California Car Accident Statute of Limitations
California car accident victims generally have 2 years from the crash date to file a personal injury lawsuit. Learn the exceptions and deadlines.
Key Deadlines: Car Accident
California gives most car accident victims two years from the crash date to file a personal injury lawsuit, and three years for property damage claims (§338). If a city bus, police vehicle, or other government car was involved, you must file a written government claim within six months. Wrongful death claims arising from a fatal collision also follow the two-year rule, measured from the date of death. Insurance company deadlines (such as uninsured motorist arbitration demands) often run sooner — sometimes within months — so contact a lawyer right away to preserve every available remedy.
Exceptions that can change your deadline
Several exceptions can shorten or extend the statute of limitations: the discovery rule (when an injury is discovered later), tolling for minors or mentally incapacitated victims, fraud or concealment by the defendant, and shorter deadlines for government entities (6 months). Every case is fact-specific — an attorney can confirm exactly how long you have.
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