Every jurisdiction in our dataset that gives 3 years to file a medical malpractice claim, with the governing statute.
Quick answer: 14 of 51 jurisdictions give 3 years for medical malpractice claims: California, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin.
Data last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
| State | Statute | Clock starts |
|---|---|---|
| California | Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 340.5 | Date of injury or discovery (whichever is earlier) |
| District of Columbia | D.C. Code § 12-301(8) | Date of discovery |
| Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 24, § 2902 | Date of discovery |
| Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4 | Date of discovery |
| Montana | Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-205 | Date of discovery |
| Nevada | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 41A.097(2) | Date of injury or discovery |
| New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 507-C:4 | Date of discovery |
| New Mexico | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 41-5-13 | Date of discovery |
| North Carolina | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-15(c) | Date of last act of defendant or 1 year from discovery |
| Rhode Island | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14.1 | Date of discovery |
| South Carolina | S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-545 | Date of discovery |
| Vermont | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 521 | Date of discovery |
| Washington | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.350 | Date of discovery |
| Wisconsin | Wis. Stat. § 893.55(1m) | Date of discovery |
14 of 51 jurisdictions: California, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin.
Other states allow 1 year, 2 years, 2.5 years, 4 years, 5 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.