The statute of limitations is essentially a “window of time” in which an injured person has to file a claim against the negligent person or entity that caused their accident. Each state sets its statute of limitations, ranging from one year to ten years or more. In the state of Missouri, the victim of an accident has five years from the date of the injury to pursue damages. In the case of medical malpractice, the statute in Missouri is two years from the date of the medical error, and for wrongful death, the statute is three years from the date of the death.