What is the statute of limitations to file a claim under the Civil Rights Act Title 42 USC 1983?

• A. 3 years
• B. 2 years
• C. 5 years
• D. 1 year

Answer: (B)

For 42 U.S.C. 1983 claims, there isn’t a federal statute of limitations. The time limit is borrowed from the state’s law governing personal injury claims. Because many states use two years for personal injury actions, two years is the typical period within which a §1983 claim must be filed after accrual. Accrual usually happens when the plaintiff knows or has reason to know of the injury and its cause, often the time of the violation itself, though some states apply discovery rules or tolling in certain situations. Because state rules vary, the exact limit can differ, but two years is the best-supported answer in many jurisdictions.