All states in the country have a statute of limitations law governing when a lawsuit can be filed. Various events can trigger when the clock begins ticking on the time the victim has to file his or her claim. In Illinois, when it comes to most injuries that result from medical care, the following events can trigger the countdown: Discovery. The statute of limitations in Illinois generally allows a victim to file a lawsuit for medical malpractice for two years after the injury is discovered. Reasonable discovery period. The two year limitation may not begin when the injury is actually discovered. Instead, it may begin after the victim should have discovered the injury. Cutoff date. Illinois also begins tolling the cutoff date four years after the procedure that resulted in the injury occurred. There are some exceptions to this limitation. Children, for example, may have a longer period to assert a claim. Also, those who are unable to assert their rights due to incapacitation will also likely qualify for an exception.