California · Personal injury

California Personal Injury Deadline, Fault, and Damages Rules

2 years from date of injury.

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

2 years from date of injury.

Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1

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

Pre-suit notice

Government claim notice

Government claim for personal injury/death must be presented within 6 months after accrual.

Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 911.2(a).

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

Remedy limits

Damage caps

No general ordinary-PI compensatory cap; MICRA caps medical-malpractice non-economic damages on annual tiers ($470k injury / $650k wrongful death in 2026).

Cal. Civ. Code Sec. 3333.2.

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.

Read the public guide

Understand the broader process and the records worth organizing first.

Browse related guides

Go deeper on deadlines, evidence, forms, and the practical workflow.

Find licensed help

Use public directories to find a lawyer who can apply the rules to a specific matter.

For personal injury attorneys

Put the deadline and proof gaps on the matter from day one

DocketBuddy keeps limitations, treatment, liability proof, records, demand posture, liens, and settlement work visible in one client record.

Open a sample personal injury brief Watch Ready check a sample packet

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.