Statute of Limitations in Georgia
State-specific overview · Contract Law
Georgia requires personal injury claims within 2 years and contract claims within 4 years from the date of injury or breach.
How Georgia treats Statute of Limitations
Georgia's statute of limitations for personal injury is 2 years from the date of injury. Contract claims have a 4-year window from the date of breach, whether written or oral. Medical malpractice follows the 2-year personal injury rule, but Georgia recognizes a discovery rule exception: if the injury was not apparent and could not have been discovered through reasonable diligence, the clock may start when the plaintiff discovers the injury.
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 Georgia.