Broken bones in Fort Worth: care, deadlines and what a fracture claim can cover

If a bone may be broken after a Fort Worth crash or fall, get care right away. For a fall on a Fort Worth sidewalk or other city property, the city's charter asks for written notice within 180 days. For a crash or a store fall, Texas generally gives you 2 years to sue.

Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (35)

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Road map of Fort Worth showing the downtown streets and the Trinity Trails along the river, where falls and bike crashes break bones
A fall on Fort Worth city property needs notice in 180 days. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Where do I get care for a broken bone in Fort Worth?

Go to an emergency room if a break is possible. JPS and Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth each run a Level I trauma center. Call 911 for a suspected hip, pelvis or upper leg break, and do not try to walk on it.

If a child broke a bone, Cook Children's calls itself a Level II pediatric trauma center. An open fracture, where bone goes through the skin, is an emergency.

What warning signs should I watch after a cast goes on?

Pain far beyond what is expected is a warning sign of compartment syndrome. One cause is a cast or bandage that is too tight. Go back to the doctor the same day. Tell them what the pain is like.

Healing time depends on the fracture and bone. Keep every appointment, because gaps in treatment are used against claims.

Where did I fall: sidewalk, trail or store?

PlaceWho is responsibleClock
City sidewalkCity code calls a defective sidewalk a nuisance; the owner of the property next to it must repair it within 30 days of the city's notice.Written notice to the city in 180 days.
Trinity TrailsMaintenance is shared by Tarrant Regional Water District and the City of Fort Worth.Ask which owns the spot. Six months or less may apply.
Store or apartmentA private ownerGenerally 2 years to sue.

You can report a broken sidewalk through the MyFW app, which has a Sidewalk Hazard Repair request. TxDOT does not maintain sidewalks or bike paths under city or county jurisdiction.

How do I file a claim with the City of Fort Worth for a broken bone?

  1. Write down the date, place and how it happened. The notice must say these, plus the amount of damages and what you would settle for.
  2. Risk Management is at 200 Texas Street, Fort Worth 76102. Email the claim to [email protected], or call (817) 392-7402 with questions.
  3. Fort Worth wants a separate claim from each injured person, unless they are married.
  4. Know that filing means you agree to let the city inspect your property or investigate your injury.

What does a Fort Worth fracture claim cover?

Medical bills actually paid or owed, lost income after tax, and noneconomic losses like pain and mental anguish. For physical impairment, a jury needs proof that it is substantial and not just a repeat of other damages.

Settlement terms may not be public. A fracture that reaches a joint can raise arthritis risk more than 20-fold. Ask your doctor about long-term effects before you settle.

What if I broke a bone at work in Fort Worth?

A Fort Worth employer may not carry workers' comp. Check coverage by email at [email protected], or call the DWC claim line at 800-252-7031, option 1.

Questions

How long do I have to sue over a broken bone?

Generally 2 years in Texas, or a shorter notice period if a government is involved.

Does it matter if I was careless?

Yes. A jury that finds you more than 50 percent to blame leaves you with nothing.

Who pays for the ER?

Your health plan or the hospital bills you first, and the claim later repays them. A Texas hospital lien only applies if you were admitted within 72 hours of the accident.

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Sources (35)

  1. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “it's important to get medical care right away if you think you have a fracture”
  2. Fort Worth City Charter, Chapter XXVII, Section 25, checked 2026-11-08. “within one hundred eighty (180) days after the same has been sustained, unless good cause is shown”
  3. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
  4. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “There is a suspected broken bone in the hip, pelvis, or upper leg.”
  5. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Pain that is much higher than expected with the injury”
  6. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001, checked 2026-11-08. “a claimant may not recover damages if his percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent”
  7. PubMed Central (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “articular fractures can increase the risk more than 20-fold”
  8. Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “JOHN PETER SMITH HOSPITAL 11/1/2028 E FORT WORTH 76104”
  9. Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “TEXAS HEALTH HARRIS METHODIST HOSPITAL FORT WORTH 1/1/2029 E FORT WORTH 76104”
  10. Cook Children's, Pediatric Trauma Surgery, checked 2026-11-09. “As a Level II Pediatric Trauma Center”
  11. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Whether the bone breaks through the skin; if it does, it's called an open (or compound) fracture.”
  12. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “A cast or bandage that is too tight”
  13. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “How long you need to wear it will depend on the type of fracture and which bone is affected.”
  14. Fort Worth City Code § 30-1, checked 2026-11-08. “Any sidewalk, parkway, driveway or curb which has become or is defective, unsafe or hazardous is declared a nuisance.”
  15. Fort Worth City Code § 30-1, checked 2026-11-08. “within 30 days from the receipt of notice from the director of public works”
  16. Tarrant Regional Water District, Recreation FAQ, checked 2026-11-09. “Trail maintenance is a shared responsibility between TRWD and the City of Fort Worth.”
  17. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred”
  18. City of Fort Worth, MyFW, checked 2026-11-08. “Sidewalk Hazard Repair Please use this service request to report sidewalk repairs.”
  19. City of Fort Worth, MyFW, checked 2026-11-08. “TxDOT does not maintain roads, sidewalks, or pedestrian or bike paths in cities within city/town or county jurisdiction.”
  20. Fort Worth City Charter, Chapter XXVII, Section 25, checked 2026-11-08. “the amount of damages, the amount for which the claimant will settle”
  21. City of Fort Worth, Notice of Claim Form, checked 2026-11-08. “HR/Risk Management 200 Texas Street Fort Worth, Texas 76102”
  22. City of Fort Worth, Notice of Claim Form, checked 2026-11-08. “[email protected]”
  23. City of Fort Worth, Notice of Claim Form, checked 2026-11-08. “Office (817) 392-7402”
  24. City of Fort Worth, Notice of Claim Form, checked 2026-11-08. “Unless married, each claimant must submit their own separate claim.”
  25. City of Fort Worth, Notice of Claim Form, checked 2026-11-08. “by filing a claim, you agree to allow the city or its agent to inspect your property or to investigate the personal injury”
  26. Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 41.0105, checked 2026-11-09. “recovery of medical or health care expenses incurred is limited to the amount actually paid or incurred by or on behalf of the claimant”
  27. Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 41.001(12), checked 2026-11-09. “physical pain and suffering, mental or emotional pain or anguish, loss of consortium, disfigurement, physical impairment”
  28. Golden Eagle Archery, Inc. v. Jackson, 116 S.W.3d 757 (Tex. 2003), checked 2026-11-09. “the effect of any physical impairment must be substantial and extend beyond any pain, suffering, mental anguish, lost wages or diminished earning capacity”
  29. Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation, checked 2026-11-09. “Not all Texas employers provide workers' compensation insurance, but most do.”
  30. Texas Department of Insurance, Coverage Verification, checked 2026-11-08. “If you can’t determine whether an employer has coverage, email [email protected]”
  31. Texas Department of Insurance, DWC Contact Us, checked 2026-11-08. “Call and speak to a customer assistant at 800-252-7031, option 1.”
  32. Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-09. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
  33. Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101, checked 2026-11-09. “not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred”
  34. Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001, checked 2026-11-09. “a claimant may not recover damages if his percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent”
  35. Tex. Prop. Code § 55.002, checked 2026-11-09. “For the lien to attach, the individual must be admitted to a hospital not later than 72 hours after the accident.”

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