Slipping on a slick surface or stumbling over an uneven sidewalk and colliding with concrete is going to be an unpleasant experience. Sometimes, more serious injuries can occur, leaving you with broken bones, a head injury, or torn muscles. In many of these cases, the property owner is found to be at fault for negligence in maintaining their premises.
Depending on the legal relationship between the property owner and the victim, owners are held to a certain standard of care to warn visitors about potential dangers on their land. If you have been hurt on someone else’s property due to their negligence, retaining the services of an attorney familiar with injuries in Baytown slip and fall cases can help you recover financial compensation. Our respected slip and fall attorneys know what to do.
What Are the Available Damages in a Baytown Slip and Fall Case?
A slip and fall is considered a personal injury claim, which means that a plaintiff is eligible to recover any injury-related expenses. This can entail both quantifiable costs such as medical bills and non-monetary “costs” such as pain and suffering. Calculating damages involves accounting for the seriousness and duration of your injuries, the amount of money you have spent on post-slip and fall expenses, and the impact the accident has on your life. Recoverable damages for injuries in slip and fall cases in Baytown may include:
- Medical bills for things like doctor visits, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, and ongoing care
- Lost wages for time off of work
- Future loss of earning capacity if you are unable to earn money or return to work at the same level as before
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional distress
In a slip and fall case in Texas, you have two years from the date of the accident and your injuries to file a lawsuit. If you do not file your case within two years, you permanently lose your right to receive damages. Working with our lawyers at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris could help ensure that you receive the compensation you need to start to rebuild your life.
What is the Standard of Care for Property Owners?
According to Texas law, a property owner has the duty of care to ensure that their premises are “reasonably safe” and that visitors are appropriately warned about potential dangers. Things like wet or slippery floors; loose tiles, concrete, or other flooring; fallen objects; and uneven surfaces can cause someone to trip, slip, or otherwise lose their balance and fall.
There are three types of legal visitors in premises liability cases. An invitee is someone who has been either implicitly or explicitly invited onto the premises of a business to conduct a transaction. A property owner has a high duty of care in this instance to remove or repair property defects or explicitly warn about them verbally or via signage.
A licensee is a social guest or someone who is conducting business on the property that benefits someone else other than the owner. A property owner owes a licensee the duty to warn about any known liabilities on the premises. The third type of legal classification is a trespasser, and they are owed minimal duty of care by the property owner. The exception to this rule is when the trespasser is a minor; a property owner might still be held liable if the minor is harmed on the premises.
Consult with Baytown Lawyer for Slip and Fall Injuries
Slip and falls can result in serious, life-altering injuries, and recovering damages for expenses and for pain and suffering is a reasonable expectation. Litigating a premises liability case can be tricky, and you want a lawyer by your side who will fight for you against insurance companies and negligent property owners.
The law firm of Schechter, Shaffer & Harris is dedicated, experienced, and has decades of success and a winning record. Our compassion and knowledge are unmatched, and we are committed to helping you obtain a fair judgment for your injuries in Baytown slip and fall cases. If you are ready to get started, reach out to us today and learn more about your legal options.
