Why Statutes of Limitations Matter
A statute of limitations is a legal deadline for filing a lawsuit. Once the deadline passes, your claim is permanently barred — no matter how strong the evidence or how severe the harm. For mass tort cases, the clock can start running at different times depending on the type of claim and the state where the harm occurred.
The Discovery Rule
Most states apply a "discovery rule" to personal injury claims, meaning the statute of limitations does not start running until you knew (or reasonably should have known) about the injury and its connection to the defendant's conduct. This is especially important in cases involving cancer (where the link to toxic exposure may not be immediately apparent) and childhood abuse (where survivors may not recognize the harm until adulthood).
Lookback Windows for Childhood Abuse
Several states have enacted "lookback window" laws specifically for childhood sexual abuse cases, allowing previously time-barred claims to be filed. States including California, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania have these provisions. The window periods vary, and some have already closed — making it critical to act quickly.
The dataset
The Data
| State | Personal Injury SoL | Childhood Sex Abuse SoL | Discovery Rule | Notable Exceptions / Lookback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
California | 2 years | No limit (AB 218) | Yes | Lookback window 2020-2022 (closed); government claims require tort claim notice |
New York | 3 years | Until age 55 | Yes | CVA lookback window 2019-2020 (closed); ongoing SOL extension |
New Jersey | 2 years | Until age 55 | Yes | CSAA lookback window 2020-2022 (closed) |
Texas | 2 years | Until age 30 (5-year discovery) | Yes (limited) | No lookback window; government claims limited |
Florida | 4 years (PI) | Until age 26 (or 4 years from discovery) | Yes | Limited lookback provisions; government claims capped |
Illinois | 2 years | Until age 38 (or 20 years from discovery) | Yes | No general lookback; criminal SOL abolished |
Pennsylvania | 2 years | Until age 55 | Yes | 2-year lookback window 2019-2021 (closed) |
Utah | 4 years | Until age 35 | Yes | Limited lookback provisions |
Arizona | 2 years | Until age 30 (or 3 years from discovery) | Yes | Ongoing legislative efforts to extend |
Georgia | 2 years | 5 years from 18th birthday | Yes (cancer) | Strong discovery rule for toxic exposure cases |
Statute of Limitations by State
Methodology
How We Gathered This Data
Sources & attribution
Data Sources
- State statutes (compiled by state)
- National Conference of State Legislatures — Statutes of Limitations for Sexual Abuse
- Juvenile Law Center — State-by-State SoL Guide
- EPA Toxic Tort Resource Guide