Texas Personal Injury Statute of Limitations & TTCA Notice Deadline Calculator
Governing Texas Statutory Formula: CPRC § 16.003 & § 101.101
Calculate your exact 2-year Texas personal injury filing deadline under CPRC § 16.003, minor tolling under § 16.001, Chapter 74 75-day pre-suit medical notice tolling (§ 74.051), and Texas Tort Claims Act 45/60/90-day municipal charter vs. 6-month statutory notice windows (§ 101.101).
Interactive Statute of Limitations & Notice Calculator
How Texas Calculates Personal Injury Filing & Municipal Notice Deadlines
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003(a), the baseline deadline to file a civil lawsuit for personal injury or property damage in Texas is two (2) years from the date the cause of action accrues (typically the date of the crash or injury). For a wrongful death action under § 16.003(b), the 2-year clock starts on the date of the injured person's death. If the final day of the limitations period falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state holiday, Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.072 extends the filing deadline to the next business day that the county courthouse is open.
Crucially, two Texas traps catch claimants off guard before the 2-year mark: first, if the collision or injury involves a governmental entity (such as a city bus, police cruiser, school bus, county truck, or TxDOT highway hazard), Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 101.101(a) requires formal written notice within 6 months—and § 101.101(b) enforces even shorter home-rule city charter deadlines, including 45 days in Austin and 90 days in Houston and San Antonio! Second, even if you file your lawsuit before the 2-year deadline expires, Texas law (Ashley v. Hawkins, 293 S.W.3d 175 (Tex. 2009)) bars your claim if the defendant is served after the 2-year mark unless you prove continuous due diligence in attempting service.
Frequently Asked Questions Under Texas Law
Does filing an insurance claim pause the 2-year Texas statute of limitations?
No. Negotiating with an auto or premises liability insurance adjuster in Texas NEVER pauses or tolls the 2-year statute of limitations under CPRC § 16.003. Only filing a formal Original Petition in a Texas court of competent jurisdiction (and diligently serving citation) stops the limitations clock.
How does minor tolling work in Texas if a child is injured in a car crash?
Under CPRC § 16.001, a child under age 18 is under a legal disability, so the child's own claim for pain, suffering, permanent impairment, and post-18 medical bills is tolled until their 18th birthday (giving them until their 20th birthday to sue). However, the parents' claim to recover pre-18 medical bills incurred during the child's minority is NOT tolled and expires 2 years after the crash!
Mandatory 6-Point Texas Legal Disclaimer & Notice
- 1. Not Legal Advice: This website provides general educational and statutory reference information strictly scoped to Texas personal injury law, Texas courts, and Texas statutes. Nothing on this site constitutes legal advice, a legal opinion, or counseling on any specific set of facts.
- 2. No Attorney-Client Relationship: Viewing this website, reading any statutory or procedural guide, or using any interactive calculator, checklist, or reference tool does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and this publisher or any contributor.
- 3. Content May Be Inaccurate or Outdated: Although articles reference the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code (CPRC), Texas Transportation Code, Texas Insurance Code, Texas Labor Code, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (TRCP), and published decisions of the Supreme Court of Texas and the 15 Texas Courts of Appeals, legislation and appellate holdings change continually. Information on this website may be incomplete, inaccurate, or superseded by subsequent statutory amendments or judicial opinions.
- 4. Verify With a Licensed Texas Attorney: Deadlines under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, municipal charter notice windows under § 101.101, and comparative fault bars under Chapter 33 are strictly enforced. Always verify your legal rights, filing deadlines, and jurisdictional rules directly with an attorney licensed and in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.
- 5. No Guarantee of Results: Statutory damage cap formulas, proportionate responsibility illustrations, and medical bill adjustment examples are mathematical and educational illustrations only. They do not predict, warrant, or guarantee any specific verdict, settlement amount, or legal outcome in any Texas court.
- 6. Independent Reference Portal — Not a Law Firm: Texas Injury Law Reference is an independent legal education publication. We are not a law firm, do not practice law, do not solicit clients, and do not operate as an attorney referral service.