Laredo Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer

Injured In A Texas Slip And Fall Accident? Our Law Firm Can Help

Slip and fall accidents are dangerous and can happen just about anywhere. A term used to describe when a person slipped, fell, tripped, or stumbled on somebody else's property, a slip and fall accident can cause debilitating injuries, including spinal cord injuries, broken bones and traumatic brain injuries. Property owners are responsible for the safety of all guests who visit their premises. Unfortunately, some of them are negligent and overlook safety hazards. They might know about a problem but fail to do anything about it.

John R. Solis, Attorney at Law knows how serious a slip, trip or fall accident can be for personal injury victims. Slip and fall accidents can occur in a number of settings and situations, from newly mopped shopping mall floors, to slippery parking lots, to the edges of swimming pools. Other times, these accidents might occur due to torn hotel carpeting or broken tiles at an apartment complex. Accidents involving children sometimes are linked to slip and falls.

Whether you've been hurt at a local shopping center, a public pool, or on a construction site, the owner of the premises may be liable for your injuries. Slip and fall lawyers refer to these types of cases as "premises liability claims." You may be entitled to compensation to help you pay your medical bills, physical therapy, pain and suffering and lost wages, among other possible damages.

Why do slip and fall accidents happen?

Slip and fall accidents often happen because the property owner failed to take the necessary steps to make a property safe and free of any hazards or dangerous situations. Poor maintenance in particular is one of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents. Specific reasons why slip and falls occur include:

Wet floors without warning signs: Spills in stores, restaurants, or bathrooms can cause people to fall if they are not cleaned promptly and there are no signs warning people.
Broken stairs or handrails: Damaged stairways or loose railings often lead to falls, especially in apartment buildings or hotels.
Uneven walkways: Cracked sidewalks, potholes, or torn carpets are all trip hazards that should be repaired.
Poor lighting: Dark hallways or parking lots make it hard to see dangers and increase the chance of falling.
Cluttered floors: Boxes, cords, or equipment left in walkways can cause people to trip and fall.

When slip and fall accidents happen, the at-fault party should be held accountable for their actions. That’s why you need a Laredo slip and fall lawyer on your side. You may be able to file a slip and fall lawsuit and get money for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Common places slip and falls occur

Slip and falls can happen almost anywhere, but some places are more dangerous than others. Areas with heavy foot traffic or poor maintenance are common problem spots. Business owners and landlords have a duty to keep these areas safe. When they don’t, people can get seriously hurt. Slip and falls happen in:

Restaurants and bars: Spilled drinks, greasy floors, and crowded walkways are frequent hazards in food service locations.
Hotels and motels: Wet bathroom floors, loose carpets, and unsafe stairwells can put guests at risk.
Shopping malls and stores: Slippery entrances, torn rugs, and items in the aisles can lead to injuries for shoppers.
Apartment complexes: Poor lighting, cracked sidewalks, or broken stairs are common hazards in shared living areas.
Hospitals and medical offices: Wet floors and loose mats can cause falls, especially among patients who already have trouble walking.

Property owners in Texas are required to fix hazards or warn people about them. When they don’t, and someone gets hurt, that’s considered premises liability. A Laredo slip and fall lawyer can help you prove that the owner’s carelessness caused your injury. You may be entitled to a slip and fall settlement that covers all your losses.

What are common slip and fall injuries?

Slip and fall accidents can cause serious injuries, even if the fall doesn’t seem bad at first. Older adults and people with certain medical conditions are at higher risk, but anyone can get hurt. Some injuries heal quickly, while others may last a lifetime. Medical treatment can include surgery, rehab, and long-term care depending on what type of injury you sustained.

Broken bones: Wrists, arms, ankles, and hips often break during a fall when people try to catch themselves or land hard.
Head injuries: A person who hits their head on the floor or another object may suffer a concussion or even a traumatic brain injury.
Back and spinal cord injuries: Falls can damage discs, nerves, or the spinal cord, sometimes causing chronic pain or limited movement.
Knee injuries: Twisting during a fall can tear ligaments or dislocate the kneecap, which may require surgery to repair.
Cuts and bruises: While these might seem minor, deep cuts or large bruises can lead to infection or signal more serious internal injuries.

Slip and fall injuries often require extensive medical care and time off work, leading to lost wages and extra stress. You may also be dealing with pain and suffering that affects your daily life. If the fall was caused by someone else’s carelessness, you may be able to file a slip and fall lawsuit. Our Laredo legal team can explain your rights and help you take legal action.

What are examples of premises liability claims in Texas?

The last thing you may expect is to get hurt while doing ordinary activities such as crossing a parking lot, walking through an office hallway or walking into a shopping mall. But accidents happen without warning. If you are injured on somebody else's property, you may have grounds to file a premises liability lawsuit if you believe that the property owner acted negligently and that your injuries could have been avoidable.

