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