A statute of limitations is essentially a deadline. It sets up a timeline for how soon a legal case has to begin. If this deadline is missed, there are situations in which the case cannot proceed, even if it would have otherwise been valid.
For example, if someone gets injured in a car accident, they can seek compensation from the driver who caused the accident. If someone slips and falls in a store, they may need to seek compensation from the store owner. But they have to do this within a certain timeframe, or they lose their opportunity. Is there a statute of limitations in either Texas or Oklahoma?
Two years in both states
First and foremost, yes, there is a statute of limitations in Texas. For personal injury cases, it is two years. This can sometimes start at the date the injury occurred, or at the date on which the person should have known about that injury. There’s a point at which a reasonable person should have understood that they had been injured and should have started the compensation process, even if they claim that they were unaware.
The same two-year limitation is used in Oklahoma. One thing to consider in either state is that an injury to a minor may not count toward the statute until they are 18. Someone injured at 16 may have four years, essentially – two until they turn 18 and then two more afterward to satisfy the law.
All of these details can make personal injury claims very complex, and some claims that have missed deadlines should not proceed. All involved need to understand their legal options.