TX · Filing Deadlines

Texas Statute of Limitations

Filing deadlines for every common civil claim in Texas — personal injury, medical malpractice, contracts, fraud, employment, defamation, and more. Each row cites the controlling statute.

Claim type	Deadline	Statute & notes
Personal Injury Bodily injury claims arising from negligence — car accidents, slip-and-falls, dog bites. Generally counted from the date of the injury, sometimes from discovery.	2 years	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003 ↗ Two years from the date of the injury under the Texas residual personal-injury statute. Government-defendant claims under the Texas Tort Claims Act require a written notice within six months. Reviewed Jun 2026
Medical Malpractice Negligence claims against medical professionals. Most states use a discovery rule plus a statute of repose ceiling. Specialized notice-of-intent requirements often apply.	2 years 10-year statute of repose	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 74.251 ↗ Two years from the date of the negligent act, the completion of medical treatment, or the date the patient is discharged from a hospital — whichever is later. Texas applies a 10-year statute of repose ceiling regardless of discovery. Reviewed Jun 2026
Wrongful Death Survivor claims for death caused by another's negligence or intentional act. Generally measured from date of death, not date of underlying injury.	2 years	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(b) ↗ Two years from the date of death. Survival actions for the decedent's personal-injury claims also follow the two-year rule. Reviewed Jun 2026
Product Liability Claims that a defective product caused injury or damage. Most states use a discovery rule with a separate statute of repose for products.	2 years 15-year statute of repose	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.012 ↗ Two years for personal injury, with a 15-year statute of repose from the date the product was first sold. Defective-medical-device claims have additional notice requirements. Reviewed Jun 2026
Breach of Written Contract Claims for breach of a contract that is reduced to writing. Generally longer than oral contracts. Note: signed agreements may have additional periods.	4 years	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004 ↗ Four years from the date of breach to sue on a written contract. Promissory notes generally follow the same rule; consult counsel for installment obligations. Reviewed Jun 2026
Breach of Oral Contract Claims for breach of an unwritten oral agreement. Generally shorter periods than written contracts.	4 years	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004 ↗ Four years for oral contracts as well — Texas applies the same period to oral and written breach claims, but the Statute of Frauds may still bar enforcement of certain oral promises. Reviewed Jun 2026
Fraud Claims of intentional misrepresentation. Most states apply a discovery rule — the clock starts when the fraud is discovered or reasonably should have been.	4 years Discovery rule applies	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004(a)(4) ↗ Four years from when the fraud was or should have been discovered. Continuing concealment by the defendant tolls the clock. Reviewed Jun 2026
Defamation (Libel & Slander) Claims for libel (written) or slander (spoken) defamation. Typically short statutes. Some states apply a single-publication rule for online content.	1 year	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.002(a) ↗ One year for libel or slander. The Texas Citizens Participation Act may also apply to anti-SLAPP-protected speech, requiring an early motion to dismiss. Reviewed Jun 2026
Employment Discrimination Claims under Title VII / ADA / ADEA require an EEOC charge typically within 180 or 300 days, plus a 90-day window to sue after right-to-sue notice. State-law parallels may differ.	10 months EEOC charge within 300 days	42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(e)(1); Tex. Lab. Code § 21.202 ↗ Federal Title VII / ADA / ADEA discrimination claims require a charge with the EEOC within 300 days of the discriminatory act (180 in some states), then a lawsuit within 90 days of the right-to-sue letter. Texas Commission on Human Rights claims have a 180-day filing deadline. Reviewed Jun 2026
Wrongful Termination Claims for unlawful firing — discrimination, retaliation, public-policy, or contract-based. Period depends on the underlying legal theory.	2 years Sabine Pilot tort	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003 ↗ Two years for Sabine Pilot wrongful-termination claims (firing for refusing to commit an illegal act). Other tort or contract theories have their own deadlines. Reviewed Jun 2026
Property Damage Claims for damage to real or personal property — vehicle crashes, vandalism, trespass, conversion. Some states distinguish negligence from intentional damage.	2 years	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a) ↗ Two years for damage to or conversion of personal property; trespass to real property also follows the two-year rule. Reviewed Jun 2026
Debt Collection Time within which a creditor must sue to collect an unpaid debt. Expiration generally bars a lawsuit but does not erase the debt; partial payment may reset the clock.	4 years	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004 ↗ Four years to sue on most written or oral debts in Texas. After expiration, the debt is "time-barred" but may still be reported and collected via non-suit methods. Reviewed Jun 2026
Ozempic / Mounjaro Lawsuit Deadlines GLP-1 receptor agonist (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Rybelsus, Trulicity) lawsuits generally follow the state's product-liability statute of limitations, with a discovery-rule extension that begins running when the patient learns of the injury.	2 years Discovery rule typically extends this period from the date of diagnosis. 15-year statute of repose	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.012 ↗ Ozempic / GLP-1 lawsuits in this state typically use the product-liability deadline: Two years for personal injury, with a 15-year statute of repose from the date the product was first sold. Defective-medical-device claims have additional notice requirements. Reviewed Jun 2026
