Navigating Injury Claims in Fort Worth
Personal injury and commercial transportation claims in Fort Worth and Tarrant County are adjudicated at the historic Tarrant County Civil Courts complex on Weatherford Street. Governed by the Texas Proportionate Responsibility Act (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001), personal injury litigation follows a modified comparative fault rule with a 51 percent bar: an injured victim is barred from all financial recovery if found to be 51 percent or more at fault. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, claims must be filed within two years of the incident. When pursuing claims against municipal agencies such as Trinity Metro transit or the City of Fort Worth, formal administrative notice must be provided under the Texas Tort Claims Act within six months. Below, we provide an objective, data-verified assessment of 15 leading personal injury law firms with verified physical offices in Fort Worth.
Texas Statute of Limitations
Under governing state statutes, injury victims must file lawsuits within prescribed legal windows or lose their right to recovery forever:
- General Personal Injury: 2 years from the date of the incident (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003)
- Claims Against Government Entities: 6 months under Texas Tort Claims Act (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101); City of Fort Worth charter notice within 6 months
- Property Damage Claims: 2 years from date of occurrence (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a))
Comparative Negligence Doctrine
Under Texas proportionate responsibility, a plaintiff can recover damages only if their responsibility is 50 percent or less. If found 51 percent or more at fault, they cannot recover any damages.
Official state transportation records indicate 138 traffic fatalities and 890 severe/catastrophic injuries in the municipal and surrounding metro area.