Houston
What to do after an injury from a defective product in Houston
The short answer
After an injury from a product in Houston, federal agencies keep public records of recalls and reported hazards that show whether a product has been recalled or reported. Texas law also sets time limits for product liability lawsuits, including a 15-year limit counted from the date the defendant sold the product, listed below with their sources. InjuryClaimGuide is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.
Key facts, as of October 22, 2026
- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission publishes consumer product recalls and safety warnings, each listing the hazard, the remedy and a consumer contact. Source: CPSC, Recalls
- SaferProducts.gov, run by the CPSC, is where the public can file and read reports about unsafe consumer products. Source: SaferProducts.gov
- In Texas, a products liability action against a manufacturer or seller generally must begin within 15 years after the date the defendant sold the product, with exceptions set by statute. Source: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.012(b)
Injuries caused by defective products can involve claims against manufacturers, designers, distributors, and retailers. Don't throw out the product.
Related guide: How to find a personal injury lawyer in Houston
What counts as a products liability action in Texas?
- Texas defines a products liability action as any action against a manufacturer or seller for damages from personal injury, death or property damage allegedly caused by a defective product, whatever the legal theory. Source: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §82.001(2)
- Texas generally sets a two-year limitations period for personal-injury lawsuits, counted from the day the cause of action accrues, with exceptions set by statute. Source: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003
What does the CPSC do?
- The CPSC is a federal regulatory agency formed in 1972 to protect the public against unreasonable risks of injury or death from consumer products, including by issuing standards and obtaining recalls. Source: CPSC, About CPSC
Who can be responsible for a defective product under Texas law?
- A seller that did not manufacture a product is not liable for harm caused by it unless the claimant proves one of the exceptions the statute lists, such as that the seller participated in the design of the product, or altered or modified it and the harm resulted from that change. Source: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §82.003(a)
- In a products liability action alleging a design defect, the claimant must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that there was a safer alternative design and that the defect was a producing cause of the injury. Source: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §82.005(a)