Statute of Limitations in Arkansas
State-specific overview · Contract Law
Arkansas allows 3 years for personal injury claims and applies a discovery rule for certain hidden injuries.
How Arkansas treats Statute of Limitations
Personal injury claims must be filed within 3 years under Arkansas Code § 16-56-102. Arkansas recognizes a discovery rule in specific circumstances, such as when an injury is not immediately apparent or when a foreign object is left in a patient's body. Contract claims generally have a 3-year statute of limitations for written contracts and a 6-year limit for oral contracts. The statute begins running from the date the injury occurs or the breach happens, unless the discovery rule applies.
The general definition of Statute of Limitations
A law setting the maximum time period within which a lawsuit can be filed after an injury or breach occurs.
Every type of legal claim has a deadline. Once that deadline passes, you lose the right to sue, even if you have a valid claim. The statute of limitations varies depending on the type of case—contract disputes might have a different deadline than personal injury claims, for example. These time limits exist to protect defendants from being sued years or decades after an event, when evidence may be lost and memories fade. Once the deadline expires, the claim is essentially dead, and courts will dismiss any lawsuit filed after that point.
Read the full Statute of Limitations entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Arkansas.