Published March 10, 2026 · Parkinson's Lawsuit Help
Pennsylvania applies a two-year statute of limitations to personal injury claims. For paraquat Parkinson's claims — where exposure typically preceded diagnosis by decades — the discovery rule is the key analytical question.
Two years from accrual
42 Pa.C.S. § 5524 imposes a two-year limitations period for personal injury actions. The clock starts at accrual — when the cause of action came into existence.
The discovery rule
Pennsylvania applies a discovery rule that delays accrual until the plaintiff knew, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence should have known, of the injury and its cause. For a long-latency disease like Parkinson's, accrual typically occurs when the plaintiff was diagnosed and the connection to paraquat exposure became reasonably knowable.
Reasonable diligence
The discovery rule does not protect a plaintiff who ignored obvious information. Once paraquat-Parkinson's claims became publicly known (extensive media coverage starting around 2017–2018 and intensifying), a person with both exposure and diagnosis is generally expected to investigate within a reasonable time.
Wrongful death and survival claims
Wrongful death and survival statutes (42 Pa.C.S. §§ 8301–8302) have their own limitations periods, often two years from death. Survival claims may be limited by the personal-injury limitations period as it stood at the time of death.
Tolling considerations
Limited tolling exists for minors and individuals with legal disabilities. There is no automatic tolling because an MDL or state mass tort is pending.
What this means practically
If you have known about both your exposure and your Parkinson's diagnosis for more than a year, do not assume your claim is still timely without confirmation from counsel. Conversely, do not assume an old exposure is too late — the discovery rule may preserve the claim. The only reliable way to know is to talk to a lawyer.
Get a free case review
If you or a family member were exposed to paraquat and have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, request a free case review. It takes 15 to 30 minutes by phone, costs nothing, and locks in your place while settlement options remain open. Check eligibility or call (717) 724-7503.