As with other types of personal injury claims, you only have a certain amount of time to file your car accident claim. This is known as the statute of limitations and, in Virginia, it is typically two years from the date of the accident. For cases involving wrongful death, the clock starts on the date of death, not necessarily the date of the accident. Additionally, if you wish to bring a claim for property damage after a car accident in Virginia, you must do so within five years of the accident. If you fail to bring a claim within the specified time limit, you will almost assuredly be barred from seeking damages.