All civil filing deadlines for Oregon — official statute citations, plain-English explanations, and key exceptions.
✓ Data reviewed: October 2026Quick answer: Oregon deadlines at a glance — personal injury: 2 years; medical malpractice: 2 years; written contract: 6 years; oral contract: 6 years; wrongful death: 3 years; defamation: 1 year.
Data last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
| Case Type | Years to File | Official Statute | Key Exception |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⚖️ Personal Injury | 2 yr | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1) | Gov entities: Notice of Tort Claim within 180 days |
| 🏥 Medical Malpractice | 2 yr | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(4) | 5-year statute of repose from date of act |
| 📄 Written Contract | 6 yr | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.080(1) | — |
| 🗣️ Oral Contract | 6 yr | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.080(3) | — |
| 📰 Defamation | 1 yr | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.120(2) | — |
| 🕊️ Wrongful Death | 3 yr | Or. Rev. Stat. § 30.020 | — |
| 🏠 Property Damage | 6 yr | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.080(3) | — |
| 🔍 Fraud | 6 yr | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.080(3) | Discovery rule applies |
| 🚶 Slip & Fall | 2 yr | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1) | Gov entities: Notice of Tort Claim within 180 days |
| 🐕 Dog Bite | 2 yr | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1) | Gov entities: Notice of Tort Claim within 180 days |
| ⚠️ Product Liability | 2 yr | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1) | Gov entities: Notice of Tort Claim within 180 days |
| ⚡ Assault & Battery | 2 yr | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1) | Gov entities: Notice of Tort Claim within 180 days |
| 🛡️ Sexual Assault | 3 yr | ORS 12.117 | No SOL for childhood sexual abuse (Oregon law) |
| 🏥 Nursing Home Abuse | 2 yr | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1) | Gov entities: Notice of Tort Claim within 180 days |
Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1)
Date of injury or discovery
Two years for personal injury in Oregon. Discovery rule may apply.
View Personal Injury deadlines in all states →Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(4)
Date of discovery
Two years from discovery with a 5-year repose cap.
View Medical Malpractice deadlines in all states →Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.080(1)
Date of breach
No major exceptions noted.
Six years for written contracts.
View Written Contract deadlines in all states →Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.080(3)
Date of breach
No major exceptions noted.
Oregon gives 6 years to file a oral contract claim under Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.080(3). Exceptions and special accrual rules are listed above.
View Oral Contract deadlines in all states →Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.120(2)
Date of publication
No major exceptions noted.
Only 1 year for defamation in Oregon.
View Defamation deadlines in all states →Or. Rev. Stat. § 30.020
Date of death
No major exceptions noted.
Three years from the date of death.
View Wrongful Death deadlines in all states →Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.080(3)
Date of damage
No major exceptions noted.
Six years for property damage.
View Property Damage deadlines in all states →Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.080(3)
Date of discovery
Six years from discovery of the fraud.
View Fraud deadlines in all states →Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1)
Date of fall, trip, or injury on the property
Oregon applies the 2-year personal injury statute to slip and fall (premises liability) claims. To win, you must show the property owner knew or should have known of the hazardous condition and failed to fix it or warn you.
View Slip & Fall deadlines in all states →Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1)
Date of bite, attack, or injury
Oregon applies the 2-year period to dog bite and animal attack claims. Most states impose strict liability on dog owners for bites; some require proof the owner knew the animal was dangerous ("one bite rule").
View Dog Bite deadlines in all states →Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1)
Date of injury OR date the defect was or should have been discovered
Oregon product liability claims follow the 2-year personal injury period. The discovery rule typically applies when a product defect was not immediately apparent. Check for any applicable statute of repose measured from the date of manufacture or sale.
View Product Liability deadlines in all states →Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1)
Date of the assault or battery
Civil assault and battery claims in Oregon are subject to the 2-year personal injury statute. You can file a civil lawsuit regardless of whether criminal charges were filed — they are separate proceedings with different burdens of proof.
