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Texas injury rights, deadlines, and help

If you were hurt in Texas, you probably want to know two things. How long do you have to act, and what should you do right now?

This page answers both. The deadlines below come straight from Texas law, with links to the official statutes so you can check them yourself.

The deadlines that matter in Texas

Personal injury lawsuit: 2 years. Texas gives you two years from the date of injury to file most personal injury lawsuits. This is called the statute of limitations (the legal deadline to file a lawsuit). The rule is Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16.003. Read the statute.

Work injury, telling your employer: 30 days. Notify your employer no later than the 30th day after the injury, or after you learned that an occupational disease is work related. If you miss this and your employer did not already know, the insurance carrier can be relieved of paying you at all, unless you show good cause. The rule is Texas Labor Code 409.001. Read the statute.

Work injury, filing the formal claim: 1 year. File your claim with the Texas Division of Workers' Compensation within one year of the injury, or within one year of learning an occupational disease is work related. Telling your boss is not the same as filing this claim. The rule is Texas Labor Code 409.003. Read the statute.

Injured by a government entity: 6 months, sometimes much less. Under the Texas Tort Claims Act, you must give the governmental unit written notice of your claim within six months of the incident. Here is the trap: city charters are allowed to set shorter periods, and some cities require notice in as little as 45 days. If a city vehicle, sidewalk, or facility was involved, check that city's charter immediately or get help doing it. The rule is Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 101.101. Read the statute.

One more caution. Medical claims have different, often shorter deadlines and extra requirements. If a doctor or hospital hurt you, treat the clock as shorter until a licensed lawyer tells you otherwise.

What to do first

  1. Get medical care now. Your health comes first, and the records also prove when and how you were hurt.
  2. Report the injury the same day, in writing if you can. At work, tell your supervisor before you leave, even if the injury seems minor.
  3. Write down what happened. Date, time, place, names of witnesses, and photos if you can take them.
  4. If any government property or vehicle was involved, act fastest of all. Some Texas cities give you only weeks to send notice.
  5. Keep everything. Bills, pay stubs, denial letters, and every message about the injury.
  6. Do not accept a quick settlement or sign anything from an insurance company before you get advice. In Texas, even saying yes on the phone has been treated as a binding deal.

If this feels like a lot, you are not alone. Tell us what happened at /start/ and we will help you sort out what applies to you. Our help is always free to you.

Common situations in Texas

Hurt at work

Texas is unusual: private employers are not required to carry state workers' compensation insurance. If your employer has it, remember the two steps. Step one is the 30-day notice to your employer. Step two is the one-year claim to the Division of Workers' Compensation. If your employer opted out and runs its own injury plan, that plan's rules can be far stricter, sometimes demanding a report before your shift ends. Ask on day one which system covers you, and report in writing immediately either way.

Hurt on the road

Car crash claims follow the two-year lawsuit deadline. Texas uses a modified comparative fault rule: you can recover only if your share of responsibility is not greater than 50 percent, and your recovery shrinks by your share. The rule is Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 33.001. Read the statute. Adjusters know this, so be careful about fault statements, and get advice before any recorded call.

Hurt on someone's property, including dog bites

Texas has no dog bite statute. Courts follow what people call the one-bite rule, from the Texas Supreme Court case Marshall v. Ranne. An owner can be held strictly responsible if they knew the dog had bitten or acted dangerously before, and can also be sued for ordinary carelessness. Proof of what the owner knew is often the whole case, so gather it early. For falls and other property injuries, the two-year deadline and the 50 percent fault rule apply.

A story worth knowing

Rebecca Amador, a Texas nursing home worker, hurt her back in November 2013 while moving a patient. Her employer had opted out of state workers' comp and ran its own injury plan, and that plan required workers to report injuries by the end of their shift. She reported 19 hours later. Under regular Texas workers' comp she would have had 30 days. Under the company plan, she was already too late. Her claim was rejected, and because the injury was work related, her health and disability coverage would not pick it up either. She ended up at a public health clinic, unable to afford a specialist. Read the story.

The lesson is simple. In Texas, report every work injury in writing the same day it happens, even if it seems minor. The system does not bend for good people with good excuses, which is exactly why having an advocate early helps.

What we can help with

We are on your side, and only your side. We help injured people in Texas:

We do not charge injured people anything. Ever. We explain your rights and options in general terms and connect you with licensed professionals for legal or medical advice.

Tell us what happened. Share your story in a few sentences and we will help you understand your next step. It is free, private, and there is no pressure. Start here.

Sources

Last reviewed: 2026-08-16

This is general information, not legal advice. Deadlines can change or vary with the facts. A licensed attorney can confirm the rule for your situation.