Illinois Law

Illinois Personal Injury Statute of Limitations: 2026 Window, the 1-Year Tort Immunity Trap, and Common Pitfalls

Illinois's general personal-injury statute of limitations is two years under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. The single biggest trap in Illinois PI practice: claims against local public entities (cities, counties, park districts, school districts, transit authorities) carry a one-year SOL under the Tort Immunity Act (745 ILCS 10/8-101). Miss it and the case ends even though the general two-year clock has not run.