Neon-colored “Wet Floor” signs are familiar sights in supermarkets, big box retail stores, and most other commercial properties. Someone who slips and falls on a wet floor without a nearby sign warning them about the hazard might have grounds to sue the property owner and demand compensation. This money could be for medical bills, lost work income, physical pain, and any other losses they experience due to an injury stemming from that accident.
However, getting a good case result when suing over wet floor accidents in Baytown takes much more than just claiming in a court filing that you did not see a sign. To maximize your chances of civil recovery, consider contacting a local slip and fall lawyer from Schechter, Shaffer & Harris as early as possible. Our attorneys are ready to help you.
When Are Landowners Legally Liable for Wet Floor Injuries?
The absence of a warning sign near a wet floor inside a commercial building does not, on its own, make the building’s owner(s) and/or manager(s) legally liable for ensuing injuries. To successfully sue over a Baytown wet floor injury under Texas law, you need to show a “preponderance of evidence” that demonstrates the defendant(s) failed to fulfill the “duty of care” they owed you.
This generally entails proving that the landowner had direct knowledge of the wet floor on their property but negligently failed to fix it or warn people about it. Alternatively, if you are an “invitee” visiting property for the landowner’s financial benefit, you must demonstrate that the landowner reasonably should have known about that hazard through regular inspection of their property. Depending on the circumstances, you may also need to prove that you were on said property lawfully, as Texas landowners owe almost no duty of care to trespassers.
What To Do After Slipping and Falling on a Wet Floor
In addition to showing that a specific duty of care existed and that the landowner violated it, you need to show that you were injured as a direct result of a slip or fall on a wet floor inside the Baytown property. This is why it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention after a slip and fall accident if you have any suspicion that you might have sustained an injury, since getting that injury diagnosed and treated establishes it through records kept by your treating physicians.
You should also do your best to take pictures of the wet floor you slipped on and the surrounding area immediately after your fall. Whether you can take those photos or not, preserving your clothing and footwear from the moment of the accident may be key to establishing that you were not partly at fault for it yourself, for example, by wearing baggy pants or shoes with no tread.
Contact a Baytown Attorney Today for Help With a Wet Floor Accident Claim
Wet floors are among the most common causes of slips and falls, especially in areas like Baytown, which are close to large bodies of water and experience more rainfall than most other areas of Texas. Just because accidents like this happen regularly, they are not necessarily easy to succeed in, even if it seems obvious who was at fault for your injuries.
After wet floor accidents in Baytown, support from a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer could make a significant difference in your case. Call Schechter, Shaffer & Harris today for a confidential consultation.
