Negligence in Texas
Last checked Aug 15, 2026 · LawyerUnc editorial. Educational only, not legal advice.
Elements
1
Duty
The defendant owed the plaintiff a legal duty of reasonable care in the circumstances.
2
Breach
The defendant failed to meet that standard, they did something a reasonably careful person would not, or failed to do something they would.
3
Causation
The breach was a factual and legal (proximate) cause of the harm. Foreseeability matters.
4
Damages
The plaintiff suffered actual harm, medical bills, lost wages, pain, property loss.
Burden of proof
Preponderance of the evidence, more likely than not.
A Texas fact pattern
A Houston intersection collision. Texas modified comparative responsibility bars recovery at greater than 50% fault. Proportionate-responsibility designations of responsible third parties are a live issue.
Statute of limitations
2 years
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003
From the day the cause of action accrues.
- Discovery rule in limited latent-injury cases. Minority tolling.