Cerebral Palsy Statute of Limitations

Fact Checked

The cerebral palsy statute of limitations is a state-by-state law that puts a time limit on filing a lawsuit over medical malpractice. If you feel your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by negligence, you might want to sue the responsible medical professionals. Understand the law in your state so that you don’t miss the deadline for filing.

Statute of Limitations Defined

The statute of limitation is a time limit for the plaintiff to file a case against the defendant. Each state has its own rules when it comes to the statute of limitations, and different types of cases may have different time limits.[1]

For example, in one state, the statute of limitations for a criminal case may be six years, whereas the statute of limitations for a civil lawsuit could take two years. Also, the time limits may differ depending on the type of criminal case and the type of civil suit filed.

All states allow at least a year to file a civil case, which generally begins when the injury that caused your child’s cerebral palsy occurred or was discovered.

Statute of Limitations for Cerebral Palsy Cases by State

Alabama

Cerebral palsy cases in Alabama must be filed within two years from the time the disorder manifests or within six months from the time of the discovery of the injury that led to the child’s cerebral palsy (if the first two years have passed).

Alaska

Alaska requires that cerebral palsy lawsuits are filed within two years of the time of the injury that led to the disorder. Alaska also honors the discovery rule, meaning the two-year statute of limitations began when the disorder was diagnosed.

Arizona

Cases must be filed within two years from the time of the discovery of the injury that led to cerebral palsy or two years from the diagnosis of the disorder in Arizona.

Arkansas

Arkansas law mandates that cerebral palsy cases must be filed within two years from the time the injury occurred that led to the disorder.

California

Cerebral palsy lawsuits in California need to be filed within three years from the time the injury happened that led to the disorder.

Connecticut

Connecticut law mandates that cerebral palsy lawsuits must be filed within two years of the time of the injury that led to cerebral palsy, but in rare circumstances, that state allows three years.

Delaware

Delaware allows two years from the time of the injury that caused the cerebral palsy case to be filed. If you were unaware of the injury that caused the cerebral palsy until the disorder was diagnosed, Delaware honors the discovery rule. It allows up to three years to file the lawsuit.

Florida

Florida cerebral palsy cases must be filed within two years of the time it was diagnosed/discovered. In some cases, the statute is extended to three years, but no claim will be honored after four years has passed from the time the child was diagnosed or from the time it should have been reasonably discovered.

Georgia

Cerebral palsy cases must be filed within two years from the time of the injury that led to the cerebral palsy diagnosis. If it’s not diagnosed/discovered within two years, such as cases of failure to diagnose, the statute of limitations is extended to five years. After five years, you can no longer file the claim. These limitations apply to all cerebral palsy cases involving children under five years of age.

Hawaii

Hawaii cerebral palsy cases must be filed within two years from the time of the diagnosis. If the disorder has not been discovered within two years of the child’s birth, the statute of limitations extends until six years.

Idaho

Cerebral palsy lawsuits in Idaho must be filed within two years from the time of the injury that led to cerebral palsy.

Illinois

Illinois statute of limitations states that medical malpractice cases must be filed within two years of the injury that led to the child developing cerebral palsy. Four years are allowed if the damage isn’t discovered within two years. In instances when birth injuries lead to cerebral palsy or any other disorder or injury, the case must be filed within the first eight years of the child’s life.

Indiana

Cerebral palsy lawsuits must be filed within two years of the birth injury that led to cerebral palsy. However, the state does allow some leeway for birth injury cases if the injury hasn’t been reasonably discovered within two years. In these instances, Indiana law allows the lawsuit to be filed up until the child’s eighth birthday.

Iowa

Cerebral palsy cases must be filed within two years of the time of the injury that caused cerebral palsy or within two years from the date that the injury should have been reasonably discovered. Similar to other states. However, Iowa allows leeway in birth injury cases and allows up to the child’s 10th birthday if the injury wasn’t discovered within the initial two-year period.

Kansas

Kansas statute of limitations states that cerebral palsy claims must be filed within two years from the time the injury occurred that led to the disorder. If the damage isn’t discovered within two years, that state allows up to four years.

Kentucky

Kentucky statute of limitations, one of the stricter states in medical malpractice cases, allows one year from the time injury occurred that led to cerebral palsy. The good news is if harm isn’t discovered within one year, a total of five years (including the first initial year) is given to find out the injury.

Louisiana

Similar to Kentucky laws, medical malpractice claims in Louisiana must be filed within a year of the injury that led to cerebral palsy. A total of three years is given if the damage wasn’t discovered during the first initial year.

Maine

Maine statute of limitations allows three years from the time of the injury that led to cerebral palsy or by the child’s sixth birthday to discover the injury. Maine law also allows the case to be filed within three years of the child’s 18th birthday if the injury wasn’t discovered earlier.

Maryland

Maryland allows five years from the time of the injury that led to cerebral palsy to file a cerebral palsy lawsuit or three years from the time the injury was discovered. If the injury isn’t found by the third year, plaintiffs have up until the child’s 11th birthday to file the case.

