Houston Premises Liability Attorney
Premises liability is an aspect of law designated to hold landowners and property tenants responsible for accidents and injuries that occur on their property. Property owners, by law, are required to protect guests, visitors, and patrons from injury or accidents while on their property.
Property owners can protect guests through various measures, including, but not limited to:
- Providing sufficient lighting
- Proper upkeep of the property
- Providing security and safety
- Keeping potentially harmful animals away
If you or a loved one has been injured on a private, public, or commercial property, contact an experienced Houston premises liability attorney today. Your claim will be investigated thoroughly to try and prove that your injury was preventable, and caused by the negligence of a property owner.
Types of Premises Accidents
The most common type of premises accident is a “slip and fall” accident. The West Law Office successfully represents clients in premises liability accidents involving:
- Wet floors
- Negligence of security
- Slip and falls
- Construction site accidents
- Mechanical failures of equipment
- Explosions
- Animal attacks/dog bites
- Failure to upkeep property
Premises Liability Accidents Can Happen Anywhere.
They can happen in parking lots, walkways, or in your favorite store. When a property or landowner is negligent on their property, you can suffer from serious injuries. Most frequently, visitors suffer from slip and fall injuries. Slip and fall accidents can result in broken or fractured bones, and injuries to the head, brain, shoulder, back, muscles, or nearly any part of the body.
Analyzing Whether You Have a Claim
Thousands of people are injured on Houston properties each year, but not all victims have a valid premises liability claim. The fact that you were hurt does not mean you can immediately sue the property owner. Instead, your lawyer must analyze certain facts:
- Why you were on the property. If you were invited to do business, then the owner owes you a greater duty of care than if you stopped in for a social visit. And property owners owe trespassers very few duties of care.
- The hazard that injured you. Was it obvious and something you could have avoided? Did the owner create it, and how long was it in existence? You have a stronger claim when the hazard is something the owner knew about or should have discovered.
- Steps to protect the property. Owners can rarely make a property 100% safe. The law only requires that they take reasonable steps to protect patrons and others. Did they cordon off the dangerous area or put up signs? How long did they wait before addressing the problem?
- Whether a child was injured. Children have additional protections under Texas law. A child who is drawn onto property by an attractive nuisance is owed a high duty of care. Attractive nuisances are things like swimming pools, hot tubs, swing sets, and similar items that draw a child’s curiosity.
Suing the Correct Person or Business
It isn’t always obvious who has control of the property to an extent that they are legally liable for an accident. The person whose name is on the title might not be the one with control. In some cases, multiple parties might have control.
For example, you might fall on a parking lot near a store. But the store doesn’t own the lot—a different company does. The company that owns the lot is thus the correct party to sue. Your Houston premises liability attorney might need to perform an investigation to uncover who is responsible for a piece of property.
What to Do after a Premises Accident
We highly recommend some simple steps that can solidify your right to sue:
- Get a photograph of the hazard that injured you. If you tripped over a warped floorboard, use your phone to get a picture. The property owner might quickly fix the floor and then blame you for tripping over your own two feet. Ask a bystander to take a picture, if necessary.
- Identify any witnesses who saw the accident. Ask for a way to contact them, like a phone number. They can provide helpful information about what caused you to fall.
- Tell the property owner about the accident. They should secure the property to make sure no one else is injured. They should also preserve any surveillance video that might have captured your accident.
- Seek prompt medical attention. This will give you a good chance of healing and improve your chances of receiving maximum compensation.
- Seek out your own legal advice. The owner’s insurer might claim you don’t need a lawyer, but that’s not really the truth.
Contact a Houston Premises Liability Attorney Today
Texas liability laws can be confusing. Let an experienced Premises Liability Lawyer in Houston, Texas investigate your case thoroughly to get you the settlement you deserve. Texas Premises Accident Attorney, Sue E. West, has experience defending clients who have been injured on public, private, or commercial properties. If you or a loved one is suffering because of someone else’s negligence, the West Law Office is here to help. With professional and personal legal representation, we will help you get the compensation you deserve for your medical bills, lost wages, and any other injury-related expenses.
