 lists a three-year period for many personal-injury actions, while CPLR 214-a and other provisions impose different rules for particular claims. Accrual and defendant-specific notice rules also matter.
Fault question
CPLR 1411 states that culpable conduct attributable to the claimant diminishes recoverable damages in proportion to that conduct but does not bar recovery.
Ohio injury law map →
Timing question
Ohio Revised Code § 2305.10 generally provides a two-year period for bodily-injury actions, with separate accrual provisions and exceptions for specified claims.
Fault question
Ohio Revised Code § 2315.33 allows recovery when the plaintiff’s contributory fault is not greater than the combined tortious conduct of the other persons described by the statute, and reduces damages proportionally.
Oregon injury law map →
Timing question
ORS 12.110 generally places an action for injury to a person or another’s rights, not arising on contract and not specially enumerated, in a two-year category. Specialized claims and statutes can change the period or accrual analysis.
Fault question
ORS 31.600 allows recovery in a covered action when fault attributable to the claimant is not greater than the combined fault of the persons the statute specifies. Allowed damages are reduced by the claimant’s percentage of fault.
Pennsylvania injury law map →
Timing question
42 Pa.C.S. § 5524 places many actions for injury to a person or death caused by another person’s wrongful act, neglect, unlawful violence, or negligence in a two-year category. Accrual, claim type, and other provisions can change the analysis.
Fault question
42 Pa.C.S. § 7102 provides that claimant negligence does not bar recovery in a covered negligence action when it is not greater than the causal negligence of the defendant or defendants, and otherwise reduces damages proportionately. The section also contains allocation rules and activity-specific provisions.
New Jersey injury law map →
Timing question
N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2 generally states that an action for injury to a person caused by another person’s wrongful act, neglect, or default must be commenced within two years after accrual, except as otherwise provided by law. The statute contains additional provisions, and other claims can follow different rules.
Fault question
N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1 states that contributory negligence does not bar recovery in a covered negligence action when it is not greater than the negligence of the person or combined persons against whom recovery is sought, and reduces damages by the attributed percentage.
Rhode Island injury law map →
Timing question
Rhode Island General Laws § 9-1-14 generally requires actions for injuries to the person to be commenced within three years after accrual. The section and other statutes contain exceptions for specific claims and circumstances.
Fault question
Rhode Island General Laws § 9-20-4 provides that a claimant’s lack of due care does not bar recovery in covered personal-injury, death, or property-damage actions. Damages are diminished in proportion to the negligence attributed to the claimant.
Texas injury law map →
Timing question
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 generally provides a two-year period for personal-injury and wrongful-death actions, subject to accrual rules and statutory exceptions.
Fault question
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001 states that a claimant may not recover damages when the claimant’s percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent.
Virginia injury law map →
Timing question
Virginia Code § 8.01-243(A) generally states that every action for personal injuries, whatever the theory of recovery, must be brought within two years after accrual unless another part of the section or another statute provides otherwise.
Fault question
Virginia’s official civil model jury instruction 6.050 describes contributory negligence for covered negligence actions: the parties’ negligence is not compared, and claimant negligence that proximately caused the injury bars recovery. Exceptions and claim-specific doctrines require legal review.
All jurisdictions
50 states + DCContinue to a state directory
States without a sourced brief still provide live directory markets, major population centers, and a research checklist. A legal rule is not summarized here until its primary sources have been reviewed.
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