Slip and Fall Lawyers in Houston

Helping Injury Victims Get Justice

A slip and fall accident can cause detrimental and long-lasting damage to your body. Along with physical injuries caused by the fall, extreme pain, high financial costs, and difficulty in your everyday life are not uncommon outcomes. When such an injury occurs on someone else’s property — whether it’s public or private — you may be able to successfully seek compensation for the losses you incur. In many cases, though, you’ll need an experienced Houston slip and fall lawyer on your side. This can improve the odds of receiving the compensation you deserve.

If a property owner’s negligence led to your slip and fall accident, you can seek to recover damages by negotiating with the insurance company or taking your claim to court. In either situation, legal representation can improve your odds of success. Slip and fall accident victims have a variety of hurdles ahead of them, but with a personal injury lawyer on their side, it’s possible to receive fair compensation without taking time away from the essential tasks of healing. Contact the Law Office of Denise Adkison-Brown today for a free consultation.

Determining Liability in a Slip and Fall Accident

Not all slip and fall accidents are caused by another person’s negligence, but in many cases, this is exactly what leads to injury. If a fall occurs on another person’s property or a business premises, the property owner may be responsible for the plaintiff’s losses. To prove this is the case, though, it must be determined that the owner is liable for the accident. This is a critical part of any successful injury claim following slip and fall accidents.

Texas state property liability law is likely to dictate how and when a landowner is responsible for the plaintiff’s injuries. Their legal duty is usually tied to whether the plaintiff is considered an invitee, a licensee, or a trespasser. These different legal statuses also carry varying legal responsibilities owed by the landowner. Texas law states that property owners owe the largest duty of care to invitees. They also owe a significant duty of care to licensees, but the most difficult cases occur when a person is injured while trespassing.

There are still instances, however, when liability may exist even when a trespasser is harmed. This is particularly the case if the victim is a child or the property owner took reckless actions toward the trespasser. To truly understand the plaintiff’s legal status at the time of the fall — and whether their slip and fall injury is eligible for compensation — it’s important to seek the help of an experienced Houston personal injury attorney.

Injuries in Houston Slip and Fall Accidents

If a trip or fall occurs on someone’s property, the injuries that result can actually be quite serious. While even minor harm can lead to significant interruptions in a person’s daily life, severe injuries are more often the reason the plaintiff is missing work, dealing with high medical bills, and facing other drastic personal and financial losses. The owner of the property may be to blame for the suffered injuries.

When dangerous conditions exist on private or public property, the following are the most common slip and fall accident injuries that victims suffer:

• Bruising and skin damage
• Broken or fractured bones
• Torn ligaments and other muscle damage
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord damage and whiplash
• Paralysis
• Death

These are simply the most common injuries experienced due to an unsafe condition on public or private property. There are certainly other injuries that can occur, and they are often just as serious — if not more so — than many of those listed above. A slip and fall accident can be detrimental, but the consequences are not something you have to face on your own.

Whether you were visiting a friend or employed as a member of utility workers fixing a downed line — or anything in between — speaking with a legal professional experienced in personal injury cases is the right move. Find an attorney that offers free case reviews to get started. This will give you a better idea of whether you’re entitled to compensation for your slip and fall case.

Businesses as Defendants after Someone Falls

In a great many trip and fall incidents, it is a business that is to blame for the accident. It’s their lack of care for the condition of their property that frequently results in unsafe conditions for their customers and visitors. When fall accidents occur, it’s not uncommon for a company, the business owner, and any relevant employees to be named in a personal injury lawsuit. Even if only one particular employee was directly responsible for your accident, the business itself may still be considered legally responsible for the incident.

This is due to the legal doctrine of respondeat superior. This doctrine states that companies can be held responsible for the negligent acts of their employees. A law firm experienced in slip and fall accidents can help identify all liable parties and hold them accountable. Even if you didn’t suffer serious injuries and are able to recover fairly quickly, it’s still not typically your responsibility to cover the losses you faced due to the accident. These personal injury claims can prove to be quite complex, though, so don’t hesitate to reach out for legal advice.

Do I Need an Attorney for a Slip and Fall Case?

If you’re injured in a slip and fall accident, you might receive a call directly from an insurance company. When this happens, it’s important to recognize that they represent the property owner who may be liable for your injury. This means that — no matter how concerned they may seem for your well-being — their primary concern is paying you as little as possible. You’ll no doubt be tempted by their offers of a settlement that pays off quickly, but they’re making this offer in the hopes that you’ll accept before slip and fall attorneys get involved.

Before speaking with an insurance adjuster, it’s important to realize that the financial costs of a serious fall injury don’t typically end when you’re discharged from the hospital. You could face years of treatment before you’re back to normal, and in some cases, an injured person may encounter difficulties related to their injury for the rest of their life. And when adjusters offer to pay off your insurance claim, it’s very rare for them to account for pain and suffering, future medical treatment needs, or even lost income from missed work.

Insurance companies will typically try to take advantage of those who suffer a slip and fall injury — because their goal is to protect the property owner and their own profits. This is why you need a personal injury law firm on your side. Legal professionals are more adept at dealing with insurance companies, and if a fair settlement cannot be reached, you’ll benefit from legal representation when filing a personal injury lawsuit. If you’ve suffered an injury due to a property owner’s negligence, a slip and fall attorney can help you seek compensation.

What if I’m at Fault for My Slip and Fall Injury?

After suffering an injury on someone else’s property, many victims fail to contact a slip and fall accident attorney. This isn’t because they couldn’t use financial help to deal with their injuries. More often than not, it’s because they believe their own actions led to their injuries. They think that any bit of liability on their part forfeits any potential damage recovery from the property owner. This is an inaccurate assumption, though, so speaking with slip and fall accident attorneys is vital following an injury.

That’s because Texas is a comparative negligence state. This means when there’s more than one party responsible for an injury, judges and juries will compare each party’s fault to determine liability. A slip and fall attorney may be able to secure compensation on your part even if your negligence contributed to the accident, but your eventual court award will be reduced by that level of negligence.

For instance, envision a situation where traumatic brain injuries were suffered due to a wet floor in a hunting club. It may sound like the property owner is responsible for any fall injuries suffered due to that hazard, but what if the victim was running through the room when they fell? The jury may decide that this puts the victim at 10% fault for their own injury, but this would only reduce the eventual court award by 10%. So, a $2 million award would still net $1.8 million for the victim.

This is why speaking with a slip and fall attorney after any such accident is vital — even if you think your own actions contributed to the incident.

Find a Slip and Fall Lawyer in Houston to Represent You

After any serious injury, victims have a difficult road to recovery ahead of them. This often involves facing high medical bills, lost earnings, and dealing with pain and suffering while also trying to seek compensation from an insurance company. This is a lot to put on anyone’s plate after a slip and fall accident, and in many cases, the burden can lead an injured person to accept a settlement offer that’s simply unfair. A personal injury law firm can help you avoid such mistakes — all while handling the heavy legal responsibility while you focus on healing.

After a serious accident, you need the individualized care and attention a skilled attorney can provide. The legal system is complex and should not be handled alone. You may be entitled to a major award from property owners if their negligence led to your injury, but you can’t expect insurers to offer a fair settlement out of the goodness of their hearts. Let an experienced slip and fall attorney in Houston represent you and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Contact us today at the Law Office of Denise Adkison-Brown by calling (713) 714-6206. A free consultation will help you better understand your rights and the best way to move forward after your slip and fall accident.