Guide

Deadlines, including the short ones

The filing deadline is the long one. Several others in this category run in weeks, and two of them can end a claim entirely.

Published July 27, 2026 · Last reviewed July 30, 2026

The statute of limitations

Your state's personal injury deadline governs, commonly two years, with some states at one and others at three. Wrongful death is frequently shorter and runs from the date of death.

Government-operated transport — as short as 60 days

If the vehicle was operated by a public entity — a municipal paratransit van, a public shuttle, a school transport vehicle, an airport authority vehicle, or a transit agency contractor — claims against government entities generally require a formal notice of claim within a short administrative window. Sixty, ninety, or one hundred eighty days are all common.

Miss that notice and the claim is typically barred permanently, even though the ordinary statute of limitations hasn't run. This is the most common way a good case is lost on procedure.

No-fault and PIP applications

In no-fault states, personal injury protection benefits have their own application deadlines — often 30 days from the crash — and separate requirements for how quickly treatment must begin. Missing them can forfeit medical coverage you were entitled to, independent of any liability claim.

The evidence clock

Not legal deadlines, but they end claims all the same.

Dashcam footage, which is frequently overwritten within days
Business, traffic, and doorbell camera footage, typically retained for days to weeks
App and trip data, which is retained longer but should be preserved formally early
Vehicle damage, which disappears once repairs are done
Witnesses, who become hard to locate after a few months

Questions

How do I know whether a government entity was involved?

It isn't always obvious — contracted operators run many public transport services under private branding. If the vehicle served an airport, a transit system, a school, a hospital, or a municipal program, get it checked quickly rather than assuming the ordinary deadline applies.

It's been a year. Am I too late?

Probably not for the filing deadline in most states, though you've likely lost camera footage. Worth a review — platform data and police records persist much longer than video does.

Does dealing with the insurer extend anything?

No. Negotiating with an insurer does not toll a statute of limitations, and no adjuster is obligated to warn you it's approaching.