Texas Premises Liability Lawyers

From slip-and-fall accidents to tripping on faulty stairs to, many personal injuries can occur on property owned by another person or business.

The law of premises liability exists to hold property owners responsible for injuries on their property resulting from an unreasonably dangerous or defective condition of the property. If you’ve been hurt on someone else’s property in Texas, whether a person or a business, you need to know your legal rights and options.

Types of Premises Liability

A Texas premises liability claim can result from many different types of injuries. The following are just some examples of the types of accidents that fall under premises liability law in Texas:

• Slip-and-fall accidents
• Injuries on broken steps, stairs, or due to broken railings
• Swimming pool injuries
• Accidents on someone else’s boat or recreational vehicle
• Negligent security cases
• Injuries resulting from a dangerous or defective condition on the premises
• Workplace injuries where the employer failed to make the premises safe for employees and others

How Do You Prove Premises Liability Claims in Texas?

Premises liability cases generally involve a negligence claim, which is the way to hold someone responsible for conduct that causes an injury to another party. Negligence requires you to prove liability — that someone else, namely the property owner was responsible for the defect or danger which caused your injuries — as well as damages or financial losses that resulted from your injuries. In the case of a broken railing, for example, you’ll need to prove that the property owner owed you a duty of reasonable care to either fix the railing or warn you about it, and you’ll need to prove that the conduct of the owner — their actions or inactions — directly caused your injuries.

The type of duty owed to you by the property owner depends on your status when you were visiting the property:

• Invitees. If you were a customer or other business visitor, also known as an invitee, the owner owed you a duty to make the premises safe from any known dangers or defects. For example, in the case of a wet floor at a supermarket, the business owes the duty to take care of the floor and make it safe for customers.
• Licensees. If you were a social guest, also known as a licensee, then the owner owed you the duty to warn of any known dangers or defects that could result in an injury to you. For example, if there is a missing step on a stairway, the owner owes a duty to point it out and warn social visitors about it.
• Trespassers. If you were a trespasser — meaning you didn’t have authorization to be on the property — then most likely, the owner owed you no duty at all. This can complicate your potential claims. There are exceptions to this rule, and an experienced Texas premises liability attorney can help determine if any of them apply to your case.

What Types of Compensation Are Available in Texas Premises Liability Cases?

The compensation you may seek in a Texas premises liability claim will vary depending on the specific circumstances of your case, the injuries you have suffered, and the resulting financial losses you have experienced. Generally, however, there are several categories of damages that you may be able to recover in these cases, such as:

• Medical bills and hospital stays
• The costs of prescription medications
• The costs of medical imaging, testing, and treatment
• Doctors’ and specialists’ visits
• The costs of physical therapy, home care, nursing care, and other types of therapy and rehabilitation
• Lost income or wages if you cannot work as a result of your accident
• Pain and suffering
• Scarring or disfigurement
• The loss of enjoyment of activities that you can no longer do
• The general decline in the quality of your life

What Should You Do After a Premises Liability Accident?

If you’ve been injured in a Texas premises liability accident, there are numerous steps you can take to ensure you protect your legal rights and get the help you need to get back on your feet:

• Seek the medical care and treatment you need for your personal injuries. Get checked out at a hospital or by emergency medical technicians to better understand the full extent of your injuries and the treatment you will need.
• Document what happened. Record your statement about the accident, and ask any witnesses to record their statements as well. Get contact information for witnesses and any potential parties—including the property owner or management company—who may be involved in the case. Take pictures of the scene and of your injuries.
• Contact a knowledgeable and experienced Texas premises liability lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your legal rights and potential options. They will investigate the facts of your case, assess the full value of your damages, and explain the steps needed to file and process your case. They will also negotiate with the other party and their insurance company, and if a fair and reasonable settlement does not result, they will take your claim to court and prepare a case on your behalf.

How Can Nix Patterson Help With Your Texas Premises Liability Claim?

After a Texas premises liability accident, discussing your accident with professionals who understand premises accidents and how compensation claims are handled is imperative. Our experienced attorneys can help assess the full amount of your damages, investigate the facts of your case, and file your claim. We will negotiate with the other parties and their insurance companies, and if a fair and reasonable settlement offer does not result, we are prepared to fight on your behalf in court.

If you’ve been involved in an accident on someone’s premises that caused injuries and need help recovering compensation for your pain and suffering, call Nix Patterson for a free case examination and explanation of your rights. We only collect fees if we can recover compensation for your claim, so there is no risk to you in protecting your rights and retaining legal representation from our team of experienced accident attorneys.

Start now by calling 512-328-5333, or contact us online to schedule your free evaluation with an experienced attorney.

Related Pages

• Contract Dispute Lawyers In Texas
• Texas Premises Liability Lawyers