In Texas, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit after a rear-end accident, because most personal-injury and property-damage cases have a two-year statute of limitations under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §16.003.
You usually have two years from the crash date to sue for injuries and vehicle damage after a Texas rear-end accident, but special situations can make the real deadline much shorter or longer—for example, claims against a city, county, or state agency have strict notice rules (often within 6 months, and some cities as short as 90 days), and claims involving minors or an absent defendant can be tolled (paused).
If you were rear-ended anywhere in Texas, call Rad Law Firm at 972-661-1111 now so we can preserve evidence, meet every deadline, and fight for the maximum recovery.
Why deadlines matter (and how missing one can destroy a great case)
Texas gives injured people a fair shot—but it’s not open-ended. If you miss a limitations or notice deadline, the defense doesn’t have to prove you were wrong; they just move to dismiss because you filed too late. That’s why we treat your case like an emergency from day one: we lock down evidence, notify all insurers, and calendar every statutory deadline immediately.
Free case review: 972-661-1111 (available 24/7). No fee unless we win.
The main two-year deadline (what it covers)
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Personal injury (pain, medical bills, lost income, etc.): 2 years from the crash.
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Property damage (your car): 2 years as well.
Both are governed by Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003.
Pro tip: Don’t wait. Building a strong rear-end injury case (especially for whiplash, disc injuries, concussions, or chronic pain) takes time—to document treatment, gather diagnostic proof, and counter “minor impact” defenses.
Call Rad Law Firm now: 972-661-1111.
Exceptions that change the clock (shorter, different, or longer)
1) Claims against a governmental unit (city bus, police vehicle, road crew, etc.)
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You must give formal notice to the government within 6 months of the incident (and some local charters shorten it to 90 days). If you miss notice, you can lose the claim even if you still have time under the 2-year statute.
Example: Rear-ended by a city truck in Dallas? The safe move is to get us involved immediately so we send a compliant notice that “reasonably describes” the time, place, and facts—exactly what the statute requires.
2) Minors and persons of unsound mind
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Texas tolls (pauses) limitations while the person is under 18 or of unsound mind; the clock typically starts when the disability ends (e.g., a child’s 18th birthday).
3) Defendant absent from Texas
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If the at-fault driver leaves Texas, certain tolling rules may pause the clock until they’re back or can be served.
4) Wrongful death after a rear-end crash
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Families generally have two years from the date of death to file.
Have a special-circumstance case? 972-661-1111—we’ll calculate the real deadline for you today.
Insurance deadlines you can’t ignore (separate from the lawsuit clock)
Besides the court’s statute of limitations, insurance policies create their own timing traps:
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PIP (Personal Injury Protection) and MedPay: Policies require prompt notice and proof of loss within policy-set windows. Texas law also makes PIP no-fault and non-reimbursable (insurer can’t take PIP money back from your settlement), which is why we often use it first for medical bills. Some policies set the proof-of-loss window at no sooner than 6 months; suit for unpaid PIP benefits generally follows Texas’s contract limitations rules.
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UM/UIM (uninsured/underinsured motorist): You still need prompt notice and to follow consent-to-settle terms to protect the carrier’s subrogation rights. As for when you can sue, the Texas Supreme Court clarified key UM/UIM procedures (including using the Declaratory Judgments Act to establish liability/damages before the carrier “breaches”). The bottom line: get counsel early so you don’t step on a policy landmine while chasing the at-fault driver.
Not sure what coverage you have? We’ll read the fine print and run all notices for you. 972-661-1111.
What if you only want to fix the car now and “see how you feel” later?
That’s common with rear-end crashes. But be careful:
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Insurance will record everything you say and downplay injuries if you delay care.
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Soft-tissue and disc injuries often worsen days or weeks later.
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Waiting can hurt both your health and the value of your claim.
See a doctor now, follow the plan, and let us handle the insurer. No up-front cost. 972-661-1111.
Timeline: What to do (and when) after a Texas rear-end collision
Immediately (Day 0–2)
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Call 911; get a police report.
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Photograph vehicles, tags, scene, skid marks, dashcam footage.
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Identify witnesses (names, numbers).
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Seek medical care—ER, urgent care, or your doctor.
