In most California injury cases you have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. That deadline comes from Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, and if you miss it, the court can throw your case out no matter how strong it is.
Two years sounds like a lot of time. It isn't. Evidence disappears, witnesses move, and skid marks on that stretch of the 5 or the 805 are gone in a week. The sooner you start, the more we have to work with.
There are exceptions that can shorten or shift the clock, and they matter here in San Diego. If your injury involves a city bus, a county vehicle, a public sidewalk, or any government agency, you generally have to file a formal claim with that entity within six months. That is far shorter than two years, and blowing it can end the case before it starts. Some situations pause the clock, like injuries to a minor or a harm you couldn't reasonably have discovered right away. The facts drive all of it.
This is general information, not legal advice, and every case is different. The only way to know your real deadline is to have someone look at what happened.
If you were hurt in a car accident, a pedestrian accident, or any other kind of personal injury, don't wait to find out how much time you have left. Call Joe Crudo at (858) 622-7280 or reach out through our contact page for a free, confidential consultation.