Texas Statute of Limitations (2026)

Official Statute

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003

Clock Starts

Date of injury

Key Exceptions

• Gov entity: written notice within 6 months required
• Minors: tolled until age 18 then 2 years

Notes

Covers car accidents, slips and falls, and most bodily injury claims.

Official Statute

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 74.251

Clock Starts

Date of act or discovery

Key Exceptions

• Hard 10-year repose cap from date of act
• Expert report required within 120 days of filing

Notes

Texas has one of the longest repose caps in the US at 10 years.

Official Statute

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004

Clock Starts

Date of breach

Key Exceptions

No major exceptions noted.

Notes

Applies to most signed written agreements.

Official Statute

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004

Clock Starts

Date of breach

Key Exceptions

No major exceptions noted.

Notes

Texas gives oral contracts the same period as written.

Official Statute

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.002

Clock Starts

Date of publication

Key Exceptions

No major exceptions noted.

Notes

One of the shortest civil deadlines in Texas. Act immediately.

Official Statute

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(b)

Clock Starts

Date of death

Key Exceptions

• Gov entity: 6-month notice required

Notes

Clock starts at death, not at the underlying injury.

Official Statute

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003

Clock Starts

Date of damage

Key Exceptions

No major exceptions noted.

Notes

Covers vehicle damage and real property damage.

Official Statute

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004

Clock Starts

Discovery of fraud

Key Exceptions

• Discovery rule: clock starts when fraud discovered

Notes

Four years from when fraud was or reasonably should have been discovered.

Official Statute

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003

Clock Starts

Date of fall, trip, or injury on the property

Key Exceptions

• Gov entity: written notice within 6 months required
• Minors: tolled until age 18 then 2 years
• Property owner must have had actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition

Notes

Texas applies the 2-year personal injury statute to slip and fall (premises liability) claims. To win, you must show the property owner knew or should have known of the hazardous condition and failed to fix it or warn you.

Official Statute

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003

Clock Starts

Date of bite, attack, or injury

Key Exceptions

• Gov entity: written notice within 6 months required
• Minors: tolled until age 18 then 2 years
• Some states impose strict liability on owners regardless of the dog's prior history

Notes

Texas applies the 2-year period to dog bite and animal attack claims. Most states impose strict liability on dog owners for bites; some require proof the owner knew the animal was dangerous ("one bite rule").

Official Statute

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003

Clock Starts

Date of injury OR date the defect was or should have been discovered

Key Exceptions

• Gov entity: written notice within 6 months required
• Minors: tolled until age 18 then 2 years
• Discovery rule may extend start date for latent product defects
• Defective design, manufacturing defect, or failure-to-warn claims each have own accrual rules

Notes

Texas product liability claims follow the 2-year personal injury period. The discovery rule typically applies when a product defect was not immediately apparent. Check for any applicable statute of repose measured from the date of manufacture or sale.

Official Statute

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003

Clock Starts

Date of the assault or battery

Key Exceptions

• Gov entity: written notice within 6 months required
• Minors: tolled until age 18 then 2 years
• Criminal prosecution of the defendant does not pause the civil SOL
• Evidence from criminal proceedings may be usable in civil case
• Some states apply a different (often shorter) period to intentional torts such as assault and battery. Confirm the rule for your state with an attorney.

Notes

Civil assault and battery claims in Texas are subject to the 2-year personal injury statute. You can file a civil lawsuit regardless of whether criminal charges were filed — they are separate proceedings with different burdens of proof.

Official Statute

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.0045

Clock Starts

Date of discovery or 30 years from 18th birthday for childhood abuse

Key Exceptions

• No SOL for sexual abuse of a minor where criminal conviction exists (post-2017)
• Adult survivors: 5 years from act or discovery

Notes

Texas eliminated the SOL for civil claims of childhood sexual abuse in many circumstances (2017). Adult sexual assault: 5 years from discovery.

Official Statute

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003

Clock Starts

Date abuse occurred or was discovered

Key Exceptions

• Gov entity: written notice within 6 months required
• Minors: tolled until age 18 then 2 years
• Discovery rule applies when abuse was hidden or not immediately apparent
• Mental or cognitive incapacity of the resident may toll the period
• Federal LTCOP (Long-Term Care Ombudsman) complaints are separate from civil lawsuits

Notes

Texas nursing home neglect and abuse claims are governed by the 2-year personal injury statute. The discovery rule is critical — abuse is frequently concealed, and courts often hold the clock starts when the family discovered (or should have discovered) the abuse. Preserve all medical records, facility reports, and communications.