How long do you have to sue the city for an injury?

Whether or not you can sue the city for you injury depends on whether the city has abolished its immunity from lawsuits. Fortunately, most state and local governments have followed in the federal government’s footsteps and abolished their immunity against lawsuits. As such, a city can be sued like any other defendant.

A lawsuit against a city, though, is generally require to be filed within two years of the accident happening and the injury being inflicted. Two years is the average amount of time, but different cities may have lengthened or shortened this amount of time individually. The exception to this rule is where the accident happened but no injury was noticed until after the passage of the time period. Most states permit the injured party to file their complaint against the city when the injury is or should have been discovered. Therefore, the actual amount of time to file a lawsuit against a city can actually be longer than the prescribed period set forth in state statutes.

This two year time limitation, referred to as a “statute of limitations”, requires that the plaintiff file his initial complaint within that time. The actual lawsuit may take longer than two years to complete. The statute of limitations refers only to the beginning of the lawsuit and not the total length of time it requires for its final resolution.

Obtaining Legal Advice

If you have been injured on city property, seek legal advice. An attorney will review the facts of your case and the state laws regarding city immunity with you and discuss your chances for obtaining compensation for your damages.