Sue Deadlines

All states

Statute of limitations in Arkansas

3 yearsPersonal injury deadline

3 years for tort claims generally (Ark. Code 16-56-105)14

The details

Personal injury
3 years. The Arkansas Supreme Court says tort claims are generally subject to a three-year statute of limitations under Ark. Code 16-56-105.14
Property damage
3 years for trespass on lands and for taking or injuring any goods or chattels (Ark. Code 16-56-105(4), 16-56-105(6)).1
Written contract
5 years for actions to enforce written obligations, duties or rights, with an exception (Ark. Code 16-56-111(a)).2
Oral contract
3 years for contracts, obligations or liabilities not under seal and not in writing (Ark. Code 16-56-105(1)).1
Medical malpractice
2 years after the cause of action accrues for actions for medical injury, with exceptions (Ark. Code 16-114-203(a)).5
Defamation
3 years for libel (Ark. Code 16-56-105(5)). 1 year for words spoken slandering the character of another (Ark. Code 16-56-104(3)).13

The sources we read do not say: fraud, debt collection (open account), claims against the state government (notice deadline).

The statute does not name personal injury. The 3 year figure rests on the Arkansas Supreme Court reading of 16-56-105. Code text is from Justia copies.
Deadlines usually run from the date of the harm or its discovery, and many exceptions apply. A lawyer can tell you how they apply to you.

Sources

  1. Ark. Code 16-56-105 (2025), Justia US Law (copy of state code) (secondary), checked 2 November 2026
  2. Ark. Code 16-56-111 (2025), Justia US Law (copy of state code) (secondary), checked 2 November 2026
  3. Ark. Code 16-56-104 (2025), Justia US Law (copy of state code) (secondary), checked 2 November 2026
  4. Marcum v. Hodge, Arkansas Supreme Court (2023), Justia US Law (copy of court opinion) (secondary), checked 2 November 2026
  5. Ark. Code 16-114-203 (2025), Justia US Law (copy of state code) (secondary), checked 2 November 2026

Checked 2 November 2026. "Secondary" marks a source used only because the official page could not be read.