Alabama · Personal injury

Alabama Personal Injury Deadline, Fault, and Damages Rules

General personal injury limitations period is 2 years.

4 rules checked against governing sourcesSources checked through Jul 3, 2026Inspect the coverage gate

Answer first, sources attached

Four liability rules to check first

Limitations, government notice, fault, and damages rules can change both case selection and the first preservation steps.

Filing deadline

General injury limitation period

General personal injury limitations period is 2 years.

Ala. Code Sec. 6-2-38(l).

Verified Jul 3, 2026 · Next review by Jul 3, 2027

Pre-suit notice

Government claim notice

Municipal tort-damage claims must be presented within 6 months after accrual; state/county paths are claim-specific.

Ala. Code Sec. 11-47-23.

Verified Jul 3, 2026 · Next review by Jul 3, 2027

Remedy limits

Damage caps

Punitive damages generally capped at greater of 3x compensatory damages or $500,000; physical-injury punitive cap branch is greater of 3x compensatory damages or $1.5 million; wrongful death punitive-only structure remains distinct.

Ala. Code Sec. 6-11-21.

Verified Jul 3, 2026 · Next review by Jul 3, 2027

What changes the answer

The statewide rule is the starting point

  • Claim and defendant typeMedical, product, wrongful-death, government, and other claims may use different clocks.
  • Accrual and discoveryThe event that starts a limitation period can be disputed or claim-specific.
  • Minority, incapacity, and tollingStatutory tolling and repose rules can change or override the general period.
  • Allocation and damages categoryFault thresholds and caps may apply differently by defendant, conduct, and remedy.

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This page reports source-linked state rules and review dates. It does not calculate a deadline, determine eligibility, select a procedure, value a claim, or apply law to an individual situation. Verify the cited authority, local procedure, and current law before relying on a rule.