What is the Statute of Limitations in California?

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“The silent touches of time.”

— Edmund Burke

Ah, the Statute of Limitations.  That’s a fancy way of saying how much time a person has to sue somebody.  It’s an important concept because if you don’t sue within the correct period, you can’t sue at all.

In California, there is not one Statute of Limitations.  There are several.  Here are 2 of the most important:

  • Personal injury lawsuits (ex. car wrecks, slip and falls) must be filed within 2 years from the date of the injury.
  • Property damage lawsuits (ex. laptop was stepped on) must be filed within 3 years from the date the damage occurred.

Certain circumstances can suspend the running of a statute of limitations (e.g. when the defendant is a minor or is insane).  In most circumstances, you have to sue within the correct period or you can’t sue at all.

 

Evan Walker

Evan W. Walker is a La Jolla attorney who has practiced law since 2008. He has practiced law throughout California, Connecticut, and Louisiana.

Evan worked for and defended insurance companies during the first 7 years of his practice. Since 2015, he has represented people with personal injury and property damage claims and insurance disputes.

Evan’s practice is devoted to serious personal injury claims and catastrophic property damage claims. Areas of focus include security claims against bars and other businesses, government tort claims, fire and flood claims, and inverse condemnation. On behalf of clients, Evan has fought insurance firms, international companies, cities, bars, and casinos.

Evan regularly shares his expertise with other attorneys by teaching courses on insurance and inverse condemnation. He has taught several continuing legal education courses to Attorney Credits, a nationwide CLE company, and ProLawCLE, another nationwide CLE company. He also contributes to various podcasts and publications.

Associations:

  • Member, State Bar of California
  • Member, San Diego Bar Association
  • Member, Consumer Attorneys of California
  • Member, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego
  • Member, La Jolla Bar Association
  • Member, La Jolla Village Merchants Association
  • Member, San Diego Chamber of Commerce
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