Houston Slip and Fall Lawyer

Everyone has had the experience of slipping on a wet floor or tripping over a stray object on the ground. In the vast majority of slip and fall cases, no significant injury results from these incidents, but, on occasion, the victim is not so fortunate. A sudden tumble onto a hard surface has the potential to cause major harm to the human body, such as head injury, broken bones, sprained ankles, and torn ligaments—and this is hardly a complete list of physical impairments that can stem from an accident of this type.

An arm or leg injury from a nasty fall is troublesome, for obvious reasons, as the victim is denied the full use of his or her physical capabilities for the duration of the recovery period, but not everyone makes a complete recovery. Sometimes, the slip and fall victim’s injury leaves life-long effects.

What is important to bear in mind is that legal help is available for anyone who has suffered a serious injury, whether temporary or permanent, due to the negligence of a property owner. When you reach out to the personal injury attorneys at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P., our experienced Houston slip and fall lawyers will begin the process of obtaining compensation for your suffering.

WHAT ARE COMMON INJURIES IN A SLIP AND FALL ACCIDENT?

There are many dangerous and potentially life-changing injuries that a slip and fall accident can cause. While stores, like supermarkets or retail outlets, can be the location where a slip and fall occurs, these types of accidents can even happen at a parking lot or at a medical facility near TX Medical Center. The common types of injuries you can suffer in a slip and fall include:

Head Injury – As one of the most serious types of injuries, traumatic brain injuries can cause bleeding and damage to the brain. In some cases, a skull fracture also occurs.

Spinal Cord Injuries – In many slip and fall accidents, victims suffer from broken vertebrae in their spine, which may result in paralysis or other permanent disability.

Broken Bones – Should you catch your foot on something as you take a step forward or trip due to a slippery surface or poor lighting conditions, your bones may break as a result of the fall, depending on how hard you land upon impact with the ground.

Sprains and Tears – The ligaments that connect joints together are susceptible to tearing when an causes them to stretch beyond what is considered normal. This can result in pain, swelling, and restricted movement capabilities.

Other Injuries – Slip and fall accidents may also cause back or neck injuries; they can also lead to infections that become extremely difficult to treat because the victim’s immune system is compromised due to the injury itself.

These injuries happen due to a variety of reasons. Every day, we encounter hazards that could cause a dangerous fall. These may include—but are not limited to—those listed below:

• Slippery/damp floors
• No warning signs
• Poor lighting
• Broken staircases
• Uneven sidewalks
• Damaged tiled flooring
• Worn or frayed carpeting
• Stray debris

Determining liability for a slip and fall injury in Montrose depends on multiple factors, such as the site of the accident, the victim’s responsibility for the accident, and the nature of the victim’s relationship with the property owner. Our Houston slip and fall accident lawyers can inform you of your rights if you have been hurt in a fall.

If an injury from a slip and fall accident has left you with problems that persist to this day, turn to Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P., our law firm in Houston, TX who will stand by your side throughout the entire process of securing compensation for your suffering — no matter how long it takes. Our decades-long history of success is reflected in our track record, which proves that we are devoted to helping victims recover financial compensation after their slip and fall accidents.

HOW ARE SLIP AND FALL INJURY VICTIMS CLASSIFIED?

When dealing with slip and fall accidents, the law of the state of Texas places the plaintiff in one of three possible classifications, each of them conferring certain rights to both the victim and the property owner. These classifications are as follows:

Invitee – An invitee can be simply defined as a customer of a business establishment, such as a supermarket, restaurant, or motel. The individual has been implicitly “invited” as a member of the public to partake in a business transaction that will benefit both parties. In these cases, the property owner is responsible for a high “duty of care” to minimize the risk of a personal injury accident.

This means either removing any defects or obstacles on the property that could cause injury or adequately warning invitees as to the presence of any such issues. The property owners may be held liable for an accident even if they claim ignorance of a danger they should have reasonably known about.

Licensee – A licensee is basically a social guest, such as a neighbor invited over for dinner. A licensee can also be an individual in the area for business purposes that benefit a party other than the property owner. In these cases, property owners are required to warn licensees about the presence of any known dangers in the area.

Trespasser – This is an individual who is on the property without the consent of the owner. A thief or a vandal falls into the trespasser category, as well as individuals who have no criminal intent but simply have entered an area without authorization.

Here, the property owner has the least duty of care. However, children who trespass are held to a different standard of conduct than adults, and, under the “attractive nuisance doctrine,” a property owner may be held liable for hazards that harm minors.

Sometimes the proper classification of a plaintiff can be ambiguous. For example, consider a customer in a Midtown business establishment who becomes injured after entering an area that is clearly off-limits to the public. The courts may classify this individual as a trespasser, not an invitee, even though the person entered the establishment with the intent of engaging in a legitimate business transaction.

WHAT POTENTIAL DAMAGES CAN I SEEK?

Slip and fall victims can seek damages for medical expenses, medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, lost earnings, and pain and suffering, among others. Our focus is in getting you the most compensation possible. We understand how costly an injury can be for an individual as well as the entire family. That is why we make sure to negotiate with opposing parties and their insurance carriers, which will result in a faster settlement that does not have to go to trial or hearing.

Every state has a statute of limitation, which gives a plaintiff a limited amount of time from the date of the accident within which they must pursue compensation from those who caused it. In Texas, this period is two years from the day of the accident. If you do not file your claim before this deadline passes, you forfeit your right to receive any money out of court for your injuries. The longer you wait, the less likely your case is to succeed.

Speak with our slip and fall lawyers to get the legal representation you deserve.

HIRE A HOUSTON SLIP AND FALL ATTORNEY

Hiring a slip and fall attorney can help you if a dangerous condition on someone else’s property led to you receiving medical treatment for serious injuries. Dangerous conditions in any property owned by someone else should be fixed immediately by a property owner before it is too late. Unfortunately, many slip and fall accident victims like you can often suffer due to someone else’s negligence.

Slip and fall accidents can be extremely serious and difficult to litigate. If you have been harmed in a fall due to the negligence of a property owner, you need a slip and fall lawyer who will help you obtain a settlement. Don’t hesitate to call the Houston slip and fall lawyers at our law firm. We will do whatever it takes to get you the best results possible for your slip and fall case.