For most personal injury claims in Texas, the statute of limitations is two years. While this is typically a strict rule, the governor has declared a state of emergency, allowing courts to extend the statute of limitations for all civil cases no later than 30 days after the state of emergency ends.
However, a coalition of attorneys sent a letter to the Texas Supreme Court asking to issue a limitations rule for the entire state allowing all deadlines to be tolled for 75 days after the state of emergency is lifted. The Court responded, saying that deadlines between March 13 and June 1, 2020, could be tolled unless extended.
Tolling pauses how long you have to file a claim. For example, if you were injured in March with a statute of limitation of one year, but a toll was put on claims until June, you would have an additional three months to file a claim.
Just because the court tolled claims does not mean you can’t file one. Tolling could be a good thing for filing claims, as it allows you more time to decide if you want to pursue legal action. But it may make your claim take longer to resolve. This legal term may be confusing, so it’s essential to consult with a personal injury attorney to determine your claim’s correct date.