A person helping another person after she fell on the floor.Premises Liability Accidents in Texas

What happens when you’re injured on someone else’s property? Injuries can be anything from slipping and falling in a grocery store or restaurant to suffering a dog or animal bite to injuring oneself at an apartment complex or a friend’s house to even experiencing an accident at a workplace, such as getting hit by a forklift. These accidents can also happen on vacation while at an amusement park or hotel. All of these scenarios are called premises liability accidents.

If you have been injured because of an unsafe condition or hazard on another person’s property, you have a right to recover compensation for your injuries or losses. In Texas, you have two years from the date of the incident to file a claim. Call our expert Texas premises liability attorneys at The Button Law Firm at 214-699-4409  or fill out a contact form to seek the compensation you deserve and move forward in life.

The Basics of Premises Liability Accident Claims

Under Texas law, there are three premises liability classifications. Here is a breakdown to help you better understand each type and determine which one you fall under:

  1. Invitee: Someone who is on a property where the public is welcomed, often with the expectation of financial gain for the property’s owner. Common instances include:
    1. Shoppers at a store
    2. Hotel guests
    3. Attendees at an amusement park, ballpark, or concert
    4. Restaurant diners
    5. Visitors at a professional office or convention
  2. Licensee: A person who enters another person’s property for a business purpose or with the property owner or operator’s permission is called a licensee. Popular examples of licensees include someone who:
    1. Delivers mail, packages, carryout meals, or groceries
    2. Performs a service to the property such as landscaping, plumbing, cleaning, internet troubleshooting, or other maintenance
    3. Visits for fun, such as a party guest, friend, or neighbor
  3. Trespasser: This is a person who unlawfully enters the property of another person without consent.

A premise liability claim in Texas requires that you, the injured person, prove four things:

  1. The property owner or operator had knowledge of the condition that caused your injury
  2. The condition posed an unreasonable risk of harm
  3. The property owner or operator failed to take reasonable action to reduce or eliminate the risk
  4. The risk caused your injury or injuries

If you are seriously injured or harmed on someone else’s property because of an unsafe condition, our expert Texas premises liability lawyers at The Button Law Firm can help you file a premises liability claim to seek compensation for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Pain and suffering
  • Physical limitations
  • Lost wages from missing work while seeking medical treatment and recovery
  • Future expenses to manage injuries

If the unspeakable happens to your family as a result of a premises liability accident, our team of attorneys will fight to help your family get justice and compensation to cover:

  • Funeral expenses
  • Medical expenses
  • Other unexpected costly fees

It is important to remember that premises liability claims in Texas must be filed within two years of the incident. At The Button Law Firm, we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. Give us a call at 214-699-4409 or submit a contact form here to discuss your situation, and we can advise you on the best course of action.

Common Types of Premises Liability Accidents in Texas

The most common types of premises liability accidents in Texas fall into five categories:

  1. Animal Attacks Such as Dog Bites: In Texas, pets are considered property, and owners are responsible for preventing their pets, including dogs, from attacking or biting people.
  2. Inadequate Security: People can be seriously injured when companies neglect safety and security concerns.
  3. Negligent Maintenance: Businesses, amusement parks, cities, and people are responsible for maintaining their property, including identifying potential hazards that could harm customers or guests. It is their responsibility to either fix the hazard or post visible warnings to prevent visitors’ injuries.  
  4. Slip and Fall Accidents: This is the most common type of premises liability incident that hurts innocent people. These accidents can be caused by a wet floor in a store or restaurant or even a frozen sidewalk in front of a hotel or grocery store.
  5. Swimming Pool Accidents: With hot temperatures in Texas, swimming pools can be a way to cool down at hotels, apartment complexes, daycares, private clubs, or a friend or family’s home. However, slippery pavement, sharp edges, harsh chemicals, pool drains, and other hazards can lead to injuries.

Common Injuries from Premises Liability Accidents

Injuries sustained from unsafe conditions on another person’s property can be very serious. The most common include:

  • Back sprains or fractures
  • Brain contusions and concussions
  • Broken bones
  • Death as the result of an injury
  • Internal injuries such as bleeding and ruptures
  • Scars resulting from injuries
  • Spinal cord damage
  • Torn ligaments

What to Do After a Premises Liability Injury

If you are injured while on someone else’s property, follow these five important steps:

  1. File a Report with the Property Owner or Operator: Grocery stores, gyms, restaurants, amusement parks, and hotels have processes to document customer-related incidents that result in injuries. This documentation should flag the establishment’s management to preserve any security footage that may have.
  2. Document What Happened: Record as much about the incident as possible. This includes taking pictures of the unsafe or defective property, writing down what happened, and gathering contact information for anyone you spoke to or witnessed the event. The more detailed information that you document, the stronger your case will be.
  3. Seek Medical Attention: Not all injuries from premises liability accidents are visible, which is why it is important to see a doctor or get checked by an emergency physician. Falls and other premises liability accidents can result in broken bones, torn ligaments, ruptured tendons, and other serious internal injuries. The doctor's visit will also document any injuries that can be used in your case.
  4. Document Your Injuries and Healing Process: Similar to when you document the incident, you will need to log your injuries. You can take pictures and write down details from your doctor visits, track additional injuries like bruises that may appear after the incident, and chronicle your healing process.
  5. Contact The Button Law Firm’s Expert Texas Premise Liability Lawyers. Our lawyers at The Button Law Firm handle premise liability cases throughout Texas. The laws are not straightforward with these cases, so that is where our knowledgeable team can review your situation and help you seek the compensation that you deserve within two years from the date of the incident.
Russell Button
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Dallas, Houston, and Midland Texas trial and personal injury lawyer dedicated to securing justice for clients.