Car Accident Statute of Limitations in Ohio

Last verified 2026-07 · Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10 ✓ verified · 3 sources

The deadline

2 years

from The two-year clock generally starts on the date of the accident, because Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10(A) provides that an action for bodily injury must be brought within two years after the cause of action accrues and that the cause of action accrues when the injury or loss to person or property occurs., under Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10.

If you're researching car accident lawsuits in Ohio, the single most important number is 2 years. That's how long Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10 gives you to file a car accident lawsuit, counted from The two-year clock generally starts on the date of the accident, because Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10(A) provides that an action for bodily injury must be brought within two years after the cause of action accrues and that the cause of action accrues when the injury or loss to person or property occurs.. File even one day late and the court will almost certainly dismiss the case, no matter how strong it is.

Ohio Deadlines for Related Claims

Claim type	Deadline	Statute
Car Accident	2 years	Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10
Credit Card Debt	6 yrs	Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.07(C)
Medical Malpractice	1 yr	Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.113
Wrongful Death	2 yrs	Ohio Rev. Code § 2125.02
Personal Injury	2 yrs	Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2305.10(A)
Dog Bite	2 yrs	Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10
Slip and Fall	2 yrs	Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10
Defamation	1 yr	Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.11(A)
Breach of Contract	6 yrs	Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.06
Medical Debt	6 yrs	Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.06

When the Clock Starts

In Ohio, the limitations period for car accident lawsuits generally begins on The two-year clock generally starts on the date of the accident, because Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10(A) provides that an action for bodily injury must be brought within two years after the cause of action accrues and that the cause of action accrues when the injury or loss to person or property occurs.. Ohio recognizes a discovery rule for this claim type: For a typical car-accident injury the cause of action accrues on the date of the crash when the injury occurs, but Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10 delays accrual for certain latent exposure injuries (e.g., hazardous chemicals, asbestos, chromium) until the plaintiff learns of the injury from competent medical authority or reasonably should have discovered it, and Ohio courts apply a discovery rule where an injury is not immediately apparent.

Exceptions That Can Extend the Deadline

Minors: the clock is generally paused while the injured person is under 18.
Fraudulent concealment: if the defendant actively hid the wrongdoing, the deadline may be extended until it was or should have been uncovered.
Defendant leaves the state: absence can pause the clock in many circumstances.

A minor's claim is tolled under Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.16, so the two-year period generally does not begin to run until the injured minor reaches age 18. Product-liability claims are also subject to a ten-year statute of repose under Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10(C).

Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10, official Ohio statute · verified 2026-07

What to Do Before the Deadline Runs

Pin down your accrual date — the day the clock started — and calendar the deadline conservatively.
Preserve evidence now: photos, records, witness contacts, bills. Evidence decays faster than deadlines.
Send preservation/notice letters where required (especially for Ohio government defendants).
If the deadline is inside 6 months, treat it as urgent — filing suit is the only reliable way to stop the clock.

How Ohio Compares to Nearby States

State	Deadline	Statute
Ohio	2 years	Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10
Pennsylvania	2 yrs	42 Pa.C.S. § 5524(2)
West Virginia	2 yrs	W. Va. Code § 55-2-12
Kentucky	2 yrs	Ky. Rev. Stat. § 304.39-230(6)
Indiana	2 yrs	Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4(a)
Michigan	3 yrs	Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5805(2)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Ohio?

You have 2 years from The two-year clock generally starts on the date of the accident, because Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10(A) provides that an action for bodily injury must be brought within two years after the cause of action accrues and that the cause of action accrues when the injury or loss to person or property occurs., under Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10.

Can I still sue after 2 years in Ohio?

Usually no — courts dismiss claims filed after the statute of limitations expires. Narrow exceptions (the discovery rule, tolling for minors, fraudulent concealment) can extend the deadline; whether one applies depends on your facts.

Does the discovery rule apply to car accident lawsuits in Ohio?

Yes. For a typical car-accident injury the cause of action accrues on the date of the crash when the injury occurs, but Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10 delays accrual for certain latent exposure injuries (e.g., hazardous chemicals, asbestos, chromium) until the plaintiff learns of the injury from competent medical authority or reasonably should have discovered it, and Ohio courts apply a discovery rule where an injury is not immediately apparent.

What if the victim was a minor?

Ohio generally pauses ("tolls") the deadline while the injured person is under 18, giving them time to file after reaching adulthood. Special limits can still apply, so check the statute.

Sources

Official Section 2305.10 - Ohio Revised Code | Ohio Laws (Ohio Legislative Service Commission, codes.ohio.gov)
Corroborating Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10 - Bodily Injury or Injury to Personal Property (Justia)
Corroborating Ohio Revised Code Title XXIII. Courts Common Pleas § 2305.10 (FindLaw)
Verified 2026-07 under our 4-step process — every line checked against the sources above. How we verify

This page is legal information, not legal advice. Deadlines have exceptions that depend on your facts — confirm with a licensed Ohio attorney.