Key facts: North Dakota
- When the clock starts
- Generally the date of injury for personal injury claims; the date of death for wrongful death. North Dakota 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 North Dakota
North Dakota has a six-year general PI deadline, tied with Maine and Minnesota among the longest. Wrongful death is two years from the date of death under § 28-01-18. Government tort claims have a three-year deadline with notice required.
Related: North Dakota comparative negligence rule
North Dakota follows a modified 50% bar rule. Modified comparative fault with a 50% bar; the plaintiff is barred when contributory fault is "as great as" the combined fault of all other parties. Recovery requires fault less than 50%.
Read the full North Dakota 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 North Dakota attorney before relying on it.