When a person or entity is negligent and you are injured because of their negligence, you may have the grounds to file a personal injury claim, but you have to act quickly. How long do you have to file a personal injury claim in Ohio? You generally have two years from the date of the injury, although there are exceptions.
This may seem like plenty of time to file a claim, but waiting to act can weaken your case and make it much harder to get the compensation you deserve. If you wait too long, you won’t be able to get compensation at all.
Understanding the Deadline for Personal Injury Claims in Ohio
The deadline for personal injury claims, which is called the statute of limitations, is two years in Ohio. This means that you have to file a civil claim for an injury within two years of the date you sustained the injury, or you will be unable to recover compensation.
There are many reasons to file personal injury claims in Ohio. There were 263,246 car accidents in the state in 2025. There were also 702 workplace injuries reported in the state in 2024.
When someone is liable for these injuries, you could file a claim with their insurance, such as car insurance or property liability insurance. If negotiations for an insurance settlement don’t go well, you can file a claim in civil court, such as the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
Common Exceptions to the Statute of Limitations
There are several exceptions to the two-year statute of limitations, such as:
- The discovery rule. In some cases, if you don’t discover the injury until later, the statute of limitations only begins once you are aware of it. However, this only applies in specific cases, such as toxic exposure or exposure to an unethical medical device, and begins when you reasonably should have known about the exposure. There are also limitations, such as the overall ten-year statute of limitations for claims against product manufacturers.
- Minors. If the person injured was a minor when the injury occurred, the statute of limitations is paused until they are 18.
- Governmental entities. Claims against the state also have a two-year statute of limitations, but there may be private requirements that shorten this time period.
Act Quickly After an Accident
It’s crucial that you work quickly after an accident to preserve your case. Acting fast helps in several ways, including:
- Preserving evidence. Memories can fade with time, digital evidence can be deleted, and physical evidence can be lost or called into question. Acting quickly helps prevent this and therefore gives you more evidence to support your claim.
- Giving you more options. If you wait, you have less time to file, and therefore less leverage in negotiations. You will also have a harder time finding an attorney who will take your case when the deadline is close. All of this limits your options in a case.
The sooner you reach out to a Maple Heights personal injury lawyer, the sooner they can begin working on your case, gathering evidence, and protecting your rights. When you hire a personal injury lawyer, they can help you take the next steps.
Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer at The Czack Hobbs Law Firm
When you need experienced legal representation from a supportive team, reach out to The Czack Hobbs Law Firm.
