If you miss the deadline to file, the court can throw your case out no matter how strong it is, and you usually lose the right to recover anything. That is why the date matters so much.
In California, the general deadline for most personal injury cases is two years from the date you were hurt. That comes from Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If your injury was not obvious right away, the clock can sometimes start later, when you knew or should have known about it. The rules vary with the facts, so do not assume you have more time than you do.
Some situations have much shorter deadlines. If a city, the county, or another public entity is involved, like a crash with a government vehicle or a dangerous condition on public property, you often have to file a formal claim within six months. Miss that, and the door can close before the two-year mark ever arrives.
This is general information, not legal advice, and every case is different.
The safest move is to talk to a lawyer early, while evidence is fresh and the deadlines are still open. Joe Crudo can look at your personal injury matter, whether it started as a car accident or a slip and fall, and tell you where you stand.
Call (858) 622-7280 or reach out through our contact page for a free, confidential consultation.