Austin Bus Accident Statute of Limitations

Bus accidents cause some of the most severe injuries sustained on roadways, leading to long hospital stays and slow recoveries. If you were injured in a bus accident, you probably are not capable of immediately dealing with an injury claim. However, if you fail to file your claim within the Austin bus accident statute of limitations, you may not be eligible for compensation at all. Personal injury cases involving buses can be especially complex. Without a firm understanding of requirements and deadlines, injured individuals risk voiding their right to compensation. If you were injured in a bus accident, a skilled bus crash lawyer can help you file a valid claim within the required deadlines to ensure you get fair compensation for your injuries.

What is a Statute of Limitations in an Injury Claim?

A statute of limitations is a legal deadline after which an individual cannot file a lawsuit for a specific incident. In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury is typically two years. A person injured in an accident typically has two years from the date of the accident to file a claim against the responsible individual or entity. Filing after the statute of limitations expires substantially increases the likelihood the claim will be dismissed without consideration.

Statutes of limitations are set in place to encourage individuals to file claims as soon as possible and help the courts avoid frivolous lawsuits. These deadlines can also help preserve evidence from getting lost or destroyed. However, they can make it more difficult for injured people to successfully file for compensation. Partnering with an experienced attorney is the best way for victims to ensure they understand the statute of limitations for their Austin bus accident case and avoid invalidating their claim.

How Long Do You Have to File a Valid Claim after a Bus Accident?

Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem Code § 16.001 sets the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases at two years. While typical car accidents generally have a two-year statute of limitations beginning with the accident date, bus accidents have special considerations that often lead to shortened deadlines.

Buses in Austin are often owned or operated by government facilities (e.g., city buses or school buses). Government agencies in Texas are subject to liability claims for personal injury, and the two year statute of limitations also applies. However, additional rules must be followed when filing claims against a government agency. The Texas Tort Claims Act (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem Code § 101.101) requires individuals to provide a formal notice within six months of the accident when seeking to file a claim against a government agency. The formal notice must include details about the time and place of the incident, damages and injuries to be claimed, and language that makes it clear the entity is at fault.

The Texas Tort Claims Act also allows for a governmental entity to impose a shorter notice period as long as the established period is not shorter than 30 days. Aligning closely with this limit, the time to submit a formal notice regarding filing a claim against the City of Austin is only 45 days after the date of the injury.

While bus accidents in Austin are subject to the same two-year statute of limitations as typical car accidents, other critical deadlines can impact the validity of a claim. Meeting all the requirements for filing a claim can be difficult without substantial knowledge of Texas injury law. Partnering with an experienced attorney can help injured individuals ensure they do not invalidate their claim due to missed deadlines.

Contact an Experienced Austin Attorney for Assistance with Your Bus Accident Statute of Limitations

Abiding by the Austin bus accident statute of limitations is crucial to filing a valid claim. Unfortunately, meeting the various deadlines related to bus accident claims can be confusing. If you have been injured in a bus accident, the experienced lawyers at Felix Gonzalez Accident and Injury Law Firm can help you accurately submit all the documents associated with an injury claim. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.