Houston Slip & Fall Lawyer
Slip and falls can happen in an instant, but the pain can last for years. At Henrietta Ezeoke Law Firm, we represent people injured in slip and fall accidents around the city. Although many falls happen in stores and other businesses, some of our clients are injured in public buildings or at a friend’s or neighbor’s home. In Houston, the law regarding slip and falls is complicated, so you should contact our law firm to analyze whether you can sue the property owner. Our Houston slip & fall lawyer can provide an overview of how to make a claim and discuss your chances of success.
Is the Property Owner Responsible for Your Fall?
Under Texas law, a property owner owes certain duties to visitors. The duties will depend on why you were on the property:
- As an invitee, you enter the property at the invitation of the owner, usually for mutual benefit. Shoppers in a store are classic invitees under the law. The owner owes you the highest duty of care, which includes regularly inspecting the property for hazards and then fixing any that they find or should have found. When a hazard can’t be immediately fixed, visitors should be warned of it.
- As a licensee, you enter the property because you have express or implied permission, but usually for your own convenience. Someone delivering the mail or packages is an invitee. An owner must warn invitees of hazards they know of, but they have no duty to inspect the property ahead of time.
- As a trespasser, you have no right to be on the property or to remain there after being asked to leave. The owner cannot willfully or wantonly injure you, but that’s the full extent of their duties, unless you are a child.
Children are treated differently because they might be drawn to the property by an attractive nuisance, like a swimming pool or abandoned appliances. If you put an old freezer in the alley behind your building, then a child might be drawn to it and slip, injuring himself.
Many slip and fall accidents happen because something on the floor makes walking dangerous:
- Spilled liquids
- Melting ice cubes
- Loose tiles
- Worn carpet treads
- Rainwater
- Ice
- Trash
Falling can result in serious, dangerous injuries, like concussions, fractures, whiplash, and back injuries. You should immediately go to the hospital after the accident so that a doctor can make a professional diagnosis. Some injuries are slow to develop, but they can lead to disabling pain.
Contact Us for More Information
In many accidents, property owners will blame you for falling, or else they will argue you should have seen the hazard and stepped around it. We can perform a full analysis of your case to understand all the facts. Then we can submit a demand for compensation from a negligent property owner for all of your losses, including medical bills and pain and suffering. Please avoid delay. Contact our Houston slip & fall lawyer to schedule a free consultation.
