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North Dakota Personal Injury Statute of Limitations Calculator

North Dakota gives most claims six years — one of the longest general deadlines anywhere in the country. Enter your date below to see your actual deadline.

NDCC § 28-01-16 FigureMyTax Editorial Team Free · no sign-up

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · Reviewed 2026 · How we calculate

When is your filing deadline?

Pick the type of claim and the date of the injury. We'll show the actual North Dakota deadline, in plain terms.

Deadline to file suit
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Also partly at fault? Check how that changes things →
Injured in North Dakota?

A local personal injury attorney can review your claim — many offer a free consultation.

Talk to a North Dakota attorney

The general rule: six years, among the longest in the nation

Under NDCC § 28-01-16(5), most personal injury claims must be filed within six years of the date of injury. North Dakota is genuinely tied with Maine for one of the longest general personal injury deadlines anywhere in the country, well beyond the two- or three-year windows most states use.

Property damage shares the same long window

Property damage claims generally fall under the same six-year rule, under NDCC § 28-01-16(4) — no shortened or separate timeline here.

Wrongful death: a genuinely shorter two years

Wrongful death claims carry a distinctly shorter two-year deadline from the date of death, under NDCC § 28-01-18(4), rather than matching the general six-year personal injury period.

Medical malpractice and a layered outer limit

Medical malpractice claims generally must be brought within two years of accrual. See our full guide to North Dakota's discovery rule and tolling for how this interacts with a separate, absolute outer limit, plus a genuinely nuanced rule for defendants who leave the state.

Government claims: a short 180-day notice inside a longer deadline

Suing North Dakota itself comes with its own notice requirement. See our full guide to North Dakota government claim deadlines.

North Dakota statute of limitations — frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in North Dakota?

Six years from the date of injury, under NDCC section 28-01-16(5) — tied with Maine for one of the longest general personal injury deadlines in the country.

Is North Dakota's wrongful death deadline also six years?

No. Wrongful death is distinctly shorter, at two years from the date of death, under NDCC section 28-01-18(4).

Does property damage share North Dakota's six-year deadline?

Yes, property damage claims generally fall under the same six-year rule as personal injury, under NDCC section 28-01-16(4).

Is medical malpractice different in North Dakota?

Yes. Medical malpractice claims generally must be brought within two years of accrual, though this period is layered with its own absolute six-year outer limit from the act or omission.

What happens if I miss North Dakota'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.

North Dakota personal injury tools & guides

Discovery Rule & TollingThe malpractice outer limit, and a nuanced rule for absent defendants Government Claim DeadlinesA 180-day notice inside a 3-year deadline What Happens If You Miss the DeadlineNorth Dakota's dismissal rule, and rare exceptions North Dakota Comparative Fault CalculatorNorth Dakota's 50% fault bar

This calculator provides an estimate for general guidance only and is not legal advice. Figures are based on North Dakota statute (NDCC § 28-01-16, § 28-01-18) verified per our methodology. Deadlines can vary based on the specific facts of a claim. Confirm your actual deadline with a licensed North Dakota attorney before acting.