Houston Accident Law Snapshot

Houston Car Accident Claims

Legal Options After a Car Accident in Houston In Houston, victims can file a claim with the at-fault driver's insurance company or pursue a personal injury lawsuit. Texas's modified comparative negligence system with a 51% bar allows recovery only if the injured party is 50% or less at fault. Compensation may include medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. The statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years. Acting promptly preserves police reports, witness statements, and medical documentation, which are essential for building a strong claim and maximizing compensation.

Quick Facts

Statute: 2 years.
Fault Rule: Modified comparative negligence (51% bar).
Minimum Coverage: 30/60/25.

Houston Law

Key Facts for Houston Accident Claims

Statute of Limitations

2 years.

Personal injury claims

Fault System

Modified comparative negligence (51% bar).

Comparative fault rules

Min. Liability Coverage

30/60/25.

State minimums

Uninsured Motorist

Must be offered unless rejected in writing.

Coverage status

Statute of Limitations in Houston

Houston follows Texas's two-year statute of limitations. Filing late generally bars recovery. Timely filing preserves evidence, including police reports, medical documentation, and witness statements, which strengthens your claim and ensures the possibility of full compensation.

Don't Wait: Evidence can disappear and memories fade. Contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident.

Houston's Fault System

Houston applies Texas's modified comparative negligence system with a 51% bar. Injured parties who are 51% or more at fault cannot recover damages. Accurate documentation of medical treatment, accident details, and witness testimony is essential to establish liability and maximize recovery.

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Insurance Requirements

Houston drivers must carry minimum liability coverage of 30/60/25. Liability insurance protects other parties from bodily injury and property damage you cause. Insurers must offer uninsured motorist coverage unless rejected. UM coverage ensures victims are financially protected if the at-fault driver lacks adequate insurance.

Author

Cash4Crashes Editorial Team

Legal Review

Cash4Crashes Legal Review Team

Last Updated

2026-08-04

Sources

Free TX Case Review

Houston FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

You have two years from the date of the crash to file suit under Texas law. That deadline applies to injury and property damage claims arising from a Houston accident. Miss it and a court can dismiss the case regardless of how strong the evidence is. Insurance negotiations can continue past the two-year mark, but a lawsuit generally cannot be filed after it closes. Because evidence like skid marks, dashcam footage, and witness memory fades quickly, most attorneys recommend starting documentation and any claim well before the deadline approaches.

Yes, as long as you were 50% or less at fault for the crash. Texas uses a modified comparative negligence rule with a 51% bar, so a driver found 51% or more responsible recovers nothing. Below that line, your payout is reduced by your own percentage of fault, not eliminated. A driver found 20% at fault, for example, can still recover 80% of their damages. Because the fault percentage directly controls the payout, the police report, witness statements, and medical records used to establish it matter as much as the injury itself.

Texas requires drivers to carry at least 30/60/25 liability coverage: $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 total per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. That coverage pays for harm you cause to others; it does not cover your own injuries or vehicle. In a serious Houston crash, medical bills and lost wages can exceed those limits quickly, which is one reason claims against an underinsured at-fault driver sometimes have to look beyond their policy toward other available coverage.

Insurers in Texas must offer uninsured motorist coverage on every policy, but a driver can reject it in writing, so it is not automatically on every Houston policy. When carried, UM coverage pays for your injuries and losses if the at-fault driver has no insurance at all, filling the gap liability coverage would otherwise leave. Given Houston's traffic volume, checking whether your own policy includes this coverage before an accident happens is worth doing, since it cannot be added retroactively after a crash.

Get Help from a Houston Attorney

Our Houston accident attorneys are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. Free case review, no fee unless you win.

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