Broken bone claims in Houston: who may owe you and the deadline that fits
Who owes you for a broken bone in Houston depends on where you fell or crashed. A neighborhood sidewalk is usually the job of the property owner next to it. If the City of Houston is responsible, written notice is due in 90 days. For a break caused by a private owner or a driver, the filing limit is generally 2 years.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (27)
Where should I go for a broken bone in Houston?
Do not wait on a possible fracture. For a serious break, Ben Taub and Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center are the two adult Level I trauma hospitals in Houston. For a child's break, Texas Children's says it is the only freestanding Level I pediatric trauma center in the region.
Two warning signs need a doctor fast. Bone through the skin is an open fracture. Pain far beyond what you would expect, especially under a tight cast or bandage, can be compartment syndrome, which can kill muscle.
Who is responsible for a broken bone in Houston, and how long do I have?
| Where it happened | Who may owe you | Deadline to know |
|---|---|---|
| Neighborhood sidewalk | Usually the abutting property owner. The city replaces sidewalks only in cases such as busy thoroughfares or near schools | 2 years to sue a private owner |
| City of Houston property or vehicle | The City of Houston | Verified written notice within 90 days |
| Harris County property | Harris County | Written notice within 180 days |
| METRO bus or facility | METRO | Signed form within 180 days |
| Apartment stairs, balcony or walkway | The complex owner. The city inspects stairways, balconies, railings and walkways | 2 years to sue |
| Other Texas public bodies | The agency | Generally 6 months |
Missing the city's notice excuses it from any liability. That is why the 90 days matter more than the 2 years.
What if I broke a bone on an e-scooter in Houston?
Houston bans riding and renting e-scooters from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. citywide. From January 2021 through July 2025, HFD EMS answered 508 e-scooter calls downtown, 78 percent between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m.
A crash during curfew hours can change who is blamed. A finding that you were more than 50 percent at fault bars any recovery in Texas. Rental terms can add other limits, so keep the app receipt.
How are broken bones valued in a Houston claim?
A broken bone can support claims for mental anguish, disfigurement and physical impairment, which Texas lists on their own. To count, physical impairment must be substantial and go beyond other damages. A fracture into a joint can raise the risk of arthritis more than 20-fold, which can matter for the future.
Bills count only as far as amounts paid or owed. A fracture treated in an ER and sent home may fall outside a hospital lien, which needs admission within 72 hours. Lost earnings must be shown after income tax.
What should I keep after a fracture in Houston?
- Photos of the spot where you fell, with a tape measure or coin for scale.
- The name of the property owner. For a sidewalk, ask the city who is abutting.
- X-rays, the cast and surgery notes, and every bill.
- Your notice to the City of Houston, signed before a notary and mailed to the City Secretary.
Questions
How long does a cast take to come off?
It depends on the fracture and the bone, so ask your orthopedic team for a date.
Does a city sidewalk crack count as a city defect in Houston?
Not always. The city replaces sidewalks only in specific cases, so find out who owns the land next to it.
Do children get extra time to sue in Texas?
Yes. The clock does not run while a person is under 18.
Broken bones in Houston? See if you are owed money.
A free case review. $0 upfront. No fee unless you win.
See if I’m owed moneySources (27)
- Houston City Council District A, FAQ, checked 2026-11-08. “the maintenance and repair of neighborhood sidewalks is the responsibility of the abutting property owner”
- City of Houston Legal Department, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “duly verified, within 90 days after the same has been sustained”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
- Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “HARRIS HEALTH BEN TAUB HOSPITAL 4/1/2028 Q HOUSTON 77030”
- Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “MEMORIAL HERMANN - TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER 5/1/2028 Q HOUSTON 77030”
- Texas Children's, Trauma System, checked 2026-11-09. “the only freestanding Level I pediatric trauma center in the region”
- Harris County, Claim Filing Procedures, checked 2026-11-08. “Written notice of your claim must be mailed or delivered in person within 180 days of the occurrence to: Harris County Commissioners Court 1001 Preston, Room 610 Houston, Texas 77002”
- METRO, Notice of Claim Form, checked 2026-11-08. “within 180 days of the incident by anyone desiring to make a claim against METRO”
- City of Houston, Administration & Regulatory Affairs, Nov. 19, 2025, checked 2026-11-09. “prohibiting the rental and operation of micromobility devices and off-highway vehicles between the hours of 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. within the Houston city limits”
- 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”
- MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Whether the bone breaks through the skin; if it does, it's called an open (or compound) fracture.”
- MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Pain that is much higher than expected with the injury”
- MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “A cast or bandage that is too tight”
- Houston City Council District A, FAQ, checked 2026-11-08. “such as on a busy thoroughfare, near a school, or for citizens with mobility impairments”
- Houston Permitting Center, Overview of Apartment Inspection Ordinance, March 2026, checked 2026-11-08. “Stairways, balconies, and railings • Exterior lighting • Walkways and accessibility paths”
- Tex. 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”
- City of Houston Legal Department, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “shall exonerate, excuse and exempt the city from any liability whatsoever”
- City of Houston, Administration & Regulatory Affairs, Nov. 19, 2025, checked 2026-11-09. “responded to 508 emergency calls related to e-scooters in downtown Houston alone, 78 percent of which occurred between the hours of 8 p.m. and 4 a.m.”
- 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”
- 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”
- PubMed Central (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “articular fractures can increase the risk more than 20-fold”
- Tex. 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”
- 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.”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 18.091, checked 2026-11-09. “must be presented in the form of a net loss after reduction for income tax payments or unpaid tax liability”
- City of Houston Legal Department, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “in writing and sign the letter before a Notary Public”
- City of Houston Legal Department, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “City Secretary's Office City of Houston Post Office Box 1562 Houston, Texas 77251-1562”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.001, checked 2026-11-08. “the time of the disability is not included in a limitations period”