Two years. O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 says actions for injuries to the person “shall be brought within two years after the right of action accrues.” For a one-time accident that’s generally the day of the injury.
The same statute carries two exceptions: injury to reputation has one year, and loss of consortium has four. Other injury claims have special timing:
| Claim | Different rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Medical malpractice | Two years from injury, five-year outer limit | § 9-3-71 |
| Object left in the body | One year from discovery | § 9-3-72 |
| Defective product | Two years, plus ten years from first sale | § 51-1-11(b)(2) |
| Minor | Clock starts at 18, except malpractice | § 9-3-90(b); § 9-3-73 |
| Victim of an alleged crime | Paused until the prosecution ends, up to six years | § 9-3-99 |
| Vehicle or other property | Four years | § 9-3-31 |
| City, county, or state | Notice first, within 6 or 12 months | §§ 36-33-5, 36-11-1, 50-21-26 |
The tolling rule for crimes reaches traffic citations too. In Beneke v. Parker (2009), the Georgia Supreme Court applied § 9-3-99 to a misdemeanor traffic citation.
A suit filed on time also has to be served with diligence. Filing on the last day and then waiting to serve the defendant can still lose the case. The same periods apply to a car crash: two years for injuries, four for the vehicle. A settlement demand doesn’t stop the clock, and an adjuster isn’t obliged to warn you the date is close. If the deadline falls close, a lawyer will want the date of injury, each defendant’s identity, and any government involvement before anything else.
General information about Georgia law as of November 2026. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship.