Law Office of Sovmya George, PLLC | Personal Injury & Immigration | Serving the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex and clients statewide in Texas | Licensed in Texas and Massachusetts | Reviewed August 2026
| QUICK ANSWER In Texas, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003. Wrongful death claims run two years from the date of death. Miss that deadline and the court will almost always dismiss your case no matter how strong it is. Claims against a city or state agency are far shorter — written notice can be due within six months, and sometimes as little as 90 days. |
Texas law sets a firm outer deadline for filing an injury lawsuit, but the practical deadline is much sooner: the evidence that decides your case starts disappearing within days.
Texas Filing Deadlines at a Glance
| Type of claim | Texas filing deadline | Governing statute |
| Most personal injury claims (car crash, slip and fall, dog bite, defective product) | 2 years from the date of injury | CPRC § 16.003(a) |
| Wrongful death | 2 years from the date of death | CPRC § 16.003(b) |
| Property damage (including your vehicle) | 2 years from the date of damage | CPRC § 16.003(a) |
| Claim against a city, county, or state agency | Written notice within 6 months — as little as 90 days in some cities | CPRC § 101.101 |
CPRC = Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code. General summary only, not legal advice for any specific case.
What Is a Statute of Limitations?
A statute of limitations is a law that sets the maximum amount of time you have to file a lawsuit after an incident. Once it expires, the claim is barred: a court will refuse to hear the case regardless of how clear the other side’s fault may be or how severe your injuries are.
These deadlines push both sides to investigate while the facts are still accessible and reliable. Over time, evidence degrades, records are purged, and memories fade. The practical effect is simple: the law rewards people who act early.
How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Texas?
Two years. Under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003, you must bring suit for personal injury no later than two years after the cause of action accrues. The same period applies to wrongful death and to damage to your property.
This covers most Texas injury cases, including car, truck, and motorcycle collisions; slip and fall injuries; dog bites; pedestrian and bicycle accidents; and injuries from defective products. Miss the deadline and you will almost certainly lose your right to recover anything — medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering included.
When Does the Two-Year Clock Start?
On the date the cause of action accrues, which is usually the date you were injured — the day of the collision, or the day of the fall. For a wrongful death claim, it runs from the date of death, not the date of the injury that caused it. If you were hurt in a rear-end collision on March 1, 2025, your lawsuit generally must be on file by March 1, 2027.
Suing a City, County, or State Agency? The Deadline Is Much Shorter
Under the Texas Tort Claims Act, § 101.101, a governmental unit is entitled to written notice of a claim no later than six months after the incident. Home-rule cities may shorten that window through their charters, and many have — Houston and San Antonio both impose 90-day deadlines.
If you were hurt by a city vehicle, on public property, or by a school district or transit authority, assume the deadline is measured in weeks. Missing the notice deadline can bar the claim entirely, even with well over a year left on the two-year clock.
Does Filing an Insurance Claim Stop the Clock?
No. Reporting the crash, opening a claim number, exchanging records, and negotiating with an adjuster do not pause the statute of limitations. Only filing a lawsuit in court stops the clock. Adjusters know your deadline even when you do not — a claim still “under review” as the two-year mark approaches loses all its leverage the moment the deadline passes.
Why Waiting Can Hurt Your Case
Even with two years available, the proof can vanish in days. Most commercial surveillance systems record on a loop and overwrite old footage automatically, often keeping video for only one to two weeks — and sometimes just a few days. Skid marks are cleared within hours, hazards are repaired, witnesses move, and vehicle data recorders are overwritten when the car is repaired or salvaged.
Acting quickly is not only about meeting a deadline. It is about protecting the proof your case depends on.
What Happens Before a Lawsuit Is Filed?
Most injury claims settle without a lawsuit, and significant work comes first:
- Investigation. Preservation letters go out and the investigation begins — police report, surveillance footage, scene photos, witness interviews.
- Medical treatment. You treat until you recover or reach maximum medical improvement. Until then, no one can value future medical costs accurately.
- Damages. Records, bills, and wage-loss documentation are assembled to prove both fault and the full extent of your damages.
- Demand and negotiation. A demand package goes to the insurer and negotiations begin. Many claims resolve here; if not, suit is filed.
That sequence takes months, which is why two years is far less generous than it sounds.
Talk to a Texas Personal Injury Attorney
| FREE CONSULTATION FOR PERSONAL INJURY CASES If you have been injured in an accident in Texas, do not wait for the deadline to get close. The Law Office of Sovmya George, PLLC represents injured people throughout the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex and across Texas, and is licensed in both Texas and Massachusetts. We move quickly to preserve evidence, handle the insurance company for you, and make sure every deadline in your case is met. Call 972-905-0948 today for a FREE consultation about your personal injury case, or email admin@lawofficesg.com. |
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. Filing deadlines depend on the specific facts of each case and can change. If you believe you may have a claim, consult a licensed Texas attorney about your individual situation as soon as possible.