Simply speaking, the statute of limitations (SOL) is the given timeline that you have following an injury; it is a window of opportunity that you have to file a claim. In California, general personal injury and negligence claims have a SOL of two years. This involves the Discovery Rule, however, which means that the SOL does not apply until the injury or illness has been discovered or would have reasonably discovered. Although this does not apply to cases involving asbestos or medical malpractice. For medical malpractice, it is three years.