For many years, Louisiana gave injured victims one of the shortest time windows in the country to file personal injury claims: just one year from the date of their accidents or injuries.
But that changed on July 1, 2024. Thanks to ACT No. 423, most personal injury cases now allow injured victims two years from the date of their injuries to file claims for compensation.
This extension is a significant win for injured victims in our state. It gives them more time to understand their injuries, gather evidence, and build their cases. However, it’s important to note that it only applies to accidents and injuries that occurred on or after July 1, 2024. Accidents that happened before then are still governed by the state’s previous one-year deadline.
Why You Still Need to Act Quickly After an Injury
While two years may seem like plenty of time, taking action right away after an injury is still the best course of action for maximizing your claim’s chances of success.
Critical evidence can disappear, crash scenes change, and witnesses’ memories fade. That’s why contacting Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers immediately after an injury remains one of the most important steps you can take, even with the extended deadline in effect.
What Types of Injury Claims Are Affected?
Here’s how the new two-year limit benefits victims across a range of case types handled by Dudley DeBosier:
- Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Accidents: Motor vehicle crashes often leave victims dealing with injuries, vehicle repairs, and disputes with insurers. The new two-year window allows them more time to complete medical treatment and gather additional evidence before filing a claim.
- Premises Liability Claims: Hazardous property conditions can cause serious falls and injuries. Victims now have more time to document unsafe conditions, track medical costs, and hold negligent property owners accountable.
- Catastrophic Injuries: Life-altering injuries such as paralysis, amputations, or severe burns often require long-term care planning. With two years to file, victims and families have additional breathing room to calculate future costs before pursuing a claim.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries: The effects of TBIs are not always immediately clear and may take months to diagnose fully. A longer statute of limitations ensures victims can wait for a clear medical prognosis before initiating legal action.
- Boat and Watercraft Accidents: Louisiana’s waterways see many recreational and commercial boating accidents. The two-year deadline gives victims extra time to investigate operator negligence, equipment failures, and maritime insurance coverage.
- Dog Bites: Dog bite injuries can lead to infection, scarring, and psychological trauma. The expanded timeframe helps victims pursue compensation for ongoing medical care and emotional suffering.
Some Exceptions Still Require Faster Action
Not all cases fall under the two-year rule. Notable exceptions include:
- Wrongful Death
- Defective Product
- Medical Malpractice
- Injury Claims Involving Minors
- Government Claims
- And More
Contact us if you have questions about your particular claim.
What This Means for You (and Your Family)
Wondering how this statute of limitations change affects you, your family, and your claim? This chart helps break down the change and how it affects injury cases based on their type and when they happened.
| Scenario | Filing Deadline | What to Do |
| Injury on or after July 1, 2024 | 2 years from injury date | You have more time, but you should still act promptly. |
| Injury before July 1, 2024 | 1 year from injury date | Time may have already run out—consult a lawyer immediately. |
| Wrongful death or malpractice cases | 1 year (with exceptions) | The deadline wasn’t extended, so act immediately. |
Let Us Help You Build Your Claim
Louisiana’s shift to a two-year statute of limitations marks real progress for injury victims. It offers a more workable timeline for victims and their lawyers to assess injuries, consult with experts, and build the strongest possible case. But because evidence can disappear and weaken claims, waiting until the deadline is still risky.
At Dudley DeBosier, we know the stakes you’re dealing with. Your physical recovery, financial security, and peace of mind depend on taking timely and decisive action. Whether you’ve been hurt in a car crash, suffered a catastrophic injury, or are navigating complex premises liability or animal bite claims, we’re ready to guide you.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