View Assault & Battery deadlines in all states →ORS 12.117
Date of discovery; no SOL for childhood
Oregon has eliminated the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse. Adult survivors have 3 years from discovery.
View Sexual Assault deadlines in all states →Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1)
Date abuse occurred or was discovered
Oregon nursing home neglect and abuse claims are governed by the 2-year personal injury statute. The discovery rule is critical — abuse is frequently concealed, and courts often hold the clock starts when the family discovered (or should have discovered) the abuse. Preserve all medical records, facility reports, and communications.
View Nursing Home Abuse deadlines in all states →| Claim type | Oregon | National median | Compared with other states |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Injury | 2 years | 2 years | Typical (longer than 2, shorter than 24) |
| Medical Malpractice | 2 years | 2 years | Typical (longer than 4, shorter than 18) |
| Written Contract | 6 years | 6 years | Typical (longer than 19, shorter than 10) |
| Oral Contract | 6 years | 4 years | Longer than typical (longer than 33, shorter than 3) |
| Defamation | 1 year | 1 year | Typical (longer than 0, shorter than 25) |
| Wrongful Death | 3 years | 2 years | Longer than typical (longer than 35, shorter than 0) |
| Property Damage | 6 years | 3 years | Longer than typical (longer than 41, shorter than 1) |
| Fraud | 6 years | 4 years | Longer than typical (longer than 37, shorter than 1) |
| Slip & Fall | 2 years | 2 years | Typical (longer than 2, shorter than 24) |
| Dog Bite | 2 years | 2 years | Typical (longer than 2, shorter than 24) |
| Product Liability | 2 years | 2 years | Typical (longer than 2, shorter than 25) |
| Assault & Battery | 2 years | 2 years | Typical (longer than 2, shorter than 23) |
| Sexual Assault | 3 years | 3 years | Typical (longer than 2, shorter than 16) |
| Nursing Home Abuse | 2 years | 2 years | Typical (longer than 2, shorter than 24) |
Selected deadlines for Oregon (highlighted) alongside other West states, using U.S. Census regions.
| State | Personal injury | Medical malpractice | Written contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 2 years | 2 years | 6 years |
| Arizona | 2 years | 2 years | 6 years |
| Colorado | 2 years | 2 years | 3 years |
| Idaho | 2 years | 2 years | 5 years |
| Montana | 3 years | 3 years | 8 years |
| Nevada | 2 years | 3 years | 6 years |
| New Mexico | 3 years | 3 years | 6 years |
| Utah | 4 years | 4 years | 6 years |
| Wyoming | 4 years | 2 years | 10 years |
| Alaska | 2 years | 2 years | 3 years |
Filing deadlines vary significantly by case type in Oregon. See the specific rules for each type of legal claim.
See how Oregon's deadlines rank nationally for each case type.
Deadlines on this page were cross-checked against multiple published references and last reviewed in October 2026. Laws change, so confirm the current text of any statute at the Oregon legislature's website:
Links to official state legislature websites. StatuteLimits.com is not affiliated with any state government.
Oregon allows 2 years to file a personal injury lawsuit (Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1)). The clock starts: date of injury or discovery.
Oregon gives 2 years for medical malpractice claims (Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(4)). 5-year statute of repose from date of act
Written contracts: 6 years (Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.080(1)). Oral contracts: 6 years (Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.080(3)).
Oregon allows 3 years to bring a wrongful death claim (Or. Rev. Stat. § 30.020). The clock starts: date of death.
If the deadline passes, the defendant can ask the court to dismiss the case and it usually will, however strong the claim. Some situations pause or extend the deadline (for example the discovery rule, minority tolling or fraudulent concealment). See the exceptions listed for each claim type above, and speak with a licensed Oregon attorney as soon as possible.
StatuteLimits.com. "Oregon Statute of Limitations (2026)." Reviewed October 2026. https://www.statutelimits.com/states/oregon
Statute of limitations rules are complex. Exceptions, tolling rules, and government notice requirements can significantly change your deadline. Consult a licensed Oregon attorney about your specific situation.
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