Slip and Fall Statute of Limitations in Vermont

Last verified 2026-07 · Source: Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 512(4) ✓ verified · 3 sources

The deadline

3 years

from date of discovery of injury (codified), under Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 512(4).

Under Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 512(4), you have 3 years from date of discovery of injury (codified) to file a slip and fall lawsuit in Vermont. Miss it and you lose the right to sue — but several Vermont-specific exceptions can extend (or shorten) that window, detailed below.

Vermont Deadlines for Related Claims

Claim type	Deadline	Statute
Slip and Fall	3 years	Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 512(4)
Car Accident	3 yrs	Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 512
Credit Card Debt	6 yrs	12 V.S.A. § 511
Medical Malpractice	3 yrs	12 V.S.A. § 521
Wrongful Death	2 yrs	14 V.S.A. § 1492
Personal Injury	3 yrs	12 V.S.A. § 512(4)
Dog Bite	3 yrs	12 V.S.A. § 512
Defamation	3 yrs	12 V.S.A. § 512
Breach of Contract	6 yrs	12 V.S.A. § 511
Medical Debt	6 yrs	12 V.S.A. § 511

When the Clock Starts

In Vermont, the limitations period for slip and fall injury claims generally begins on date of discovery of injury (codified). Vermont recognizes a discovery rule for this claim type: 12 V.S.A. § 512 expressly provides that the cause of action accrues as of the date of the discovery of the injury

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: No statewide short-window pre-suit notice requirement

3-year SOL with statutory discovery rule.

Source: Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 512(4), official Vermont 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 Vermont 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 Vermont Compares to Nearby States

State	Deadline	Statute
Vermont	3 years	Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 512(4)
New York	3 yrs	N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(5)
New Hampshire	3 yrs	N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4
Massachusetts	3 yrs	M.G.L. c. 260, § 2A

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a slip and fall lawsuit in Vermont?

You have 3 years from date of discovery of injury (codified), under Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 512(4).

Can I still sue after 3 years in Vermont?

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 slip and fall injury claims in Vermont?

Yes. 12 V.S.A. § 512 expressly provides that the cause of action accrues as of the date of the discovery of the injury

What if the victim was a minor?

Vermont 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?

No statewide short-window pre-suit notice requirement

Sources

Official Vermont Legislature: 12 V.S.A. § 512
Corroborating Nolo: Vermont Personal Injury Laws
Corroborating Sabbeth Law: Vermont SOL
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 Vermont attorney.