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Texas · back & spine

Back & spine settlements
in Texas.

By 6 min read

Texas applies modified-51 comparative fault with a hard $250,000 cap on medical-malpractice non-economic damages per defendant ($500,000 aggregate). For back & spine claims specifically, the band is built from the state-by-state tort law · jury verdict reporters · statutory caps framework and then adjusted for Texas's modified comparative — 51% bar and any applicable statutory cap.

Texas applies modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar. A back & spine claimant who is 50% at fault still recovers 50% of damages; one assigned 51% recovers nothing. This is slightly more claimant-friendly than the 50% bar applied in some neighbouring states, and it leaves room for negotiation in mixed-liability back & spine cases where the comparative-fault split is close to even.

Texas's caps (medical malpractice cap, punitive damages cap) apply to the non-economic component of back & spine damages and can compress upper-tier verdicts. The exact application depends on the cause of action and the head of damage; the caps section on this page sets out each ceiling and the conditions under which it bites.

band · US federal frame
$80,000 – $400,000+
Back injury (severe, surgery)
Reported decisions; statutory cap states constrain the upper end

The US band is the starting point. Texas's fault rule and any applicable cap then adjust the figure.

TX · statute of limitations
2 years from date of injury

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003

TX · fault rule
Modified comparative — 51% bar

Modified comparative — recovery barred at 51% claimant fault.

TX · caps

What caps recovery.

Statutory caps that may bear on a back & spine settlement in Texas.

back & spine severity tiers · US frame

How the band stratifies.

The state-by-state tort law · jury verdict reporters · statutory caps stratifies back & spine into the tiers below. Texas courts apply the same tier structure, adjusted for state-specific factors.

Severity tierBandBasis
Back injury (moderate, no surgery)$30,000 – $100,000Reported decisions plus settlement aggregates
Back injury (severe, surgery)$80,000 – $400,000+Reported decisions; statutory cap states constrain the upper end
back & spine · same region & fault regime

Compare to like jurisdictions.

How Texas's fault rule and limitation period compare to jurisdictions in the same US region and to those running the same fault rule for back & spine claims.

JurisdictionFault ruleLimitationBack & spine page
Texas · you are hereModified comparative — 51% bar2 years from date of injury
VirginiaPure contributory negligence2 years from date of injuryVA · back & spine
West VirginiaModified comparative — 51% bar2 years from date of injuryWV · back & spine
AlabamaPure contributory negligence2 years from date of injuryAL · back & spine
ArkansasModified comparative — 50% bar3 years for personal injury; 2 years for medical malpracticeAR · back & spine
FloridaModified comparative — 51% bar2 years from date of injury (was 4; reduced by HB 837)FL · back & spine
GeorgiaModified comparative — 50% bar2 years from date of injuryGA · back & spine
VermontModified comparative — 51% bar3 years from date of injuryVT · back & spine
WisconsinModified comparative — 51% bar3 years from date of injuryWI · back & spine
WyomingModified comparative — 51% bar4 years from date of injuryWY · back & spine
ConnecticutModified comparative — 51% bar2 years from date of injuryCT · back & spine
UtahModified comparative — 50% bar4 years for personal injury; 2 years for medical malpracticeUT · back & spine
WashingtonPure comparative negligence3 years from date of injuryWA · back & spine
TX · back & spine · frequently asked

Common questions.

Each answer is independently coherent and references the relevant statute or authority document.

editorial note

Figures on this page are starting points: the US band adjusted for Texas's statutory framework. They are not quotes for any specific case. For representation, consult an attorney admitted in Texas. See /methodology, /sources, and /disclaimer.