Statute of limitations in Wisconsin

3 yearsPersonal injury deadline

3 years (Wis. Stat. 893.54(1m)(a))¹

The details

Personal injury: 3 years for injuries to the person, including injuries from a motor vehicle accident (Wis. Stat. 893.54(1m)(a)).¹
Written contract: 6 years on any contract, obligation or liability, express or implied (Wis. Stat. 893.43(1)).²
Oral contract: 6 years on any contract, obligation or liability, express or implied (Wis. Stat. 893.43(1)).²
Medical malpractice: The later of 3 years from the injury or 1 year from discovery, but never more than 5 years from the act or omission (Wis. Stat. 893.55(1m)).³
Defamation: 3 years for libel, slander or other intentional torts to the person (Wis. Stat. 893.57).⁴

The sources we read do not say: property damage, fraud, 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.

Checked 1 November 2026. "Secondary" marks a source used only because the official page could not be read.