Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers | April 11, 2025 | Personal Injury
If you’ve been hurt in an accident, you might be entitled to compensation from whoever caused your injuries. However, Ohio law imposes a strict statute of limitations—a filing deadline—on personal injury lawsuits. If you miss this window, you likely won’t be able to pursue your case in court.
Continue reading for a brief overview of Ohio’s statute of limitations, why it matters, and what steps you can take if you’ve been injured.
What Is a Statute of Limitations?
A statute of limitations is a legal time limit. It dictates how long you have from the date of your accident or injury to file a lawsuit in court. Once that period ends, your claim might be dismissed if you attempt to file it afterward. Statutes of limitations aim to ensure fairness—evidence and witness memories typically deteriorate over time.
In Ohio, different types of cases have different deadlines. For instance, contract disputes may have a different time limit than personal injury matters. But for injury cases such as car accidents, slips and falls, or motorcycle accidents, the primary deadline to remember is the one for filing a lawsuit in state court.
Standard Deadline for Personal Injury Claims in Ohio
Typically, Ohio law grants two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you attempt to sue after the two-year window closes, the court may reject your lawsuit altogether.
It’s important to note that the clock usually starts ticking on the day of your accident or the day your injuries arise. In some cases—like if the harm wasn’t discovered right away—the “discovery rule” might delay the start date until you knew or should have known about the injury.
Exceptions to the Rule
While the two-year limit is standard, exceptions do exist to the statute of limitations in Ohio:
- Minors: If the injured person is under 18, the statute of limitations often doesn’t begin until they turn 18. However, there may be other unique deadlines if a parent or guardian files on the minor’s behalf.
- Mental incompetence: For individuals who lack the mental capacity to manage their affairs, the clock may not run until they regain competence or a representative is appointed.
- Claims against governmental entities: Suing city or state agencies might require special notices or forms, sometimes with shorter deadlines.
Because these exceptions can be complex, it’s wise to speak with a lawyer if you think you might have more or less time than usual to file.
What if You Miss the Deadline?
If the filing period expires and you haven’t taken action, your lawsuit will likely be thrown out by the court. This effectively ends your ability to hold the at-fault party liable for injuries or financial losses.
Note that the statute of limitations does relate to insurance claims as well. To meet the deadline, you must have your settlement agreement completely finalized before the time limit (or file a lawsuit in court).
If you have any concerns about the time limit related to your case, contact an attorney for a free case review as soon as you can.
An Ohio Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
Understanding Ohio’s statute of limitations is key to protecting your right to compensation if you’re injured. Whether you were in a car accident, slipped on a wet floor, or experienced harm on someone else’s property, acting quickly can keep your legal options open. An experienced attorney can explain the relevant deadlines, gather evidence, and guide you toward the best strategy for your situation.
If you need help navigating Ohio’s injury laws—or you want to learn whether an exception applies—contact an Ohio personal injury lawyer for a free consultation today.
Contact a Port Clinton Personal Injury Lawyer at Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, contact the Port Clinton personal injury law firm of Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation.
We have five convenient locations in Ohio: Sandusky, Mansfield, Port Clinton, Vermilion, and Norwalk.
Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers – Sandusky
502 W Washington St,
Sandusky, OH 44870
Kademenos, Wisehart, Hines, Dolyk and Wright Co. LPA – Mansfield
6 W 3rd St Suite 200,
Mansfield, OH 44902
Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers – Port Clinton
132 Madison St,
Port Clinton, OH 43452
Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers – Vermilion
1513 State Rd,
Vermilion, OH 44089
Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers – Norwalk
13 Whittlesey Ave,
Norwalk, OH 44857