Premises liability claims might refer to a slip and fall, but also might refer to other types of accidents, including:

Negligent security accidents involving robberies, assaults and other violent crimes. Property owners have a responsibility to keep their premises safe and secure. Potential causes can include defective locks, inadequate lighting or a lack of security guards and monitoring systems.
Poor maintenance. When a property is poorly maintained, users of that property are put at immediate risk on injury. It could be a floorboard with a nail sticking through, dim lighting in a hallway, or a loose hand rail on a stairway. Building maintenance standards exist to keep people safe.
Restaurant accidents. Restaurant owners can be held liable if they serve alcohol to minors before an accident, knowingly serve food past its expiration date or if a trip and fall or violent assault happen on their premises. The responsibility to provide patrons with a safe, healthy environment falls on restaurant owners.

How do I prove a property owner was negligent in a slip and fall?

To prove negligence, you have to show that the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard and didn’t fix it or warn you. For example, if a store had a leaky roof for weeks and never repaired it, they could be held responsible for a slip and fall.

Photos, witness statements, maintenance records, and accident incident reports can help show the danger existed and that the owner failed to take action. If a store employee saw the spill but didn’t clean it, that’s another sign the business acted carelessly.

Your Laredo slip and fall lawyer can collect evidence, talk to witnesses, and show that your injury happened because of the property owner’s neglect. The stronger your evidence, the better chance you have at winning your case or getting a fair slip and fall settlement.

How much is my slip and fall case worth?

The value of a slip and fall case often depends on many different factors, including how badly you were hurt and how the injury affects your life. Medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering all play a role in calculating the amount. Surgery or permanent injuries can increase the settlement. Every case is different, but some fall cases settle for tens of thousands or significantly more. In particular, you should be entitled to receive compensation for:

Medical expenses: This includes hospital bills, physical therapy, medications, and surgery costs.
Lost wages: If your injury kept you from working, you may be able to recover lost income.
Pain and suffering: This covers the physical pain and emotional stress caused by the injury.
Permanent damage: Serious injuries like broken bones, nerve damage, or chronic pain may raise the value of your case.
Long-term care: If you need future medical care or help at home, that can also be part of your settlement.

Slip and fall settlements vary widely based on how strong the case is and the extent of the injury. A Laredo slip and fall lawyer can help you estimate what your case may be worth, then fight for the maximum compensation you deserve. Don’t settle for less. Talk to a lawyer before signing anything from the insurance company.

Can I sue a property owner for my slip and fall injury?

Yes, you can sue a property owner if their carelessness caused your injury. As briefly explained above, these types of lawsuits in Texas fall under “premises liability” law, which requires individuals and businesses that own or control a property to keep the property safe and regularly maintain it. If property owners fail to fix a dangerous or hazardous condition and someone gets hurt, they may be held legally responsible.

To win your slip and fall lawsuit, you often need to prove that the owner knew or should have known about the dangerous or hazardous condition and failed to fix it or warn you. This is called proving negligence. Evidence like photos, maintenance logs or witness accounts can help show that the owner acted carelessly.

A Laredo slip and fall lawyer can help build your case, gather the right evidence and explain your legal rights. You may be able to recover money for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. Filing a lawsuit also sends a message that safety rules should be taken seriously.

How much time do I have to file a slip and fall lawsuit?

In Texas, you usually have two years from the date of the fall to file a slip and fall lawsuit. This deadline is called the statute of limitations. If you wait too long to take legal action, you could lose your ability to file a lawsuit and obtain the compensation you deserve for your financial losses.

It’s important to act fast after a slip and fall. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to find solid evidence. Common types of evidence that can help build a better slip and fall case include:

Security video footage from the store, hotel or property.
Physical evidence like broken stairs, loose carpets or slippery floors.
Accident reports written by employees or business owners.
Witnesses who saw the fall or knew about the hazard.
Photos of the scene taken right after the injury.

Witnesses may forget what happened, and surveillance footage may be deleted. A delay can weaken your case. Gathering evidence early gives your case a better chance. A Laredo slip and fall lawyer can take fast action to preserve critical evidence and make sure your lawsuit is filed on time. Our legal team has your back.

Contact a slip and fall accident lawyer today

The days, weeks and months after a slip, trip or fall accident are unquestionably difficult. You may think you don't need an attorney. But medical bills and lost wages add up fast. Insurance companies may try to keep your payments to a minimum. If you try to deal with the property owner and insurance company on your own, you may run into a wall of frustration. We're here to help fight for the compensation you deserve after you or a loved one was injured in a slip and fall accident.

Don't wait a minute longer. Contact John R. Solis, Attorney at Law today to discuss your legal options with an experienced slip and fall accident lawyer in Laredo. A delay may affect your rights. Call 866-465-9093 for a free case consultation. Our firm proudly serves the needs of English and Spanish speaking clients in Laredo, the Rio Grande Valley and San Antonio.