The National Safety Council reports that every year in the United States, thousands of people suffer slip, trip or fall injuries serious enough that they need to take days off of work. For older people, fall injuries lead to millions of emergency room visits annually. At the Bernsen Law Firm in Beaumont, our Southeast Texas attorneys help slip and fall accident victims seek compensation for injuries caused by dangerous property conditions. We litigate against negligent owners of commercial and residential property so that injured individuals can collect the payment they deserve.
A slip and fall accident can occur anywhere. Tripping hazards may arise at shopping centers, professional buildings, parking lots or private homes. When a property owner fails to fix unsafe conditions or issue warnings about them, they often can be held legally liable. Common causes of slips, trips and falls include:
Falls are a leading cause of accidental death for older Americans. When a fatal fall occurs because someone besides the victim was negligent, the deceased individual’s loved ones may have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit.
As soon as possible after you are injured in a slip and fall accident, obtain any needed medical attention. If it is safe to do so, collect the contact information of any witnesses and take photographs of the property conditions at the scene. When you are ready, contact a personal injury lawyer. Our attorneys can help you explore your legal options and pursue appropriate compensation.
You only have a case for a premises liability lawsuit if your injury resulted from the negligence of another property owner or some other individual or business responsible for maintaining safe conditions. A defendant can be held responsible for the injured victim’s medical bills, lost wages, mental anguish and other damages.
Texas property owners have a duty to warn invited guests about any dangerous conditions on the property, as long as the property owner either knows about the condition or could have discovered it by conducting a reasonable inspection. Property owners have a lesser duty of care to licensees, or visitors who are allowed on the property but who are not invited guests, such as utility workers. An owner must warn a licensee about known dangerous conditions. When a property owner breaches this duty of care and the breach results in an injury, he or she can be held liable for damages.
More than one person can be at fault when an accident occurs. Property owners often try to avoid paying for a victim’s expenses by claiming that the victim was at fault for their own injuries. Under the Texas modified comparative fault standard, the total damages you may collect in a premises liability lawsuit will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you were 51 percent at fault or more, you will be unable to collect damages from any other at-fault party.
Our attorneys will conduct a thorough investigation into your accident, and will work to present compelling evidence that your slip and fall injury resulted from a property owner’s negligence. We are determined to help you obtain the maximum compensation available.
The Bernsen Law Firm in Beaumont helps Texas victims of slip, trip and fall injuries to recover compensation through premises liability lawsuits. To schedule your free initial consultation, call 409-212-9994 or contact us online.