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Texas · medical negligence

Medical negligence 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 medical negligence 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 medical negligence 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 medical negligence cases where the comparative-fault split is close to even.

For medical negligence claims specifically, statutory caps frequently apply to non-economic damages or to total recovery — Texas's caps (medical malpractice cap, punitive damages cap) materially compress the upper end of the band. Catastrophic medical negligence cases that would otherwise produce seven- or eight-figure awards are routinely capped at the statutory ceiling.

band · US federal frame
$30,000 – statutory cap
Medical negligence (non-fatal)
State medical-malpractice cap as in force on the date of injury

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 medical negligence settlement in Texas.

medical negligence · 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 medical negligence claims.

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