All types of personal injury claims in California are subject to the “statute of limitations.” The statute of limitations is the time period in which you must resolve your claim, or file a lawsuit against the responsible party, in order to preserve your rights to pursue your claim. If you fail to do either of these before the statute of limitations, your claim will be barred – in other words, you lose the right to pursue your claim.
Depending on the type of claim you have, the statute of limitations will vary. Commonly, for cases such as motor vehicle accidents, or slip/trip and fall cases, for example, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of injury. The statute of limitations can get tricky – you should consult with a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer to verify the statute of limitations for your specific case.