Baytown Slip and Fall Lawyer

Slip and fall accidents are all too common. Slippery floors, icy walkways, and other hazards can cause customers or visitors to be injured at stores, restaurants, and other commercial properties. While many assume that slip and fall accidents are minor, you could be seriously hurt when you slip or trip on someone else’s property. Make no mistake: when you are injured due to a dangerous condition on someone else’s property, you have legal rights.

When a property owner is negligent in addressing a dangerous or hazardous condition on their land, they can be liable under a theory of premises liability. When you have sustained a personal injury after a fall, you could be entitled to compensation for your medical care, lost income, and other related losses. Contact a Baytown slip and fall lawyer if you are considering legal action for your injuries.

Liability for Dangerous Property

Slip and fall accidents are considered premises liability claims. In Texas, landowners are legally responsible for unsafe or dangerous conditions on their land. As such, property owners, especially in the commercial setting, have a duty to take reasonable steps to keep their property safe for guests.

While slip and fall accidents can happen on private or public property, they are also common in business environments. Store and restaurant owners should be especially mindful of any dangerous conditions on their property because of the legal ramifications. Property owners are only liable if they were aware of the hazard and failed to take reasonable precautions to address it. An example would be if there was a spilled liquid in a grocery store and the owner or their employees did not clean it before a customer was injured.

The level of care a property owner owes their visitor depends on their legal status. There are three levels to this:

• Invitee: Someone who has either been explicitly or implicitly invited to a property, usually for a business purpose. Property owners have an obligation to keep their property safe for invitees.
• Licensees: Landowners have authorized licensees to enter land for their own purpose, and must warn them of slippery conditions if the licensee is unlikely to discover it on their own.
• Trespassers: Enters the land without permission. Landowners owe no legal duty to someone unlawfully on their land. There is an exception for child trespassers under the attractive nuisance doctrine.

An experienced slip and fall lawyer in Baytown could determine the applicable standard of care based on the plaintiff’s reason for entering the property.

Recovering Compensation After a Slip and Fall

After a slip and fall accident, a person can seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. Since many defendants in slip and fall cases are business entities, their insurance providers may offer to settle with the victim to avoid litigation. While settling can be a good option, it is always beneficial to discuss the offer with a Baytown slip and fall lawyer. They could review the settlement to determine if it adequately compensates the person for their injuries and negotiate with insurance companies to achieve a fair result.

Plaintiffs can also seek damages in a civil case against the property owner. Typically, they can obtain compensation for their past and future medical care, lost wages, diminished earning potential, pain and suffering, and other related losses. A lawyer helps build their case using evidence and expert testimony.

Retain a Trusted Baytown Slip and Fall Attorney

If you were hurt in a slip and fall accident, you should seek representation. While no amount of money will reverse the harm you suffered, a successful settlement or lawsuit could give you the means to move forward after the accident.

Our clients will often come to us concerned with the financial repercussions after a slip and fall accident. We understand that medical bills can quickly pile up and that you might need time off work to recover. Our legal team is here to help. If you have questions about your legal rights and remedies, contact a Baytown slip and fall lawyer.