New Jersey Personal Injury Statute of Limitations Calculator

The general rule: two years, enforced to the day

Under NJSA 2A:14-2(a), most personal injury and wrongful death claims must be filed within two years. New Jersey courts take this deadline genuinely seriously — in one real case, a complaint filed just one day after the two-year mark was dismissed, with the court finding no equitable basis to excuse even that single day.

Property damage: a genuinely longer window

Property damage claims generally fall under a different, longer deadline — six years under NJSA 2A:14-1 — a full four years more than the personal injury window.

Medical malpractice: mostly the same rule, with one dramatic exception

Medical malpractice claims generally follow the same two-year discovery-based rule. But there's a genuinely dramatic carve-out for birth injuries. See our full guide to New Jersey's discovery rule and tolling for exactly how this works.

Government claims: a strict 90-day "invisible wall"

Suing a New Jersey public entity comes with its own notice requirement, enforced with real strictness. See our full guide to New Jersey government claim deadlines.

New Jersey statute of limitations — frequently asked questions

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

Two years from the date of injury, under NJSA 2A:14-2(a) — enforced so strictly that New Jersey courts have dismissed a case filed just one day late, with no equitable tolling applied.

Does property damage get a different deadline than personal injury in New Jersey?

Yes. Property damage claims generally fall under a genuinely longer six-year deadline under NJSA 2A:14-1.

Is New Jersey's wrongful death deadline also two years?

Yes, under the same statute, measured from the date of death.

Is there a distinctive rule for birth injury medical malpractice claims in New Jersey?

Yes, a genuinely dramatic one. For malpractice injuries sustained at birth on or after July 2004, the claim generally must be filed before the child's 13th birthday — not the 18th birthday that applies to virtually every other minor's claim.

What happens if I miss New Jersey's filing deadline?

The court will almost always dismiss the case, and the right to seek compensation is lost permanently, regardless of how strong the underlying claim was.

This calculator provides an estimate for general guidance only and is not legal advice. Figures are based on New Jersey statute (NJSA 2A:14-1, NJSA 2A:14-2) verified per our methodology. Deadlines can vary based on the specific facts of a claim. Confirm your actual deadline with a licensed New Jersey attorney before acting.