# Time Limit for Filing a Slip and Fall Claim in Texas ![The statute of limitations, which limits how long after a fall you can clam compensation in Texas.](https://www.omegalaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/how-long-after-a-fall-can-you-claim-compensation-in-texas-300x200.jpg) In most cases, you have two years to claim compensation after a fall in Texas. If you wait longer than two years from the accident date, you will lose your ability to recover financial compensation. These time limits are extremely strict, so if you’ve been injured in a recent fall, you should start working with a [Houston slip and fall lawyer](https://www.omegalaw.com/houston-tx/slip-and-fall-lawyer/) as soon as possible. The team at Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys can initiate your claim promptly to avoid payment delays or complications. ## The Statute of Limitations Limits Your Time to File a Lawsuit Every state has a law that limits the amount of time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit. This law is called the [statute of limitations](https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/statute%2Bof%2Blimitations), and it represents the absolute limit of your right to recover financial damages after suffering injuries. In Texas, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident. If you were injured in a fall, then you would have a maximum of two years to file a claim for compensation. For example, if you were hurt in a fall on June 1, 2025, you would have until June 1, 2027, to file a lawsuit for your injuries. ### Insurance Claims Vs. Lawsuits The statute of limitations applies to formal lawsuits, which is different from an initial insurance claim. If you were hurt in a fall, you would first file an insurance claim to recover your injuries. If your claim is denied, you would then file a lawsuit in civil court. The team at Omega Law can help you file an insurance claim quickly and move on to formal litigation if necessary to recover your losses. ## What Happens If I Miss the Statute of Limitations? If you miss the statute of limitations, you’ll be unable to file a lawsuit. If you try to file, it will be summarily rejected by the courts. The time limit is extremely strict, so if you’re even just one day late, you’ll lose your chance. You technically can still file an insurance claim after the two-year lawsuit limit has passed. But, it’ll likely be rejected absent the possibility of legal action. The two-year timer is specifically for your right to pursue damages through the legal system. Even though you have two years, you shouldn’t wait until the last minute. Delays in evidence collection can make it much harder to prove your case. Omega Law Group can promptly investigate and expedite claim timelines. ### Hurt in an accident? Our personal injury lawyers in are here to help. [![Telephone Icon](https://www.omegalaw.com/wp-content/themes/omega-rebuild/assets/app/svg/telephone-white.svg)(310) 526-8383](tel:+13105268383) ## The Discovery Rule In most cases, the two-year timer starts counting from the date you received your injuries. However, injuries from a fall might not be immediately apparent. For example, symptoms of concussions may not show up for weeks or even months after the initial injuring event. In these cases, the time limit instead starts from the date you discovered your condition or could have reasonably discovered it through due diligence. The purpose of this discovery rule is to promote fairness and ensure your ability to file a lawsuit doesn’t expire when there’s no way to know you were injured. The discovery rule is not a “get out of jail free card” to beat the timer, however. It must be the case that your injuries were undetectable through any reasonable standard of discovery—simple ignorance of your injuries isn’t sufficient. If your injuries were presenting symptoms and you didn’t see a doctor for a diagnosis, the discovery rule likely won’t apply. ## Exceptions to Texas’ Statute of Limitations Texas’s statute of limitations applies in most slip and fall cases. But there are a few exceptions where the timer is paused (tolled) or extended. Below are some of the most relevant situations were an exception may apply: - Injuries to minors. If the injured party is a minor (under 18 years old), then the two-year timer is paused until their 18th birthday. This effectively gives them until they are 20 to file a lawsuit for a fall. - Mental incapacitation. When the injury victim is mentally incapacitated or of “unsound mind,” the timer doesn’t start until they are no longer incapacitated. - Fraudulent concealment. If the perpetrator uses fraudulent means to hide their involvement, the two-year timer won’t start until the victim discovers the concealment. - Claims against government. Claims against the government still operate under the general two-year timer. However, you must first send a notice of claim to the relevant entity within a year or six months, depending on the specific government entity. These exceptions are rare, and you shouldn’t rely on them to preserve your claim. Instead, you can talk to a lawyer from Omega Law Group to ensure you meet filing deadlines and requirements. ### Injured in an accident? Our personal injury lawyers in are here to help. [![Telephone Icon](https://www.omegalaw.com/wp-content/themes/omega-rebuild/assets/app/svg/telephone-white.svg)(310) 526-8383](tel:+13105268383) ## Contact a Houston Personal Injury Lawyer from Do you have any more questions about how long you have after a fall to claim compensation in Texas? If so, give the legal team at Omega Law Group a call. Our lawyers have more than 20 years of legal experience helping injury victims and can give you a free case assessment. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Houston. --- Source: https://www.omegalaw.com/faqs/how-long-after-a-fall-can-you-claim-compensation-in-texas/