{"id":7476,"date":"2026-07-20T16:49:38","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T16:49:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/paralysis-paraplegia-quadriplegia-lawyer\/paralysis-lawsuit-time-limit-statute-of-limitations\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:03:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:03:23","slug":"paralysis-lawsuit-time-limit-statute-of-limitations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/paralysis-paraplegia-quadriplegia-lawyer\/paralysis-lawsuit-time-limit-statute-of-limitations\/","title":{"rendered":"Paralysis Lawsuit Time Limit: How Long to File?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Paralysis Claims \u2014 Florida & Nationwide<\/p>

Paralysis Lawsuit Time Limit: How Long Do You Have to File?<\/h1>

A spinal cord injury changes everything \u2014 and the law puts a clock on your right to seek compensation. Learn the deadlines before they run out.<\/p>

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Why Families Turn to CHG<\/h2>\n

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By CHG Lawyers \u00b7 Published July 20, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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How Long Do You Have to File a Paralysis Injury Lawsuit?<\/h2>\n

In Florida, you generally have two years<\/strong> to file a paralysis injury lawsuit for accidents that happened on or after March 24, 2023, under Fla. Stat. \u00a795.11<\/a>. Accidents before that date were often subject to a four-year limit. This is called the statute of limitations<\/strong> \u2014 the law that caps how long you have to sue. Miss it, and a court will almost always refuse to hear your case, no matter how severe the injury.<\/p>\n

That two-year figure is Florida’s general negligence deadline. It is not a nationwide rule, and it does not apply to every claim type. Medical negligence, claims against a government agency, and out-of-state accidents can each run on a different clock \u2014 sometimes a much shorter one. Below, we explain how the clock works, what changes it, and how to protect your right to file.<\/p>\n

This page is general information, not legal advice. Only a licensed attorney reviewing your facts can confirm your specific deadline.<\/em><\/p>\n\n

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Why the deadline carries so much weight after paralysis<\/h2>\n

For most families, a lawsuit is the only realistic way to fund a lifetime of care. That is why the deadline matters more here than in almost any other kind of case.<\/p>\n

Spinal cord injuries that cause paraplegia (loss of function in the legs and lower body) or quadriplegia (loss of function in all four limbs) frequently bring permanent loss of movement and sensation, along with lifelong complications \u2014 pressure sores, respiratory problems, bladder and bowel changes, and blood-pressure instability \u2014 as the Mayo Clinic<\/a> describes.<\/p>\n

Physicians grade the severity of these injuries using the ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS)<\/strong>, part of the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury<\/a>. An AIS “A” means a complete injury with no motor or sensory function below the injury level; grades B through E describe increasing degrees of preserved function. That classification directly shapes a person’s lifelong care needs and the value of their claim \u2014 which is exactly why it must be documented while the medical record is fresh.<\/p>\n

National data on these injuries is tracked by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC)<\/a>, and the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation<\/a> maintains prevalence figures on paralysis in the U.S. Care, equipment, home modifications, and lost income continue for the rest of a person’s life. Once the statute of limitations passes, the right to recover those costs is generally gone for good.<\/p>\n

One point many people miss: even if you are still in the hospital or in rehab, the clock is usually already running.<\/strong><\/p>\n

When the clock usually starts<\/h2>\n

In most cases, the deadline starts on the date of the accident or injury. But there are important exceptions.<\/p>\n