Arkansas Personal Injury Statute of Limitations

The Statute of limitations is the deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit in court. In Arkansas, missing this deadline almost always means the claim is permanently barred — no matter how strong the evidence, how severe the injury, or how clear the defendant's fault.

The general personal injury statute of limitations in Arkansas is 3 years from the date of injury. This covers negligence claims arising from car accidents, slip and falls, defective products, and other incidents causing bodily harm.

Three years for personal injury (trespass on person). Medical malpractice: 2 years (§16-114-203).

Wrongful death claims must be filed within 3 years of the date of death — not the date of the negligent act that ultimately caused death. Three years from date of death.

Medical malpractice claims in Arkansas have specific deadline rules that may differ from the general personal injury statute.

2 years from date of act or omission or date of discovery; medical malpractice noneconomic damages capped at $500K (§16-114-209). Pre-suit notice required.

Arkansas recognizes a discovery rule — the statute of limitations may start when the injury was discovered (or should have been discovered through reasonable diligence) rather than when the negligent act occurred.

This is particularly important in cases where injuries are not immediately apparent: medical malpractice (a foreign object left during surgery), toxic exposure, or defective products that cause progressive harm.

Applies to medical malpractice: 2 years from date of injury or date injury is discovered/should have been discovered.

A statute of repose sets an absolute outer deadline — it cannot be extended by the discovery rule, tolling, or any other exception. In Arkansas, the repose period is 2 years from the date of the act or omission.

Two-year combined limitation/repose for medical malpractice from act or discovery (whichever is later, but not more than 2 years from act unless fraudulent concealment applies).

Certain circumstances may pause (toll) the statute of limitations, effectively extending the filing deadline:

• Minority — if the injured person is under 18, the statute of limitations is typically tolled until they reach the age of majority. A parent or guardian can file on the minor's behalf before then.
• Mental incapacity — if the injured person is mentally incapacitated at the time of injury, the clock may not start until capacity is restored
• Defendant absence from the state — if the defendant leaves Arkansas, the time away may not count toward the limitations period
• Fraudulent concealment — if the defendant actively concealed the injury or the cause of harm, the clock may be tolled until discovery

Claims against Arkansas government entities have separate, shorter notice requirements that must be satisfied before a lawsuit can be filed: No statutory pre-suit notice deadline identified for claims against Arkansas political subdivisions. Counties, municipalities, school districts, and other political subdivisions are immune from liability and from suit for damages except to the extent they are covered by liability insurance (§21-9-301).

Arkansas Municipal Tort Liability. Cities and counties immune except for negligent operation of motor vehicles and certain other acts. No general state tort claims act — State maintains sovereign immunity except where expressly waived.