Slip and fall accidents can happen almost anywhere, such as in a wet grocery store aisle or a poorly maintained apartment hallway or entrance. While some accidents are unavoidable, many could have been prevented if property owners had properly marked hazards or taken reasonable steps to fix them.
Texas property owners are responsible for keeping their property or business safe for visitors, but hazards often go unnoticed, leading to injuries. Slip and fall accidents can lead to severe injuries, resulting in hospital stays, income loss, and financial difficulties. A Texas slip and fall lawyer from Shamieh Law can help you recover compensation for your injuries.
What are the Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents?
Hazardous conditions or poor maintenance can contribute to a slip and fall accident, including:
Wet or Slippery Surfaces
Wet or slippery surfaces, such as spills on the floor, recently mopped floors, ceiling leaks, or ice accumulation, can all increase the chance of slipping and falling. Businesses must have adequate signage to warn customers of wet floors or promptly clean hazards.
Uneven or Damaged Flooring
Floors that are uneven or damaged, like cracked or loose tiles, loose or bunched-up carpeting, or uneven concrete, can easily cause a fall. Landlords or property owners and managers must properly maintain and repair floors in a timely manner.
Poor Lighting
Poorly lit stairways, hallways, and parking lots can make it difficult to spot hazards. Poor lighting can contribute to trips or hide debris in your way.
Cluttered Walkways
Cluttered walkways in store aisles or workplace hallways filled with debris, boxes, or cords can create tripping hazards or the risk of falling debris.
Broken or Missing Handrails
Broken or missing handrails in residential or commercial buildings can make stairwells and ramps very dangerous, leading to loss of balance and creating unsafe spaces.
Unsafe Stairs or Steps
Stairs with uneven heights, loose steps, and missing anti-slip strips can be unsafe for residents and visitors, increasing the risk of falls.
Weather-Related Hazards
During winter, outdoor entrances can become slippery from ice or moisture, which may be tracked indoors and create wet floors. It is the business’s responsibility to clean the area promptly or to properly warn customers about the wet surface.
Poor Maintenance or Neglect
Hazardous conditions can pose serious safety risks, so business and property owners should regularly inspect and address issues such as leaks or cracks. Taking care of small problems early can prevent bigger ones from developing, helping to keep everyone safer and avoiding more serious injuries or damage down the line.
Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Commonly Occur?
Falls can happen anywhere and at any time, but some places report more slips and falls than others, mostly due to reasons like poor maintenance and unsafe floors. Common businesses or locations where people have been injured include:
- Grocery stores
- Retail stores
- Apartment complexes and residential properties
- Sidewalks
- Parking lots
- Workplaces
- Restaurants
- Gas stations
- Hotels
How Negligence Contributes to Slip and Fall Accidents
Under Texas premises liability laws, property owners and managers are required to keep their premises safe and well-maintained. For a successful slip and fall claim, victims must prove that those responsible for the property were negligent, leading to their injuries, to recover compensation.
Victims must demonstrate that the slip and fall happened because the property owner failed their duty of care, such as maintaining a safe environment, and that the owner could have anticipated the injuries. For example, a landlord notices a broken step but chooses not to fix it immediately and does not put up signage warning residents about the step. The landlord would likely be liable for your injuries, as they breached their duty of care for residents.
Under Texas’s comparative negligence law, slip and fall victims can only recover compensation if they are 50 percent or less at fault for the accident. However, their recovery is reduced in proportion to their share of responsibility. For example, if you are found 30 percent at fault in a case worth $200,000, you could still recover $140,000 in damages.
Injured in a Slip and Fall Accident? Shamieh Law Can Help
Our Texas slip and fall attorneys have the experience and resources to manage your case effectively, with a proven track record of successfully holding property owners accountable for unsafe conditions that cause injuries. You deserve quality representation after an injury. Our firm handles cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we win.
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident caused by unsafe property conditions, you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. Contact Shamieh Law today for a free consultation or call (469) 813-7332 and let our team help you recover the compensation you deserve.