A statute of limitations is the legal deadline for filing a lawsuit. In Florida, if you wait too long after an accident or injury, the court can throw your case out for good — no matter how strong it is. This free calculator estimates the Florida filing deadline and the days remaining for common injury claims, so you can see roughly how much time you may have left.
Pick your claim type, enter the date of the incident, and the tool does the date math instantly. Everything runs in your browser — nothing you type is sent, stored, or shared. The result is an educational estimate, not a legal determination. Florida's deadlines change, and exceptions apply, so always confirm your specific deadline with an attorney right away.
Check your Florida filing deadline
Choose a claim type and the date the incident happened. The calculator returns the estimated last day to file under Florida's general deadline for that claim type, plus how many days remain from today. Use it as a starting point only — many situations change the real deadline.
Florida Statute of Limitations Calculator
Private by design: this calculator runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is transmitted, stored, or shared.
Florida deadlines at a glance
The table below summarizes the general Florida deadlines this tool uses. Treat every period as a starting point only — the exact deadline can differ based on the facts, the parties (for example, a government defendant), and how the law reads on your filing date. Every period below is marked for verification because Florida statutory periods change.
| Claim type | General Florida deadline | Typical start date |
|---|---|---|
| Car accident (motor-vehicle negligence) | 2 years (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(a), as of June 2026) | Date of the crash |
| Slip & fall / premises liability | 2 years (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(a), as of June 2026) | Date of the fall/injury |
| Medical malpractice | 2 years (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(b), as of June 2026) | When the incident is discovered or should have been discovered (subject to an outer limit) |
| Wrongful death | 2 years (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(c), as of June 2026) | Date of death |
| Product liability (defective product) | 4 years (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3), as of June 2026) | When the injury is discovered or should have been discovered |
| Workers' comp — report a work injury to your employer | 30 days (Fla. Stat. § 440.185, as of June 2026) | Date of the workplace injury |
Important: Florida shortened the deadline for most general negligence claims from four years to two years under HB 837 (signed March 24, 2023; Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(a)), and special rules apply to medical malpractice and to claims against government entities. The medical-malpractice and product-liability deadlines also use a "discovery" rule with an outer cutoff (for medical malpractice, no later than 4 years from the incident under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(b)), which this simple calculator does not model. The workers' comp entry above is the deadline to report your injury to your employer (Fla. Stat. § 440.185) — there is a separate deadline (generally 2 years to file a petition for benefits under Fla. Stat. § 440.19). (Periods current as of June 2026; always confirm the deadline that applies to your case with a licensed Florida attorney.)
Why one missed deadline can end your case
Direct answer: in Florida, missing the statute of limitations almost always bars your claim permanently — the court can dismiss it and you lose the right to compensation, even with clear liability and serious injuries.
Insurance companies know these deadlines. They sometimes drag out negotiations hoping the clock runs out. Filing a lawsuit is what stops the clock, and that takes preparation — investigating, gathering records, and drafting the complaint — so the practical deadline to start is well before the legal one. If you are even close to a deadline, do not wait. Learn more about how we handle Florida personal injury claims or speak with our team today.
Common exceptions that can change your deadline
Direct answer: several "tolling" rules can pause or shift the deadline, while other rules can shorten it — which is exactly why you should never rely on a calculator alone.
- The discovery rule: For some claims (such as medical malpractice or a hidden defect), the clock may start when you discovered, or reasonably should have discovered, the injury — subject to an outer time limit (e.g., a 4-year repose period for medical malpractice under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(b)). (As of June 2026; confirm with an attorney.)
- Minors and incapacity: Deadlines can be paused or extended for injured children or people who are legally incapacitated. (As of June 2026; confirm with an attorney.)
- Claims against the government: Suing a city, county, or state agency usually requires a written notice of claim and a pre-suit waiting period, with shorter, stricter deadlines (see Fla. Stat. § 768.28). (As of June 2026; confirm with an attorney.)
- Fraudulent concealment: If a defendant actively hid the wrongdoing, the deadline may be extended in limited circumstances. (As of June 2026; confirm with an attorney.)
These exceptions are fact-specific. The only way to know your true deadline is to have a licensed Florida attorney review your case.
What to do next
If your estimated deadline is approaching — or already passed — act now. An attorney can confirm the exact deadline, identify any exception that may help you, and file in time to protect your claim. For workplace injuries, see our Florida workers' compensation guidance, which covers both the short reporting deadline and the separate deadline to claim benefits. For crashes, falls, defective products, and fatal-accident cases, start with our personal injury team.
Frequently asked questions
What is the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim in Florida?
Florida sets a deadline by which you must file a lawsuit for an injury claim, and the applicable period depends on the type of claim. For most negligence claims (such as car accidents and slip-and-falls), the deadline is two years from the date of the incident under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(a), as shortened by HB 837 in 2023. Because these periods can change, confirm the deadline that applies to your case with a licensed Florida attorney before relying on any estimate. (As of June 2026.)
What happens if I miss the statute of limitations in Florida?
If you file after the statute of limitations expires, the court can dismiss your case permanently and you may lose the right to recover any compensation. A few narrow exceptions and tolling rules can change the deadline, so speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
Can the filing deadline be paused or extended in Florida?
Sometimes. Tolling doctrines may pause or extend the deadline in limited situations — for example, for minors, certain cases of fraudulent concealment, or when an injury could not reasonably have been discovered right away. These exceptions are fact-specific and should be evaluated by an attorney. (As of June 2026.)
Is reporting a Florida workers' compensation injury the same as the statute of limitations?
No. Workers' compensation has its own separate deadlines, including a 30-day window to report a workplace injury to your employer (Fla. Stat. § 440.185) and a separate period (generally 2 years) to file a petition for benefits (Fla. Stat. § 440.19). These are different from the civil statute of limitations, and missing them can affect your benefits. (As of June 2026.)
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