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Slips and falls are among the most numerous causes of personal injuries. At the most basic level, landowners have a duty under the law to protect invited guests who enter their land. However, nuances in the law may limit this protection and leave hurt people with no ability to collect compensation for their losses.
Sadly, these losses may be substantial. A fall has the potential to result in severe physical injuries that also affect your mental health and ability to earn a living. Collecting fair compensation through an insurance settlement or a trial may be your only chance to hold another party responsible for payment.
A Houston slip and fall lawyer may be able to help you. They can work to evaluate your rights under the law, determine if a landowner was to blame for the slip, determine how that incident has impacted your life, and seek out fair payments through every available option.
A general concept under the law says that landowners must protect people who visit their property. This extends towards protecting guests from temporary hazards that may result in slips and falls. These may include instances of loose carpeting, standing water, or slick floors from fresh waxing.
Each of these instances are examples of injuries that may call for a lawsuit alleging premises liability. A premises liability case alleges that a landowner failed to provide protection to a guest on their property. The law separates these guests into three categories, each enjoying their own level of protection.
Trespassers enter or remain on land without the owner’s permission. Landowners here must only refrain from causing harm through intentional or wanton action. Licensees enter land with the permission of the owner for the guest’s benefit, such as to attend a barbecue. Here, the owner must warn guests of all known hazards. Finally, invitees enter land with the permission of the owner for the owner’s benefit. Businesses fall under this category. Property owners must protect invitees from all known hazards and have a duty to inspect their land for dangers. A Houston slip and fall attorney could help to determine a person’s legal rights leading up to their accident.
Slips and falls can have a surprisingly harsh impact on a person’s life. Even a short trip to the ground can break bones, separate joints, or result in a concussion. This may necessitate a trip in an ambulance, emergency room treatment, surgery, hospitalization, and a lengthy period of physical rehabilitation.
In addition, the event may also damage a person’s emotional wellbeing. It is not uncommon for people to experience flashbacks, nightmares, or other forms of PTSD connected to an injury. Finally, the incident may leave a person unable to earn a living. Whether this involves a temporary recovery period or a permanent disability, a claim for compensation must take a holistic approach when determining proper compensation.
A slip and fall attorney in Houston can work to place a value on any slip and fall case. They can also help to pursue a case within the applicable time limit. According to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, individuals who suffer injuries in accidents may have as little as two years from the date of loss to demand compensation. An attorney could help to meet this essential deadline.
Slips and falls are common examples of incidents that occur on the property of others that result in injuries. Even so, the mere fact that an injury occurs on another’s property does not guarantee success in a claim for compensation. In fact, it is necessary to prove that you had permission to be on the land and that the owner did not warn you about potential hazards. This complex analysis may require the help of an attorney.
A Houston slip and fall lawyer may be able to help. They can explain the law, how it applies to your case, and measure how a landowner’s failure to keep you safe resulted in your losses. They can then demand appropriate compensation in and out of court. Reach out to a Houston slip and fall attorney today to see how they could help you.