Under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003, most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years from the date the cause of action accrues—typically the date of the accident. This applies to car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle crashes, slip-and-fall injuries, dog bites, and most other negligence claims in Texas. If you miss this deadline, Texas courts will almost always dismiss your case, and you lose the right to recover compensation regardless of how strong your claim would have been.

Yes. Texas recognizes several tolling and exception rules: the discovery rule may delay the start of the clock when an injury could not have reasonably been discovered right away; the two-year clock generally does not begin for minors until they turn 18 (giving them until age 20); it may be paused for individuals of unsound mind; and time during which a defendant is absent from Texas may not count. These exceptions are narrowly applied, and whether one helps you depends on the facts of your case. This is why confirming your actual deadline with a Texas personal injury attorney matters, especially as the two-year mark approaches.

Claims against Texas government entities (cities, counties, school districts, state agencies, transit authorities) are governed by the Texas Tort Claims Act and require a written notice of claim within 6 months of the incident—and in some cities, as little as 45 or 90 days. Miss the notice window and the lawsuit is barred even though the general 2-year period hasn't expired. If your injury involved a government vehicle, a public sidewalk or park, or a public employee, contact an attorney immediately.

Yes. A wrongful death lawsuit in Texas must generally be filed within two years—but the clock runs from the date of death, not the date of the underlying accident. That distinction matters in cases where a loved one survives for a period of time after the incident before passing away. Survival claims brought by the estate follow the same two-year framework.

Medical malpractice claims in Texas follow a 2-year deadline under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 74.251, with a 10-year statute of repose that can bar even undiscovered claims. Product liability cases follow the 2-year personal injury rule but are subject to a 15-year statute of repose under § 16.012. Both areas have complex interactions with the discovery rule and pre-suit notice requirements — you should not rely on a calculator alone.

Don't wait. Even if the statute of limitations hasn't expired, evidence disappears, witnesses move, and insurance companies use delay to their advantage. Contact Barton & Associates for a free, confidential consultation. We serve clients across San Antonio, Bexar County, Austin, Corpus Christi, and throughout Texas, and our attorneys are on call evenings, weekends, and holidays.