Every state has a statute of limitations, which is the window of time an injured person has to file a lawsuit. In California, the statute of limitations is two years, starting on the date of your injuries. If you could not have reasonably known about your injuries when you sustained them, which is common in medical malpractice cases, the clock will begin when you should have reasonably become aware of them. That is why it is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible.