Sustaining injuries on public property often leads to a complex legal process that becomes much easier to navigate with the assistance of a skilled premises liability attorney. Schedule a free consultation with a Katy public property injury lawyer at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris to best protect your legal rights after being injured on government or municipal property.
Understanding Injuries on Public Property
When you sustain injuries on public property, such as sidewalks, government buildings, or public parks, you may be entitled to compensation. The Texas Tort Claims Act permits victims to sue government entities for personal injuries resulting from hazardous conditions on government property. It also enables you to sue when a government employee’s negligence causes you injuries while they are acting within the scope of their employment.
A Katy property injury attorney on our team could investigate whether the government entity had actual or constructive notice of the hazardous conditions that caused your accident and determine which specific government department or agency bears responsibility.
How Can Our Attorneys Help?
These cases present unique challenges compared to typical personal injury claims because they involve sovereign immunity laws that traditionally protect government entities from lawsuits. These complexities make legal representation vital in public property injury cases. Hiring an attorney guarantees a thorough investigation into liability, among other benefits.
Gathering and Analyzing Evidence
Evidence serves as the foundation of your claim, so it is critical to gather it before it becomes lost or destroyed. Our team moves quickly to ensure proper collection before thorough analysis. Depending on the nature of your accident, evidence in a public property injury claim includes:
- Accident scene and injury photos
- Video surveillance that captured the incident
- Incident reports
- Eyewitness statements and testimonies
- Medical and rehabilitation records
- Maintenance or inspection records
If you have not already washed the clothing and shoes you wore at the time of the accident, we may collect them and inspect them for evidence. Our legal team collaborates with accident reconstruction specialists to analyze the scene, review evidence, and assess hazardous conditions, such as poor lighting, cracked concrete, potholes, and loose flooring.
Valuing the Damages in Your Claim
Our public property attorneys thoroughly assess all potential damages involved in your claim to ensure maximum compensation. Compensatory damages consist of your economic damages and intangible losses, and they are meant to help return you to your pre-injury status. These damages can include:
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Property damages
- Pain and suffering
- Disability and disfigurement
- Loss of consortium (companionship, love, and guidance)
It can be helpful for you to document your pain and suffering, as well as the impact your injuries have on your daily life, in a post-accident journal. Entries should be consistent, dated, and detailed.
Negotiating for Fair Settlements
Government entities have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters who work to limit payouts by undervaluing or denying claims. A Katy lawyer with experience in public property injury law understands these strategies and how to effectively combat them. They may engage in several rounds of negotiation with insurers before securing a full and fair settlement.
Contact Our Public Property Injury Attorneys in Katy Today
When dealing with government entities, their lawyers, and insurance adjusters after an injury, it is essential to promptly retain an attorney to ensure fair representation. Do not wait to obtain legal counsel, as these cases have strict deadlines, and evidence can be lost or destroyed.
Contact us to schedule your free consultation with an experienced Katy public property injury lawyer at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris. Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, meaning you will not pay unless we secure compensation for your losses.
