Our Texas Slip and Fall Attorneys Fight to Recover Maximum Compensation For Victims of Negligence
Most of us never consider that we could wind up as a victim of a slip-and-fall accident. However, slip-and-fall accidents caused by negligence occur countless times a day in Texas and may result in the victim suffering severe injuries.
Property owners are legally responsible for keeping their property safe from hazards or other potential situations that may cause individuals to slip and fall or become injured. Slip and fall victims often suffer broken bones, as well as head, neck, and back injuries.
If you’ve been involved in a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accident and suffered injuries, you may be unable to work and support yourself and your family. The best step you can take to protect yourself and your peace of mind is to hire an experienced Texas premises liability attorney, who may be able to recover financial compensation for you that will cover your lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.
RTRLAW’s qualified slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall attorneys are dedicated to helping injury victims get the justice they deserve and recover the maximum compensation possible for their injuries.
If you’ve experienced a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accident in Texas and suffered injuries, contact RTRLAW today toll-free at 1-833-HIRE-RTR (1-833-447-3787) or call our Texas number (972) 478-1801. You’ll talk to a helpful representative who will provide a free, no-obligation case review, where you can discuss your case and explore your legal options.
What is a Slip-and-Fall Accident?
Slip-and-fall accidents fall under what is known as premises liability. In Texas, this means the property owner or occupier has a legal responsibility to prevent an unsafe or dangerous condition on their premises, and in fact, must take the necessary steps to ensure the premises are safe.
In Texas, if you experience a slip-and-fall accident while on another person’s property and suffer injuries, you may be entitled to file a claim to recover compensation for your injuries.
If you have any questions and want to know if you qualify to file a premises liability claim, contact RTRLAW for a free case review.
Where Do Most Slip-and-Fall and Trip-and-Fall Accidents Occur in Texas?
Slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accidents can occur anywhere on public and private property in Texas due to any number of factors. A slip and fall also can be described as a trip-and-fall accident, as, in many instances, the victim trips on debris such as loose floor tiles or torn or frayed carpets.
The majority of slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accidents, however, are the direct result of wet and uneven surfaces. For example, falls often result in a store or office building when employees fail to place wet floor signs out warning people about the danger of falling on a freshly mopped floor.
Some of the other commonly reported factors that contribute to slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accidents include:
- Loose mats
- Loose floorboards
- Cluttered floors or walkways
- Broken or uneven sidewalks
- Potholes in parking lots
- Broken or missing steps
- Poor lighting in hallways and staircases
If a property owner has failed to fix or warn the public about any of the above-listed conditions and you have experienced a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accident on their premises, you may have legal grounds to file a claim for damages.
What Are the Most Common Injuries Resulting from a Slip-and-Fall or Trip and Fall Accident?
Just as slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accidents can occur anywhere, the injuries that victims can potentially suffer also vary. However, many slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accident victims experience the following injuries:
- Broken bones (including broken arms and legs, hip fractures, or fractured ribs)
- Nerve and spinal cord damage (including paralysis, tingling, and numbness)
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Knee injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Sprained wrists and dislocated shoulders
What Should I Do if I Suffer a Slip-and-Fall or Trip-and-Fall Accident?
If you suffer an injury from a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accident on another person’s property, you must take the following specific steps to protect your health and well-being:
- Report the incident to the property owner or premises manager immediately.
- Make sure the accident is properly documented and request a copy of the incident report.
- Document the accident scene by taking pictures and videos of the area where you experienced the fall.
- Gather evidence, such as the contact information of any bystanders who may have witnessed the event. Write down any information that may be important to your case.
- Assess yourself for injuries. If you are injured, seek medical attention immediately. Some insurance providers will only approve a claim if the injured party is evaluated by a medical professional.
- DO NOT speak with the other party’s insurance company.
- Contact an experienced Texas personal injury attorney immediately, like the premises liability attorneys at RTRLAW. An attorney can advise you of your legal options and instruct you on how to deal with the insurance company.
If you’ve experienced a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall injury caused by someone else’s negligence, contact RTRLAW immediately. Often in slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall cases, evidence and witnesses are difficult to find. Therefore, starting the claims process as soon as possible will help protect your rights and your future well-being.
How Do You Prove a Slip-and-Fall or Trip-and-Fall Case in Texas?
Many people mistakenly believe that when you suffer a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall injury on someone else’s property, you are automatically entitled to financial compensation. However, specific legal conditions must be present to prove a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall case in Texas successfully.
The legal conditions that must be met in slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall injuries include:
- Duty of care: The property owner owed you a “duty of care.” Property owners have a duty to act or take proactive steps to prevent injuries on their premises.
- Breach of duty: The property owner breached their duty of care through negligence by not maintaining safety standards on their premises.
- Causation: Even if you have experienced a fall, you must be able to prove that the accident resulted in injuries.
- Damages: You also need to prove that your injuries resulted in damages for which you should receive financial compensation.
