Key facts: Iowa
- Wrongful death deadline
- 2 years
- When the clock starts
- Generally the date of injury for personal injury claims; the date of death for wrongful death. Iowa 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 Iowa
Two years for both PI and wrongful death under § 614.1(2). The wrongful death clock starts at the date of death. Discovery rule applies. Founded-on-written-instrument claims get 10 years under § 614.1(5).
Related: Iowa comparative negligence rule
Iowa follows a modified 51% bar rule. Modified comparative fault with a 51% bar; the plaintiff is barred only when fault is "greater than" the combined fault of defendants and released parties.
Read the full Iowa 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 Iowa attorney before relying on it.