Indiana Personal Injury Statute of Limitations Calculator
Use this calculator to find your exact filing deadline for a personal injury claim in Indiana. Enter your incident date and circumstances below for an instant result, including any tolling extensions that may apply to your situation.
Covers car accidents, slip and fall, dog bites, premises liability, and other general negligence claims. For medical malpractice, product liability, wrongful death, or other claim types — use the case type selector below.
Unfamiliar with any terms? Glossary of Terms
3. Incident Details
4. Special Circumstances
Indiana's personal injury statute of limitations is governed by the state's civil procedure and limitations statutes. Claims against state agencies, municipalities, or other government entities in Indiana may require filing a formal notice of claim before suit can be commenced — notice deadlines vary by entity type and are often shorter than the civil filing deadline. Under state law, the limitations period is tolled for minor claimants until they reach the age of majority at 18.
Looking for debt-specific deadlines? Our Debt Statute of Limitations Calculator covers written contracts, oral agreements, credit cards, and promissory notes with revival warnings by state.
Indiana's personal injury statute of limitations of 2 years matches 24 other states; the national median is also 2 years.
📊 Indiana Personal Injury Deadline vs Neighbors & National Median
About This Calculator
This calculator finds your exact filing deadline for a personal injury claim in Indiana. It applies Indiana's specific statute of limitations period, checks whether the discovery rule extends your deadline, accounts for tolling if the injured party was a minor, and flags any special notice requirements if your claim involves a government entity. Enter your incident date — or discovery date if the harm wasn't immediately apparent — and the calculator counts forward using Indiana's exact rule to show your filing deadline, the time remaining, and an urgency status. Results are based on verified state statute citations, not general estimates.
What is a Personal Injury Claim?
Statute of Limitations Deadline Calculation Formula
Here is how the calculation methodology works using representative illustrative figures (hypothetical example only — see Indiana's actual deadlines in the sections above):
- Incident Date: June 1, 2024
- Statutory Period: 2 years (730 days)
- Discovery Date (if delayed discovery applies): September 1, 2024
- Standard Filing Deadline: June 1, 2026 (2 years from incident)
- Discovery-Extended Deadline: September 1, 2026 (2 years from discovery)
How Indiana's Personal Injury Deadline Works
Under Indiana Rev. Stat. § 67, Indiana provides 2 years to file a personal injury lawsuit. The clock typically begins when the injury was discovered — or when it reasonably should have been discovered — rather than on the date the harm occurred. This is known as the discovery rule. Indiana extends the filing window by up to 1 additional year under the discovery rule.
Indiana's personal injury statute of limitations is governed by the state's civil procedure and limitations statutes. Claims against state agencies, municipalities, or other government entities in Indiana may require filing a formal notice of claim before suit can be commenced — notice deadlines vary by entity type and are often shorter than the civil filing deadline. Under state law, the limitations period is tolled for minor claimants until they reach the age of majority at 18.
Special Circumstances
Government entity claims: If the defendant is a government entity, Indiana requires a formal administrative claim notice to be filed within 6 months of the incident before a lawsuit may be filed. Missing this notice deadline permanently bars the claim. After the claim is rejected, you have 12 months to file suit.
Minor claimants: If the injured person was a minor at the time of the incident, Indiana tolls the statute of limitations until they reach age 18.
What Happens If You Miss the Deadline
If a lawsuit is filed after the statute of limitations expires, the defendant can ask the court to dismiss the case as time-barred — and courts almost always grant this motion, regardless of how strong the underlying claim is. The right to sue is lost permanently; there is no general exception for not knowing the deadline existed. A small number of circumstances can pause or extend the clock, covered in the Special Circumstances section above if they apply to your claim type and state. If your deadline is approaching or may have already passed, contact a licensed attorney immediately — some exceptions are themselves time-sensitive.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does minor tolling affect personal injury deadlines in Indiana?
Indiana tolls the personal injury statute of limitations for individuals under the age of 18. The standard filing period generally begins ticking on the minor's 18th birthday. However, parents must separately file their own claims for the minor's medical expenses within the standard timeframe, as those are not tolled.
Is medical malpractice governed by Indiana's personal injury deadline?
Indiana handles medical malpractice under the specialized Medical Malpractice Act, which features a distinct statute of limitations. The Act also requires claims to be presented to a medical review panel before a lawsuit can proceed in court. Standard personal injury deadlines do not apply to these complex healthcare cases.
What is the time limit for wrongful death claims in Indiana?
If an injury is fatal, the case must be filed under the Indiana Wrongful Death Act. The deadline for wrongful death generally runs from the date of death and is strictly enforced. The personal representative of the estate is the only party permitted to bring the lawsuit.
Does Indiana apply the discovery rule to personal injury cases?
Indiana recognizes the discovery rule for personal injuries, pausing the clock until the plaintiff discovers, or reasonably should have discovered, the harm. This rule requires plaintiffs to exercise ordinary diligence in investigating the cause of their physical problems. It is frequently applied in cases involving latent disease or toxic exposure.
Are there special requirements to sue the State of Indiana?
Yes, the Indiana Tort Claims Act requires plaintiffs to file a formal tort claim notice before suing a government agency. Notice to a state agency must be given within 270 days, while notice to a local political subdivision requires action within 180 days. Failing to serve this exact notice eliminates the right to file a lawsuit.
Other Indiana Civil Statutes
Explore filing limits and calculator tools for other civil claims in the state of Indiana:
This tool is for informational and educational reference only and does not constitute legal advice. Statutes of limitations vary by jurisdiction and can be affected by tolling, government claim notice requirements, and other exceptions. Always consult a licensed attorney before making legal decisions.