Hair Relaxer Cancer Lawsuit Deadlines Hair-relaxer cancer claims (MDL 3060) follow the state's product-liability statute of limitations, often extended by the discovery rule from the date of cancer diagnosis.	2 years Discovery rule typically extends this period from the date of cancer diagnosis. 15-year statute of repose	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.012 ↗ Hair-relaxer cancer claims in this state typically use the product-liability deadline: Two years for personal injury, with a 15-year statute of repose from the date the product was first sold. Defective-medical-device claims have additional notice requirements. Reviewed Jun 2026
Tesla Autopilot Accident Lawsuit Deadlines Tesla Autopilot and FSD product-liability personal-injury claims follow the state's personal-injury statute of limitations from the date of the crash.	2 years Discovery rule may apply when the driver-assistance system's role is uncovered later.	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003 ↗ Tesla Autopilot / FSD crashes in this state typically use the personal-injury deadline: Two years from the date of the injury under the Texas residual personal-injury statute. Government-defendant claims under the Texas Tort Claims Act require a written notice within six months. Reviewed Jun 2026
Vaping / JUUL Lawsuit Deadlines Vaping and JUUL personal-injury claims follow the state's product-liability or personal-injury statute of limitations, typically extended by the discovery rule for EVALI and seizures.	2 years Discovery rule applies for EVALI and other latent injuries. 15-year statute of repose	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.012 ↗ Vaping / JUUL personal-injury claims in this state typically use the product-liability deadline: Two years for personal injury, with a 15-year statute of repose from the date the product was first sold. Defective-medical-device claims have additional notice requirements. Reviewed Jun 2026
Talc / Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuit Deadlines Talc lawsuits (J&J baby powder, Shower-to-Shower) generally follow the state's product-liability statute of limitations with a discovery rule from the date of ovarian-cancer or mesothelioma diagnosis.	2 years Discovery rule typically extends this period from the date of ovarian-cancer or mesothelioma diagnosis. 15-year statute of repose	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.012 ↗ Talc / Baby Powder cancer claims in this state typically use the product-liability deadline: Two years for personal injury, with a 15-year statute of repose from the date the product was first sold. Defective-medical-device claims have additional notice requirements. Reviewed Jun 2026
Tylenol / Acetaminophen Autism Lawsuit Deadlines Tylenol autism / ADHD lawsuits (MDL 3043) generally follow the state's product-liability statute of limitations, with a discovery rule from the date of the child's diagnosis.	2 years Discovery rule typically extends this period from the date of the child's diagnosis. Note: minors get additional tolling in most states. 15-year statute of repose	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.012 ↗ Tylenol autism / ADHD claims in this state typically use the product-liability deadline: Two years for personal injury, with a 15-year statute of repose from the date the product was first sold. Defective-medical-device claims have additional notice requirements. Reviewed Jun 2026
AFFF Firefighting Foam Lawsuit Deadlines AFFF PFAS lawsuits (MDL 2873) generally follow the state's product-liability statute of limitations, with a discovery rule from the date the PFAS-related illness was diagnosed.	2 years Discovery rule typically extends this period from the date the PFAS-related illness was diagnosed. 15-year statute of repose	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.012 ↗ AFFF / PFAS claims in this state typically use the product-liability deadline: Two years for personal injury, with a 15-year statute of repose from the date the product was first sold. Defective-medical-device claims have additional notice requirements. Reviewed Jun 2026
Paraquat Parkinson's Lawsuit Deadlines Paraquat lawsuits (MDL 3004) generally follow the state's product-liability statute of limitations, with a discovery rule from the date of Parkinson's diagnosis.	2 years Discovery rule typically extends this period from the date of Parkinson's diagnosis. 15-year statute of repose	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.012 ↗ Paraquat Parkinson's claims in this state typically use the product-liability deadline: Two years for personal injury, with a 15-year statute of repose from the date the product was first sold. Defective-medical-device claims have additional notice requirements. Reviewed Jun 2026
Roundup Cancer Lawsuit Deadlines Roundup non-Hodgkin's lymphoma lawsuits generally follow the state's product-liability statute of limitations, with a discovery rule from the date of NHL diagnosis.	2 years Discovery rule typically extends this period from the date of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis. 15-year statute of repose	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.012 ↗ Roundup NHL claims in this state typically use the product-liability deadline: Two years for personal injury, with a 15-year statute of repose from the date the product was first sold. Defective-medical-device claims have additional notice requirements. Reviewed Jun 2026
Uber / Lyft Accident Lawsuit Deadlines Rideshare-accident personal-injury claims follow the state's personal-injury statute of limitations from the date of the crash.	2 years Coverage tier depends on driver's phase; arbitration clauses may shorten the effective window.	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003 ↗ Uber / Lyft accident claims in this state typically use the personal-injury deadline: Two years from the date of the injury under the Texas residual personal-injury statute. Government-defendant claims under the Texas Tort Claims Act require a written notice within six months. Reviewed Jun 2026

Important: Statutes of limitations have many exceptions — discovery rules, tolling for minors, ongoing-treatment doctrines, and notice requirements for government defendants. This page is general legal information, not legal advice. Talk to a licensed Texas attorney before relying on any deadline.