If you've been in a car accident in Texas, you may be wondering how long you have to file a lawsuit. The answer depends on the type of accident you were in and the injuries you sustained.
If you were in a collision with another vehicle, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If the other driver was at fault, you may be able to recover damages for your medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering.
However, if your accident was caused by a defective product or road condition, you may only have one year to file a claim against the responsible party. And if your accident involved a hit-and-run driver, you'll need to act quickly as well - under Texas law, you only have two years to file suit against an unidentified driver.
If someone close to you was killed in a car accident caused by another person's negligence, Texas law allows surviving family members to bring a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault driver. You generally have two years from the date of your loved one's death to take legal action.
No matter what type of car accident you were involved in, it's important to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible after the crash. An attorney can help protect your rights and ensure that all deadlines are met so that your case is not barred by the statute of limitations.