When is the filing deadline?
The bite date and the kind of claim determine which limit applies.
Your filing date Call about my deadline(844) 703-3920Which deadline applies?
An ordinary adult injury claim has a different clock from a child's claim or a claim involving a public body.
Your state's dog bite lawWho pays in your state?
The bite, the owner and the insurance policy determine your claim.
Your state sets the deadline Call about my state law(844) 703-3920Claim details
This is the planning limit for an ordinary adult claim against a private owner. Children's claims and claims against public owners need a separate timing review. It is not an automatic personal last date.
Your state's dog bite lawOhio Rev. Code 2305.07Call before your date in your state passes
The first thing to do about your deadline is call a dog bite lawyer. They can confirm which deadline applies to you. They can also make sure nothing is filed late.
For an adult bitten by a privately owned dog, most states give 2 or 3 years from the bite. Arizona, Kentucky and Tennessee give only 1 year. Other claim types can have different periods. In Arizona, the 1-year limit covers a claim under the dog bite statute. A negligence claim there has 2 years. See the Arizona statute for one example.
- 1 year:Arizona (statutory claim), Kentucky and Tennessee.
- 2 years:California, Texas and Florida.
- 3 years:New York, Michigan and Washington.
How long you have in each state
For an ordinary adult claim against a private dog owner, the dog bite statute of limitations runs from 1 year to 6 years. Maine, Minnesota and North Dakota give the longest time, at 6 years.
Missouri gives 5 years. Nebraska, Utah and Wyoming give 4 years. Most other states fall at 2 or 3 years.
Ohio has two deadlines. A negligence or bodily injury claim there has 2 years under section 2305.10. A statutory dog bite claim under section 955.28 generally has 6 years under section 2305.07(B).
For Ohio, our calculator shows the earlier 2-year date. Treat it as a planning date, not the only deadline for every claim. No single last date covers every claim type, so a lawyer should confirm yours.
Count from the day of the bite, not from the day the insurer replies. Write the date down and call well before it. Witnesses and records fade long before year three. You can also see the dog bite laws by state.
When a child is bitten
In many states, a child's clock does not start until age 18. California does not count the time a person is "under the age of majority."
Texas treats anyone younger than 18 as under a legal disability. That pauses the clock until the child turns 18.
The parent's own claim for the child's medical bills can run on the adult clock. That date can come much sooner. Read more about a dog bite on a child.
What can pause or shorten the clock
In California and Texas, a person who lacks legal capacity also gets more time. This works the same way as a child's age.
A claim against a city or county can be much shorter. For a bite by a police dog, for example, you often need to send a written notice within months.
Do not wait for the insurer to finish. Learn whether homeowners insurance covers dog bites, and keep your own deadline in view. If you have not had the bite treated yet, see what to do after a dog bite.
Reviewed September 17, 2026