Massachusetts · Deadline to sue · Updated Oct 2026

Deadline to sue after a car accident in Massachusetts

Time limits, government claims and a calculator.

Short answer

In Massachusetts, you generally have 3 years from the crash to sue, for car damage and for an injury. Before suing a Massachusetts public employer (state, city or town) for negligence, you must first give a written claim to its executive officer within 2 years (for a city or town, for example the mayor, town manager or city/town clerk; for the state, the Attorney General).

Property damage (your car)
3 years
Injury
3 years
Law
M.G.L. c. 260, § 2A
Small claims limit
$7,000

Claims against a government in Massachusetts

  • Before suing a Massachusetts public employer (state, city or town) for negligence, you must first give a written claim to its executive officer within 2 years (for a city or town, for example the mayor, town manager or city/town clerk; for the state, the Attorney General).

Other notes on the Massachusetts deadlines

  • If it isn't denied in writing within 6 months, it counts as denied.
  • You must still sue within 3 years of the crash (M.G.L. c.
  • 258, § 4).

Shorter time limits to watch in Massachusetts

  • Crash report: Within 5 days, send a written Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report to the Registrar (RMV) and a copy to the local police.

Deadline to sue in Massachusetts

Massachusetts: 3 years for property damageEnter the date of the crash to see the last day to file a lawsuit.

Protecting your deadline in Massachusetts

  1. Deadline for both kinds of claim in Massachusetts: 3 years.
  2. If a government was involved, act fast. Before suing a Massachusetts public employer (state, city or town) for negligence, you must first give a written claim to its executive officer within 2 years (for a city or town, for example the mayor, town manager or city/town clerk; for the state, the Attorney General).
  3. Small claims, for car damage up to $7,000: Massachusetts small claims guide on Small Claims Map
  4. Don't wait for the insurer: talks with an adjuster don't stop the clock.

Free help in Massachusetts

Questions about deadlines to sue in Massachusetts

How long do you have to sue after a car accident in Massachusetts?

3 years from the crash, for car damage and for an injury (M.G.L. c. 260, § 2A).

How do claims against a government work in Massachusetts?

Before suing a Massachusetts public employer (state, city or town) for negligence, you must first give a written claim to its executive officer within 2 years (for a city or town, for example the mayor, town manager or city/town clerk; for the state, the Attorney General).

What is the small claims limit in Massachusetts?

$7,000; no dollar limit for property damage caused by a motor vehicle (confirmed in M.G.L. c. 218, § 21).

More for Massachusetts drivers

Nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.