How much time
do you have left?
Enter your accident date. We calculate your standard three-year deadline and tell you exactly what that means.
Limitation Calculator
Enter the date of your accident to see how much time you have remaining within the standard three-year limitation period.
This is the standard three-year deadline
The three-year period runs from the accident date. Submitting a claim through the OIC portal does not stop this period from running.
Exceptions apply in some circumstances — for example, where the injured person was under 18 at the time of the accident, or where injuries were not immediately apparent. In those cases, the start date may differ.
Standard rule
Most personal injury claims must be started within three years of the date of the accident.
Under-18 exception
If you were under 18 at the time, the three-year period runs from your 18th birthday — not the accident date.
Date of knowledge
Where injuries were not immediately apparent, the period may run from when you first became aware — though this requires legal advice.
Allow processing time
Even with time remaining, the claims process takes months. Don't wait until close to the deadline to start.
Important — limitation period
Starting a claim through the OIC portal does not stop the three-year limitation period.
Only issuing court proceedings stops the clock. If your claim is approaching the three-year deadline, this creates a critical risk — because once the limitation period expires, the ability to continue the claim is usually lost.
Last reviewed: 16 April 2026
ClaimTalk provides general guidance only. Not legal advice. Not affiliated with the Official Injury Claim portal or any government body.
ClaimTalk cannot respond to questions about individual claims. If you need advice specific to your situation, a regulated solicitor is the appropriate route.