Personal injury law
in California.
Start with the type of claim. Different procedures can apply to a car crash, a workplace injury or medical treatment.
California source checks
A filing period is not a countdown from a date alone. The cause of action, defendant, discovery, notice rules and exceptions matter. These records explain their scope; they do not calculate your deadline.
General personal injury filing period
California Courts describes a usual two-year period for ordinary personal injury lawsuits. Its general personal injury guide expressly excludes medical malpractice.
Scope: General personal injury background only. This is not a calculation of your deadline.
- Government defendants can involve a separate, shorter claim-presentation process.
- Discovery, age, claim classification and other exceptions require individual analysis.
Medical malpractice has separate timing rules
California Courts explains that a healthcare injury lawsuit generally must be filed by the earlier of one year after discovery (actual or reasonably expected) or three years after injury. Exceptions can change that analysis. The court also describes written notice to the provider at least 90 days before suing.
Scope: Healthcare-provider malpractice; not the ordinary two-year personal injury rule. Notice and limitation rules interact and need case-specific review.
- The court identifies exceptions including certain cases involving young children or an object left inside a patient.
- Government healthcare providers and other circumstances may introduce additional requirements.
Official places to continue
- California Courts — Civil lawsuits ↗
- California Department of Insurance — Understanding your policy ↗
- USA.gov — California government and agencies ↗
- U.S. Department of Labor — State workers’ compensation officials ↗
A resource link is a starting point. It does not verify every statement or establish that a particular rule applies. See our source and review policy.
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Unverified legacy numeric summaries are not presented as current statewide answers. Source checks cover the specific statements identified; no licensed-attorney review is implied.