Every jurisdiction in our dataset that gives 3 years to file a assault & battery claim, with the governing statute.
Quick answer: 17 of 51 jurisdictions give 3 years for assault & battery claims: Arkansas, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin.
Data last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
| State | Statute | Clock starts |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105 | Date of the assault or battery |
| District of Columbia | D.C. Code § 12-301(8) | Date of the assault or battery |
| Maryland | Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 | Date of the assault or battery |
| Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A | Date of the assault or battery |
| Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5805(2) | Date of the assault or battery |
| Mississippi | Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49 | Date of the assault or battery |
| Montana | Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204 | Date of the assault or battery |
| New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4 | Date of the assault or battery |
| New Mexico | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 37-1-8 | Date of the assault or battery |
| New York | N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(5) | Date of the assault or battery |
| North Carolina | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(5) | Date of the assault or battery |
| Rhode Island | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b) | Date of the assault or battery |
| South Carolina | S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5) | Date of the assault or battery |
| South Dakota | S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-14.1 | Date of the assault or battery |
| Vermont | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 512(4) | Date of the assault or battery |
| Washington | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(2) | Date of the assault or battery |
| Wisconsin | Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m) | Date of the assault or battery |
17 of 51 jurisdictions: Arkansas, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin.
Other states allow 1 year, 2 years, 4 years, 5 years, 6 years. See the links on this page for each group.
Not always. Many states pause or extend the clock for minors, for harm that is discovered late, or when the defendant hides the wrong, and claims against governments often require earlier notice. Check your state's page for its exceptions.