Every jurisdiction in our dataset that gives 3 years to file a personal injury claim, with the governing statute.
Quick answer: 17 of 51 jurisdictions give 3 years for personal injury 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 injury |
| District of Columbia | D.C. Code § 12-301(8) | Date of injury |
| Maryland | Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 | Date of injury |
| Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A | Date of injury |
| Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5805(2) | Date of injury |
| Mississippi | Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49 | Date of injury |
| Montana | Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204 | Date of injury |
| New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4 | Date of injury or discovery |
| New Mexico | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 37-1-8 | Date of injury |
| New York | N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(5) | Date of injury |
| North Carolina | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(5) | Date of injury |
| Rhode Island | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b) | Date of injury |
| South Carolina | S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5) | Date of injury |
| South Dakota | S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-14.1 | Date of injury |
| Vermont | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 512(4) | Date of injury |
| Washington | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(2) | Date of injury |
| Wisconsin | Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m) | Date of injury |
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.