Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Law by State
Injury law is mostly state law. Each state sets its own deadline to sue, decides how fault is shared, and may cap damages. Here is each state's rule, linked to the statute or official page it comes from.
Choose your state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Compare the states
- Deadline to Sue for an Injury in Each State
- Fault Rules by State: Comparative and Contributory Negligence
- Medical Malpractice Damage Caps by State
- Wrongful Death Filing Deadlines by State
- When You Must Report a Car Accident, by State
- Dog Bite Liability Rules by State
- Notice of Claim Deadlines Against Cities and Counties by State
- Motorcycle Helmet Laws in Every State
- Lane Splitting Laws by State
- Bicycle Laws in Every State
- Rideshare Insurance Requirements by State
Tools, guides and templates
Plain-English guides
- Fell Down Stairs on Someone's Property: Who Is Liable?
- Fell at Your Apartment Complex? When the Landlord Is Liable
- How Much Does a Personal Injury or Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
- How Much Does a Slip and Fall Lawyer Cost?
- Injured Because a Landlord Didn't Make Repairs: Your Rights
- Fell in a Parking Lot: Who Is Responsible?
- How Long Do You Have to File a Slip and Fall Claim?
- Slipped and Fell in a Store or Grocery Store? Who Is Responsible
- Slipped on Ice or Snow: Can You Sue?
- Tripped on a Broken or Uneven Sidewalk: Who Pays?
- Slipped on a Wet Floor: When the Property Owner Is Liable
- What Is a Statute of Limitations?
- What Is Medical Malpractice?
- What Is Premises Liability? Slip and Fall Law Explained
- What to Do After a Car Accident
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I miss the statute of limitations?
In most cases the court will dismiss the lawsuit, and you lose the right to recover damages. Some states pause or extend the deadline in limited situations, such as when the injured person is a minor. Claims against a government often have a much shorter notice deadline.
What is the difference between comparative and contributory negligence?
Under comparative negligence, your damages are reduced by your share of fault, and in some states you can't recover if you were 50% or 51% or more at fault. Under contributory negligence, used by only a few jurisdictions, being even slightly at fault can bar recovery.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.