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Wisconsin Personal Injury Statute of Limitations Calculator

Wisconsin gives most claims three years — but genuinely shortens the window for wrongful death arising from a motor vehicle accident, and splits property damage by whether a contract is involved. Pick your claim type below to see your actual deadline.

Wis. Stat. § 893.54 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 Wisconsin deadline, in plain terms.

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

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

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The general rule: three years

Under Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m), most personal injury claims must be filed within three years of the date of injury.

Wrongful death: shorter, but only for motor vehicle cases

Here's a genuinely narrow carve-out worth knowing. Wrongful death claims arising specifically from an accident involving a motor vehicle get a shorter two years under § 893.54(2m) — while wrongful death from other causes continues to follow the general three-year rule.

Property damage: split by whether a contract exists

Property damage claims follow a genuinely distinctive split under § 893.52: six years if the claim arises under a written contract, but only three years if there's no contract involved.

A real trap: wrongful death from medical malpractice

A wrongful death claim stemming from medical malpractice doesn't actually follow the wrongful death rule at all. See our full guide to Wisconsin's discovery rule and tolling for this genuinely counterintuitive real court holding.

Government claims: a strict 120-day notice

Claims against a government entity follow their own separate notice framework, enforced with real strictness. See our full guide to Wisconsin government claim deadlines.

Wisconsin statute of limitations — frequently asked questions

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

Three years from the date of injury, under Wis. Stat. section 893.54(1m).

Is Wisconsin's wrongful death deadline always three years?

No. Wrongful death claims arising specifically from a motor vehicle accident get a shorter two years under section 893.54(2m), while wrongful death from other causes generally follows the three-year rule.

Does property damage share the same deadline as personal injury in Wisconsin?

Not always. Property damage claims get six years if they arise under a written contract, but only three years if there's no contract involved, under section 893.52.

Is medical malpractice treated differently in Wisconsin?

Yes. Under section 893.55, a malpractice claim generally must be filed within three years of the injury or one year of discovery, whichever is later.

What happens if I miss Wisconsin'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.

Wisconsin personal injury tools & guides

Discovery Rule & TollingThe real trap in malpractice wrongful death claims Government Claim DeadlinesThe strict 120-day notice, and its real traps What Happens If You Miss the DeadlineWisconsin's dismissal rule, and rare exceptions Wisconsin Comparative Negligence CalculatorWisconsin's 51% fault bar

This calculator provides an estimate for general guidance only and is not legal advice. Figures are based on Wisconsin statute (Wis. Stat. § 893.52, § 893.54, § 893.55) verified per our methodology. Deadlines can vary based on the specific facts of a claim. Confirm your actual deadline with a licensed Wisconsin attorney before acting.