Texas car accident claims: deadlines, fault rules and insurance, explained
Texas
Two years to file. Nothing at all above 50% fault. A $30,000 minimum policy behind the other driver. Everything on this site explains what those mean for a real Texas claim, and cites the statute so you can check it.
Free, no obligation, and you can stop at any point.
The guides
Start wherever your question starts. Each opens with a direct answer, then the Texas rule, then the next step.
The first hour, the first week, and what Texas law actually requires you to do at the scene.
Deadlines, the 50% fault ceiling, minimum coverage and reporting thresholds, each with its statute.
Which policy responds, what PIP and UM/UIM do, and the deadlines your own insurer must meet.
How Texas apportions responsibility, and why one percentage point can end a claim.
Common crash injuries, why many surface days later, and how the record becomes evidence.
What a claim is built from, what reduces it, and why nobody can quote you an average.
Texas at a glance
Each of these is set by statute. Every page that relies on one links to the section it comes from.
A personal injury or wrongful death suit must be filed within two years. Wrongful death runs from the date of death.
Recover nothing if your share of responsibility is greater than 50 percent. At 50% or below, damages are cut by your percentage.
$30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage. Unchanged since 2011.
Apparent damage of $1,000 or more to any one person’s property triggers a peace officer’s crash report.
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, § 33.001, § 33.012; Tex. Transp. Code § 601.072, § 550.062.
How this works
There is no quiz gate and no sign-up wall. Read as much as you want and stop whenever you like.
Every Texas rule on this site is stated plainly and cited, so you can read the statute yourself.
Deadlines, the fault percentage, and which policies could respond to your situation.
Scene photographs, witnesses, video and vehicle data degrade in days, not years.
Handle it yourself, deal with the adjuster, or ask to be connected with a participating attorney.
Nothing is sent to anyone unless you choose it.
How pages are written
Every page opens with a short answer to the exact question, placed above the explanation and before any call to action.
Where a page states a Texas rule it names the code section. The Texas statutes are published free by the Texas Legislative Council.
This is an advertising site operated by National Claim Network. It is not a law firm, and it says so on every page rather than in the small print.
Browse by topic
Each topic opens the guide that covers it, with the Texas rule and the next step.
Important notice
This site is attorney advertising. It is operated by National Claim Network, a marketing and lead generation service. It is not a law firm, an insurance company, or a government agency, it is not affiliated with or endorsed by the State of Texas, TxDOT, the Texas Department of Insurance or the State Bar of Texas, and using it does not create an attorney-client or physician-patient relationship.
Deadlines, coverage requirements and fault standards depend on the facts of a given situation. Settlements, verdicts, estimates and examples shown anywhere on this site do not predict the outcome of any individual claim. For advice about your own matter, speak with an attorney licensed in Texas.
Next steps
Read the Texas rules that apply to your situation, or ask to be connected with a participating attorney. Nothing is shared with anyone until you choose it.
Texas-specific information on crash deadlines, fault rules and insurance, with the statute cited on every page. Operated by National Claim Network. Not a law firm, insurer, or government agency.
This is attorney advertising. National Claim Network is a marketing and lead generation service that connects individuals with licensed attorneys. It is not a law firm, an insurance company, or a government agency, is not affiliated with or endorsed by the State of Texas, TxDOT, the Texas Department of Insurance or the State Bar of Texas, and it does not provide legal advice or legal representation. Nothing on this site creates an attorney-client relationship. Deadlines to file a legal claim vary by state and case type — in Texas the general personal-injury deadline is two years — do not delay in seeking legal advice.
No guarantee, warranty, or prediction of outcome is made. Past results do not guarantee similar results. If representation is offered on a contingency basis, clients may still be responsible for certain costs or expenses as required by the retaining law firm.
Dramatized scenes, symbols, figures, or testimonials are illustrative, not based on actual events, and may feature paid actors or spokespersons. Recoveries vary. “No fee” describes attorney fees; costs may apply. Phrases such as “best” are slogans, not rankings or awards.
Paid independent attorney advertising. National Claim Network connects users with licensed, independently practicing attorneys and law firms who may pay a fee to receive inquiries submitted through this site.
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