Key facts: Alabama
- When the clock starts
- Generally the date of injury for personal injury claims; the date of death for wrongful death. Alabama follows the discovery rule for most negligence claims, which delays accrual when the injury was not, or could not reasonably have been, discovered at the time.
- Last verified
- 2026-05-22
- Source type
- Primary (state code or court opinion)
Details and exceptions for Alabama
Two-year deadline runs from the date of injury for PI, and from the date of death for wrongful death. Wrongful death damages in Alabama are entirely punitive and must be brought by the personal representative of the estate. Minors and incapacitated plaintiffs may toll under Ala. Code § 6-2-8.
Related: Alabama comparative negligence rule
Alabama follows a contributory (pure bar) rule. Alabama retains pure contributory negligence by common law; the Supreme Court of Alabama declined to adopt comparative negligence in Williams, leaving any contributory fault as a complete bar to recovery.
Read the full Alabama comparative negligence rule →This page is informational and does not constitute legal advice. Notice deadlines for claims against governmental units, medical malpractice, intentional torts, and other special categories run on separate tracks and can be much shorter. Confirm the controlling rule with a licensed Alabama attorney before relying on it.