Slipping and falling in public can be embarrassing, but it is also dangerous. Falls on an ordinary floor can break hips, tear soft tissues, and even result in skull fractures. Although falls are more dangerous for the elderly and frail, anyone can suffer a major trauma in a fall.
Understanding the common causes of slip and falls in Houston can help you learn how to avoid them. If the worst has happened and you sustained an injury when you fell as a result of another person’s negligence, you may be entitled to damages and should contact a slip and fall attorney.
Many common hazards can cause a slip and fall accident, including:
The Greater Houston area sits on clay-based soil, which can subside and warp floors—a common cause of slips, trips, and falls. Moreover, the city’s buildings have particular maintenance concerns that can result in hazards to visitors. The high water table and frequent rain make buildings vulnerable to poor drainage and water damage.
State law classifies people on the property of others into three categories. Invitees, such as shoppers and customers, are people the property owner asked to come for mutual benefit. Licensees are people on the property for their own benefit and are there at the owner’s invitation, such as guests in a home or family members. Trespassers are people the owner did not invite onto the property.
If a property owner knows or should reasonably know about a concealed hazard on the property, they have to take reasonable care to warn invitees that it is there. If a Houston property owner breaches this duty of care, they may be liable for damages for a slip and fall injury caused by the hazard. There is no duty to protect invitees if the hazard is obvious or if the invitees already know about it.
Property owners do not have as much of a duty of care to licensees. As outlined in Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 75.007, trespassers can expect no duty of care at all. An exception to this is children who ventured onto the property because of an attractive hazard, such as a pond.
After slipping and falling in Houston, whatever the cause, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible. Adrenaline can disguise the symptoms of an injury, and some muscle or bone problems do not become obvious for weeks. A healthcare team can document your injuries and let you know what to watch for.
It is best to speak to a premises liability attorney before you make any statements about the accident or file any claims. Our attorneys will investigate the fall site and the business (if any), including checking eyewitness statements and reviewing medical records.
You could face any of the common causes of slip and falls in Houston at any time, anywhere. After an accident, you will need to recover your medical expenses and lost income. Property owners can employ many defenses against your claim, and you need an attorney who can determine your rights and fight for your damages.
At Fleming Law Accident & Injury Attorneys, we work for injured parties and their families. Contact us today; we are available 24/7 to take your call.
Fleming Law
N/a
(713) 221-6800 