Kenny Habetz Injury Law | May 27, 2025 | Personal Injury
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Louisiana, the law just changed in a significant way. As of July 1, 2024, you now have two full years to file a personal injury lawsuit, twice the amount previously allowed. This new rule gives victims more time to understand their injuries, gather evidence, and pursue the justice they deserve.
Here’s what you need to know about Louisiana’s updated statute of limitations and how it might affect your right to recover compensation after an accident.
What Is a Statute of Limitations?
A statute of limitations sets the legal time limit you have to file a lawsuit. Once the clock runs out, you will likely lose your ability to bring a lawsuit. These deadlines vary depending on the type of case and the state you’re in.
Before July 2024, Louisiana had one of the shortest timelines in the country for personal injury cases, at just one year. That meant injured people had to act quickly or risk losing their right to sue entirely.
Louisiana’s New Two-Year Deadline
Under the new law, the statute of limitations for most civil claims in Louisiana is now two years from the date of injury. This includes cases like:
- Car accidents
- Slips and falls
- Dog bites
- Truck accidents
- Negligent security
This change applies only to injuries that occur on or after July 1, 2024. The old one-year rule may apply if your accident happened before that date.
Are There Any Exceptions to the New Two-Year Deadline?
While most personal injury cases in Louisiana must now be filed within two years of the injury date, there are a few important exceptions. Certain kinds of claims, such as those based on wrongful death or medical malpractice, may still be subject to the one-year time limit. There are other, more general exceptions as well.
Here are some of the most common exceptions that can potentially apply to almost any case:
- Claims involving minors: If the injured person is under 18 at the time of the accident, the two-year period typically doesn’t begin until their 18th birthday.
- Delayed discovery of injury: In rare situations, the clock may not start running until you knew (or reasonably should have known) that you were injured and that someone else’s negligence caused it.
- Government claims: If you are filing a claim against a government agency or employee, special notice requirements and shorter deadlines may apply.
- Out-of-state defendants or concealment: If the at-fault party leaves the state or intentionally hides their role in your injury, the deadline may be “tolled,” or paused, until they can be located.
Even with the new law in effect, missing your deadline means losing your right to sue. That’s why it’s essential to talk to a Louisiana personal injury attorney as soon as possible after an accident, especially if any exceptions might apply.
Contact the Louisiana Personal Injury Law Firm Of Kenny Habetz Injury Law for Help Today
Louisiana’s move to extend its personal injury statute of limitations from one year to two is a major win for accident victims. If you’ve been injured in Louisiana, please call Kenny Habetz Injury Law for a free case evaluation with a Louisiana personal injury lawyer or contact us online. We have offices in Lafayette and Crowley, LA.
Kenny Habetz Injury Law – Lafayette
110 E Kaliste Saloom Rd Ste 101 Lafayette, LA 70508
(337) 399-9000
Kenny Habetz Injury Law – Crowley
604 S Parkerson Ave. Crowley, LA 70526
(337) 329-8883