If you’ve suffered a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accident but are unsure whether the circumstances meet the legal conditions described, contact RTRLAW immediately for a free, no-obligation case review. Our legal team will listen to your story and review any evidence you may have to determine your legal options.
Do Property Owners in Texas Have Different Levels of Duty of Care?
Texas law states that property owners have differing levels of duty of care for visitors depending on the type of entrant category they fall into. State law divides owners’ duty of care for visitors into three separate categories:
- Invitee: An invitee enjoys the most significant level of care under Texas law and refers to any individual who is invited onto a property. Some examples include store customers, business clients, or a friend who has come to visit.
- Licensee: A licensee is owed a lesser duty of care than an invitee. A licensee is typically an individual on the property to do some type of work. Examples include contractors or salespersons.
- Trespasser: A trespasser is any individual who enters another person’s property without permission. Under Texas law, a trespasser is owed the least duty of care. However, the property owner is prohibited from performing any action that could potentially cause them harm.
Can RTRLAW Help Me Recover Compensation For My Slip-and-Fall or Trip-and-Fall Injuries?
One of the most fundamental aspects of an insurance claim is the ability of the claimant to receive compensation for their injuries and other related damages. Texas law allows accident victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages, also called compensatory damages. For example, damages may be awarded to accident victims to compensate them for the expenses they have incurred due to their injuries.
What Do Economic Damages Cover?
Economic damages are awarded in a premises liability case to reimburse victims for the out-of-pocket expenses they have paid or may have to pay in the future. Some of the most frequently awarded economic damages in Texas include:
- Past, current, and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning potential
Economic damages also may be awarded for other medical-related expenses, including physical therapy, rehabilitation, and prescription drug costs.
Some slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accidents may result in catastrophic injuries, such as spinal cord or traumatic brain injuries. Catastrophic injuries are typically permanent and require the injured victim to receive specialized medical care. Unfortunately, specialized medical care can quickly become costly and create a financial crisis for the victim’s family.
RTRLAW’s premises liability attorneys will fight for your rights and work to obtain a financial settlement that will cover your medical costs and adequately provide for your needs.
What Type of Non-Economic Damages Can I Expect?
Non-economic damages are awarded to slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accident victims to compensate them for their intangible losses. Some of the most frequently awarded non-economic damages in Texas include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
- Permanent disfigurement and scarring
Please note that the circumstances of every personal injury case are different; therefore, each potential settlement will also vary.
RTRLAW will fight to help you recover the compensation you rightfully deserve after being injured by another person’s negligent actions. Our premises liability attorneys will vigorously advocate for you to obtain the maximum compensation possible for your injuries.
Can I Recover Punitive Damages After a Texas Slip-and-Fall or Trip-and-Fall Accident?
For plaintiffs to successfully recover punitive damages in personal injury cases, they must prove with clear and convincing evidence that their injuries resulted not only from negligence, but were also the result of fraud, malice, or gross negligence.
Gross negligence occurs when the defendant is found to have acted recklessly, knowing that their act or omission could cause potential harm to others. Additionally, the defendant must have been aware of the risk but decided to proceed without any concern for the rights, safety, or welfare of others.
Unlike compensatory damages awarded to reimburse the accident victim, punitive damages may be granted by the court to punish the wrongdoer and warn others not to repeat the same behavior.
Texas law caps punitive damages at the greater of $200,000 or double the amount of economic damages plus an amount equal to non-economic damages up to $750,000.
If you feel that you may be entitled to punitive damages, you need to speak with a qualified attorney who can review your case and determine if punitive damages are appropriate for your case.
What Makes RTRLAW the Best Choice For My Slip and Fall or Trip-and-Fall Legal Needs?
RTRLAW’s Texas personal injury attorneys are dedicated to assisting slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall victims in obtaining the justice and fair compensation they deserve. Our attorneys realize that you want to resolve your legal issues and get on with your life as quickly as possible. So, RTRLAW will work tirelessly to obtain a financial recovery that will compensate you for your injury and losses you’ve experienced and give you peace of mind.
Our aggressive personal injury attorneys will negotiate with the insurance company to obtain a settlement that’s in your best interests. If the insurance provider is unwilling to negotiate, we will take your case all the way to court. Our premises liability attorneys have comprehensive legal experience and know what it takes to get favorable results for our clients.
You can work with us at your convenience by phone or video conference, or at our local offices in Garland or Dallas. Our attorneys and investigators can also come to you, even if you are in the hospital or confined to your home due to your injuries. If we take your case, you will not pay anything upfront. RTRLAW works on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay NOTHING unless we win your case and recover money for you.
Since our founding in 1988, RTRLAW has represented tens of thousands of clients and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and judgments. Our attorneys fight hard to protect our clients’ legal rights and get them the compensation they deserve.
For more information or a free, no-obligation case review, CHAT WITH US NOW, contact us, call or text us 24 hours a day, seven days a week toll-free at 1-833-HIRE-RTR (1-833-447-3787), call our Texas office at (972) 478-1801, or email [email protected].
