Texas Statute of Limitations

Personal Injury Actions

These actions must be filed within two years of the date that the injury occurred.

Wrongful Death

A cause of action for wrongful death accrues on the date of death and must be filed within two years of that date.

Medical Malpractice Actions

Actions against health care providers must be brought within two years of the date that the act giving rise to the injury occurred.

Products Liability Actions

Products liability actions must be brought within two years after the plaintiff suffers the injury.

Special Rules for Minors

The statute of limitations begins to run on the minor’s 18th birthday, including for medical malpractice claims.

Texas: CIVIL PRACTICE AND REMEDIES CODE

Sec. 16.001. EFFECT OF DISABILITY.

1. For the purposes of this subchapter, a person is under a legal disability if the person is:
1. younger than 18 years of age, regardless of whether the person is married; or
2. of unsound mind.
2. If a person entitled to bring a personal action is under a legal disability when the cause of action accrues, the time of the disability is not included in a limitations period.
3. A person may not tack one legal disability to another to extend a limitations period.
4. A disability that arises after a limitations period starts does not suspend the running of the period.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 959, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 1049, Sec. 56, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Sec. 16.003. TWO-YEAR LIMITATIONS PERIOD.

1. Except as provided by Sections 16.010, 16.0031, and 16.0045, a person must bring suit for trespass for injury to the estate or to the property of another, conversion of personal property, taking or detaining the personal property of another, personal injury, forcible entry and detainer, and forcible detainer not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues.
2. A person must bring suit not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues in an action for injury resulting in death. The cause of action accrues on the death of the injured person.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 959, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 739, Sec. 2, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 26, Sec. 2, eff. May 1, 1997.

Amended by:
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 97 (S.B. 15), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2005.

Sec. 16.0031. ASBESTOS-RELATED OR SILICA-RELATED INJURIES.

1. In an action for personal injury or death resulting from an asbestos-related injury, as defined by Section 90.001, the cause of action accrues for purposes of Section 16.003 on the earlier of the following dates:
   1. the date of the exposed person's death; or
   2. the date that the claimant serves on a defendant a report complying with Section 90.003 or 90.010(f).
2. In an action for personal injury or death resulting from a silica-related injury, as defined by Section 90.001, the cause of action accrues for purposes of Section 16.003 on the earlier of the following dates:
   1. the date of the exposed person's death; or
   2. the date that the claimant serves on a defendant a report complying with Section 90.004 or 90.010(f).

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 959, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 739, Sec. 2, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 26, Sec. 2, eff. May 1, 1997.

Amended by:
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 97 (S.B. 15), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2005.

Sec. 74.251. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON HEALTH CARE LIABILITY CLAIMS.

1. Notwithstanding any other law and subject to Subsection (b), no health care liability claim may be commenced unless the action is filed within two years from the occurrence of the breach or tort or from the date the medical or health care treatment that is the subject of the claim or the hospitalization for which the claim is made is completed; provided that, minors under the age of 12 years shall have until their 14th birthday in which to file, or have filed on their behalf, the claim. Except as herein provided this section applies to all persons regardless of minority or other legal disability.
2. A claimant must bring a health care liability claim not later than 10 years after the date of the act or omission that gives rise to the claim. This subsection is intended as a statute of repose so that all claims must be brought within 10 years or they are time barred.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 204, Sec. 10.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Workers' Compensation

There is a one-year statute of limitation from the date of injury, or within one year from the date the employee knew—or should have known—about the occupational injury or illness.

Texas: LABOR CODE

Sec. 409.003. CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION.

An employee or a person acting on the employee's behalf shall file with the division a claim for compensation for an injury not later than one year after the date on which:

1. the injury occurred; or
2. if the injury is an occupational disease, the employee knew or should have known that the disease was related to the employee's employment.

Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 269, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Amended by:
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 265 (H.B. 7), Sec. 3.135, eff. September 1, 2005.

Sec. 409.007. DEATH BENEFIT CLAIMS.

1. A person must file a claim for death benefits with the division not later than the first anniversary of the date of the employee's death.
2. Failure to file in the time required by Subsection (a) bars the claim unless:
1. the person is a minor or incompetent; or
2. good cause exists for the failure to file a claim under this section.
3. A separate claim must be filed for each legal beneficiary unless the claim expressly includes or is made on behalf of another person.

Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 269, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Amended by:
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 265 (H.B. 7), Sec. 3.139, eff. September 1, 2005.

Sec. 409.008. FAILURE TO FILE EMPLOYER REPORT OF INJURY; LIMITATIONS TOLLED.

If an employer or the employer's insurance carrier has been given notice or has knowledge of an injury to or the death of an employee and the employer or insurance carrier fails, neglects, or refuses to file the report under Section 409.005, the period for filing a claim for compensation under Sections 409.003 and 409.007 does not begin to run against the claim of an injured employee or a legal beneficiary until the day on which the report required under Section 409.005 has been furnished.

Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 269, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Sec. 409.009. SUBCLAIMS.

A person may file a written claim with the division as a subclaimant if the person has:

1. provided compensation, including health care provided by a health care insurer, directly or indirectly, to or for an employee or legal beneficiary; and
2. sought and been refused reimbursement from the insurance carrier.

Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 269, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Amended by:
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 265 (H.B. 7), Sec. 3.140, eff. September 1, 2005.