Key facts: Louisiana
- When the clock starts
- Generally the date of injury for personal injury claims; the date of death for wrongful death. Louisiana 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 Louisiana
Louisiana’s PI prescriptive period increased from one year to two years effective July 1, 2024 under Act 423 (codified at La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1). The two-year period applies only to injuries on or after July 1, 2024; pre-July-2024 injuries remain on the one-year period. Wrongful death remains one year from the date of death under art. 2315.2.
Related: Louisiana comparative negligence rule
Louisiana follows a modified 51% bar rule. Effective January 1, 2026, Louisiana switched from pure comparative fault to modified comparative fault with a 51% bar under Act 15 of 2025. Accidents occurring before 1/1/2026 remain under the prior pure-comparative regime.
Read the full Louisiana 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 Louisiana attorney before relying on it.