Statute of Limitations in Oregon
State-specific overview · Contract Law
Oregon uses a two-year deadline for most personal injury claims, but discovery rule exceptions can extend the timeline significantly.
How Oregon treats Statute of Limitations
Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 12 establishes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death actions. The discovery rule allows the period to begin when the plaintiff discovers or reasonably should discover the injury, not necessarily when it occurred. Fraud claims generally have a three-year limit, and property damage claims allow four years.
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 Oregon.