Personal Injury Statute of Limitations in Georgia

Last verified 2026-07 · Source: O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 ✓ verified · 3 sources

The deadline

2 years

from Date of injury; Georgia applies the accrual rule for most PI claims, under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33.

The deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit in Georgia is 2 years, set by O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. It starts running on Date of injury; Georgia applies the accrual rule for most PI claims. This page covers the exceptions, the government-claim trap, and the steps to take before time runs out.

Georgia Deadlines for Related Claims

Claim type	Deadline	Statute
Personal Injury	2 years	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33
Car Accident	2 yrs	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33
Credit Card Debt	6 yrs	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-24
Medical Malpractice	2 yrs	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-71
Wrongful Death	2 yrs	O.C.G.A. § 51-4-1 et seq.; O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33
Dog Bite	2 yrs	O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7 (vicious animal liability); SOL: O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33
Slip and Fall	2 yrs	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33
Defamation	1 yr	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33
Breach of Contract	6 yrs	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-24
Medical Debt	6 yrs	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-24

When the Clock Starts

In Georgia, the limitations period for personal injury lawsuits generally begins on Date of injury; Georgia applies the accrual rule for most PI claims. Georgia does not apply a general discovery rule to this claim type — the date of the event controls, which makes early action critical.

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.
Government-claim trap: Ante litem notice is a strict prerequisite: 6 months for state agencies (O.C.G.A. § 50-21-26); 30 days for municipalities (O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5). Failure to give proper notice bars the claim.
Damage caps: No statutory cap on compensatory damages for general personal injury

Modified comparative fault — plaintiff barred if 50% or more at fault (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33). Minor tolling under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-90 allows filing within 2 years after reaching majority, but the combined period cannot exceed 5 years from the date of injury. No free official source — Justia accepted as primary per schema rules for Georgia.

Source: O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, official Georgia 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 Georgia 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 Georgia Compares to Nearby States

State	Deadline	Statute
Georgia	2 years	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33
Florida	2 yrs	Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a)
Alabama	2 yrs	Ala. Code § 6-2-38(l)
Tennessee	1 yr	Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104(a)(1)
North Carolina	3 yrs	N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(16)
South Carolina	3 yrs	S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Georgia?

You have 2 years from Date of injury; Georgia applies the accrual rule for most PI claims, under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33.

Can I still sue after 2 years in Georgia?

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

What if the victim was a minor?

Georgia 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.

Is the deadline different for claims against the government?

Ante litem notice is a strict prerequisite: 6 months for state agencies (O.C.G.A. § 50-21-26); 30 days for municipalities (O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5). Failure to give proper notice bars the claim.

Sources

Official O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 — Injuries to the person; two-year limitation (Justia)
Corroborating Georgia Personal Injury Laws and Statutes of Limitations (Nolo)
Corroborating O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 (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 Georgia attorney.