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Call the car accident lawyers at Rad Law Firm (972-661-1111) before any recorded statements.
First 2 weeks
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We send letters of representation and preservation letters (to keep videos, EDR “black box” data, etc.).
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You follow treatment and document symptoms.
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We open PIP/MedPay and evaluate UM/UIM.
First 30–90 days
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We compile medical proof (imaging, specialist opinions).
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We confirm all deadlines: 2-year statute, TTCA notice if government involved, policy-specific time limits.
6–12 months
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When treatment stabilizes, we present a demand with evidence of liability, causation, and damages.
Before 2 years
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If the insurer low-balls, we file suit in the proper court before the clock runs out.
FAQ
How long to file for injuries after a Texas rear-end crash?
Two years from the crash for personal-injury lawsuits.
How long for vehicle damage claims?
Also two years (property damage).
Is it different if a city, county, or state vehicle hit me?
Yes. You must give the government notice within 6 months (and some cities require 90 days). Miss notice and you may lose the claim.
What if the victim is a minor?
Texas tolls the statute while they’re under 18; the clock typically starts at 18.
What about wrongful death from a rear-end crash?
Generally two years from the date of death.
Do insurance deadlines matter if I’m still in treatment?
Yes. Prompt notice and proof-of-loss rules apply to PIP/MedPay/UM/UIM even while you treat. Let us handle it.
Can PIP be taken back from my settlement?
No—Texas PIP is non-subrogable (you keep it).
How Rad Law Firm protects your rear-end accident claim
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Crash-scene & vehicle forensics: We secure ECM/EDR data, angles, and impact analyses before vehicles are repaired.
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Medical proof: From ER through specialists, we help ensure injuries are properly diagnosed (MRI, ortho/neuro) and documented.
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Insurance strategy: We sequence coverages (PIP, MedPay, UM/UIM, liability) to maximize net recovery.
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Deadline control: We manage statutes, TTCA notices, and policy clocks so nothing slips.
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Trial-ready: If the carrier low-balls, we file suit within the deadline—no excuses.
Call now: 972-661-1111. Free consultation. No fee unless we win.
Common rear-end injuries we see in Texas cases
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Cervical/lumbar disc herniations & bulges (radiculopathy, numbness)
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Whiplash-associated disorders (WAD), muscle & ligament sprains
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Concussions/mild TBI (headache, fog, light/noise sensitivity)
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Facet joint & SI joint injuries
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Shoulder/knee injuries from seat-belt bracing
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Chronic pain syndromes developing weeks after the crash
The “low-speed = no injury” myth is false. We use medical literature and imaging to prove forces and symptom onset.
Dallas/Fort Worth & Statewide: where we help after a rear-end crash
We handle cases in Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Plano, Frisco, Irving, Garland, Mesquite, Denton, and across all of Texas (Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Waco, Tyler, El Paso, the Valley, and more). We can come to you or meet virtually the same day.
Talk to a lawyer now: 972-661-1111.
Step-by-step if you haven’t called us yet
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Get medical care today—tell the provider it’s a motor-vehicle collision.
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Save everything: photos, dashcam, body shop estimates, medical paperwork.
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Don’t sign blanket releases or give recorded statements.
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Call Rad Law Firm (972-661-1111)—we’ll notify insurers and preserve evidence.
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Follow treatment and keep a symptom journal.
Bottom line (and why you should act now)
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Standard deadline: 2 years from the crash to sue (injury & property), but notice to government can be due in months (or 90 days in some cities), and other rules can toll the time for minors or out-of-state defendants.
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Insurance traps: PIP/UM/UIM have policy deadlines and procedures; we handle them for you.
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Delay hurts cases: Evidence disappears and insurers pounce.
Clock’s ticking after a Texas rear-end crash—evidence fades, insurers get ahead, and deadlines don’t wait. Take back control right now: call Rad Law Firm at 972-661-1111 for a free, no-obligation case review.
We’ll preserve video and black-box data, line up your medical care, and crush the insurance runaround so you can focus on healing. No fee unless we win.
Serving Dallas/Fort Worth and all of Texas, we can come to you or meet virtually today—or start now by calling 972-661-1111, texting our intake team, or opening live chat on our site. One call can change everything.