Car accident rules in all 50 states and DC

Checked September 17, 2026. Pick a state for the full guide, the crash report steps or the lawyer rules.

Fault system and deadline to sue for injuries
StateSystemDeadline to sue for injuriesReportLawyerClaim check
AlabamaAt fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
AlaskaAt fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
ArizonaAt fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
ArkansasAt fault3 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
CaliforniaAt fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
ColoradoAt fault3 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
ConnecticutAt fault2 years (3-year outer limit)Crash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
DelawareAt fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
District of ColumbiaAt fault3 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
FloridaNo fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
GeorgiaAt fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
HawaiiNo fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
IdahoAt fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
IllinoisAt fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
IndianaAt fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
IowaAt fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
KansasNo fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
KentuckyChoice no fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
LouisianaAt fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
MaineAt fault6 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
MarylandAt fault3 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
MassachusettsNo fault3 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
MichiganNo fault3 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
MinnesotaNo fault6 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
MississippiAt fault3 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
MissouriAt fault5 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
MontanaAt fault3 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
NebraskaAt fault4 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
NevadaAt fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
New HampshireAt fault3 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
New JerseyChoice no fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
New MexicoAt fault3 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
New YorkNo fault3 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
North CarolinaAt fault3 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
North DakotaNo fault6 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
OhioAt fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
OklahomaAt fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
OregonAt fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
PennsylvaniaChoice no fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
Rhode IslandAt fault3 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
South CarolinaAt fault3 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
South DakotaAt fault3 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
TennesseeAt fault1 yearCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
TexasAt fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
UtahNo fault4 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
VermontAt fault3 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
VirginiaAt fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
WashingtonAt fault3 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
West VirginiaAt fault2 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
WisconsinAt fault3 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check
WyomingAt fault4 yearsCrash reportLawyer rulesClaim check

Know My Claim is not a law firm or a government agency, and this page is not legal advice. Laws change, so check the linked source before you rely on a deadline.