Iowa · Personal injury

Iowa 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.

Iowa Code Sec. 614.1(2).

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

Pre-suit notice

Government claim notice

Iowa Tort Claims Act claim against the state must be made in writing and filed with the director of the Department of Management within 2 years after accrual.

Iowa Code Sec. 669.13.

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

Recovery threshold

Comparative fault rule

Modified comparative fault; claimant fault does not bar recovery unless it bears a greater percentage than the combined fault of defendants and released parties.

Iowa Code Sec. 668.3.

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.