We are regularly asked, “How long do I claim for personal injury in California?” Generally speaking, you have two years from the date of injury or from when you knew or should have known of a possible claim. However, there are lots of statutes that shorten that two years dramatically.
Claims against government entities generally have to be brought within six months. So, if you didn’t get a formal claim within six months and it involves a government entity, it’s forever barred. Of course, there are some exceptions, but generally speaking, it’s lost.
Likewise, claims for professional malpractice, such as dental or medical malpractice, generally must be brought within one year, not two years. So, the general rule is two years, but if you think you’ve been injured, you should never wait that long. You should contact an injury attorney immediately and find out precisely what statute of limitations applies to your claim.
