Statute of limitations in Florida
2 yearsPersonal injury deadline
2 years for negligence (Fla. Stat. 95.11(5)(a))1
The details
- Personal injury
- 2 years for an action founded on negligence (Fla. Stat. 95.11(5)(a)).1
- Property damage
- 4 years for trespass on real property or for taking, detaining or injuring personal property (Fla. Stat. 95.11(3)(f), 95.11(3)(g)).1
- Written contract
- 5 years on a contract, obligation or liability founded on a written instrument (Fla. Stat. 95.11(2)(b)).1
- Oral contract
- 4 years on a contract or obligation not founded on a written instrument (Fla. Stat. 95.11(3)(j)).1
- Medical malpractice
- 2 years from the incident or its discovery, and generally no later than 4 years after the incident (Fla. Stat. 95.11(5)(c)).1
- Defamation
- 2 years for libel or slander (Fla. Stat. 95.11(5)(h)).1
- Fraud
- 4 years (Fla. Stat. 95.11(3)(i)).1
The sources we read do not say: debt collection (open account), claims against the state government (notice deadline).
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
- Florida Statutes 95.11 Limitations other than for the recovery of real property, Florida Legislature, checked 1 November 2026
Checked 1 November 2026. "Secondary" marks a source used only because the official page could not be read.