Texas gives you 2 years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit, under Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003. There's an important additional wrinkle for certain product liability claims that catches many claimants off guard.
The 2-Year Deadline — And a 10-Year Outer Limit for Products
The standard personal injury deadline in Texas runs 2 years from the date of the injury. But for certain product liability claims, Texas also imposes a 10-year statute of repose measured from the date the product was originally sold — meaning a defective product injury occurring more than a decade after the product was sold may be barred entirely, even if you're well within the standard 2-year window from the date of injury itself.
⚠️ The statute of repose is a separate, harder outer limit than the standard statute of limitations — it can bar older product liability claims regardless of when the injury actually occurred.
Modified Comparative Fault: The 51% Bar
Separately from the filing deadline, Texas uses modified comparative fault with a 51% bar. If you're found 50% or less at fault for your own injury, you can recover damages reduced by your fault percentage; at 51% or more, you recover nothing.
Why Documentation Matters Early in Texas
Because both the standard deadline and, for product cases, the statute of repose run from fixed dates rather than from when you discover the full extent of your injury, prompt medical evaluation and record-keeping helps ensure you don't inadvertently let critical evidence — or time — slip away.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Texas?
Generally 2 years from the date of injury under CPRC §16.003.
What is Texas's statute of repose for products?
A 10-year outer limit from the date the product was sold, for certain product liability claims — separate from the standard 2-year injury deadline.
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