Massachusetts

Cerebral palsy lawsuits must be filed within three years from the time of the injury that led to the disorder. If the damage isn’t discovered within three years, state law allows up to the child’s 9th birthday to file the case.

Michigan

Michigan statute of limitations states that cases must be filed within two years of the injury that caused the child’s cerebral palsy or within six months after discovering the injury.

Minnesota

Cerebral palsy cases in Minnesota must be filed within four years from the time of the injury that caused cerebral palsy.

Mississippi

Cerebral palsy cases in Mississippi must be filed within two years from the time of the injury, which led to cerebral palsy or two years from the time the injury was discovered.

Missouri

Missouri cerebral palsy lawsuits must be filed within two years from the date of the injury that caused the disorder or within two years from the date the injury was discovered, over 10 years. Cases that are filed past the child’s 10th birthday will not be honored, but when the child becomes 18, they can submit their lawsuit before their 20th birthday.

Montana

Montana cerebral palsy lawsuits must be filed within three years from the time of the injury that caused the disorder or within three years of discovering the injury.

Nebraska

Cerebral palsy lawsuits must be filed within two years from the time of the injury that led to the disorder or within one year from the time the injury was discovered.

Nevada

Nevada cerebral palsy lawsuits must be filed within three years from the time of the injury that led to the disorder or within three years from the time the injury was discovered.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire lawsuits must be filed within three years from the time of the injury that led to cerebral palsy or by three years from the time that the injury should have been reasonably discovered.

New Jersey

Cerebral palsy lawsuits in New Jersey t must be filed within two years from the date of the injury that led to the disorder or within two years from the time the injury should have been reasonably discovered.

New York

New York cerebral palsy cases must be filed within two and a half years from the time of the injury that led to the disorder.

North Carolina

Cerebral palsy cases must be filed within three years from the time of the injury that caused the disorder or within three years from the time it should have been discovered. North Carolina allows a slight leeway in time for finding the injury, to four years. Yet, no medical malpractice cases can be filed after the 4th year of the injury.

North Dakota

In North Dakota, cerebral palsy cases must be filed within two years from the time of the injury that causes the disorder or within two years of discovering the damage. In certain situations, the state allows leeway for the discovery, but no cases can be filed after six years past the injury.

Ohio

Ohio cerebral palsy lawsuits must be filed within a year from the time of the injury or within a year from the time it should have been reasonably discovered. Children with cerebral palsy are eligible to file their lawsuit once they turn 18, and the one-year time limit starts on their 18th birthday.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma cerebral palsy lawsuits must be filed within seven years from the date the injury occurred that led to cerebral palsy. The seven-year rule only applies to injuries caused to children ages 12 and under.

Oregon

Oregon cerebral palsy cases must be filed within two years from the time of the injury that led to the disorder or within two years from the time the discovery of the injury.

Pennsylvania

Cerebral palsy lawsuits must be filed within two years from the date of the harm that caused the disorder or within two years from the time it should have been reasonably discovered.

Rhode Island

Cerebral palsy cases in Rhode Island must be filed within three years from the time of the injury that caused the disorder or within three years from the time of discovering the injury.

South Carolina

South Carolina cerebral palsy lawsuits must be filed within three years from the time of the injury that led to the disorder or up to six years for the discovery period.

South Dakota

South Dakota cerebral palsy cases must be filed within two years from the time of the injury that caused the disorder.

Tennessee

Tennessee cerebral palsy lawsuits must be filed within a year of the injury that causes the disorder or within a year after discovering the injury.

Texas

In Texas, cerebral palsy cases must be filed within two years from the time of the injury that caused the disorder. Texas also allows children to file a claim on their own behalf, but it must be done before their 14th birthday.

Utah

Cerebral palsy cases in Utah must be filed within two years of the time of the injury that led to the disorder or within two years of reasonable discovery. After four years from the time of the injury, no cerebral palsy medical malpractice cases will be honored.

Vermont

Lawsuits must be filed within three years from the time of the injury that caused the child’s cerebral palsy or within two years from the time the injury was discovered.

Virginia

Virginia lawsuits must be filed within two years from the date of the injury that caused cerebral palsy. Minors are allowed to submit their cerebral palsy lawsuits and have until their 10th birthday to do so.

Washington

Cerebral palsy lawsuits must be filed within three years from the time of the injury that led to the disorder or within a year after the damage was discovered. If parents don’t file a claim, children can submit their claim in Washington once they turn 18.

Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. cerebral palsy lawsuits must be filed within three years from the date of the injury that caused the disorder or within three years from the time of the discovery of the injury.

West Virginia

West Virginia cerebral palsy cases must be filed within two years of the injury that led to the disorder or within two years of the discovery of the injury.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin cerebral palsy cases must be filed within three years from the time of the injury that caused the disorder or within one year from the time the injury was discovered.

Wyoming

Wyoming cerebral palsy cases must be filed within two years from the time of the injury that led to the disorder or within two years from the time the injury was discovered.

An experienced cerebral palsy lawyer in your state can help you file your lawsuit and ensure you don’t miss any deadlines.