Statute of Limitations in Ohio
State-specific overview · Contract Law
Ohio requires most personal injury claims within two years and contract claims within six years.
How Ohio treats Statute of Limitations
Personal injury lawsuits, including medical malpractice, must be filed within two years of the injury or discovery of the injury. Contract breaches have a six-year statute of limitations from the date of breach. Ohio applies the discovery rule in medical malpractice cases, so the two-year clock starts when the plaintiff discovers or reasonably should have discovered the negligent act and resulting injury. Wrongful death claims follow the two-year personal injury timeline from discovery of the death.
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 Ohio.