Houston Premises Liability Lawyer

Common Premises Liability Accidents in Houston

Premises liability claims come from many different types of hazards.
Some of the most common include:

• Wet or slippery floors in stores, restaurants, and office buildings
• Broken steps, loose handrails, and uneven walkways
• Poor lighting in parking lots, stairwells, and hallways
• Negligent security that allows assaults, robberies, or attacks
• Falling merchandise or debris in stores and warehouses
• Unsafe swimming pools, play areas, and other common areas at apartments
• Dog bites and other animal attacks on the property
• Fires, electrical hazards, or building code violations

A Houston premises liability attorney can look at the specific way you were hurt and connect it to the safety rules that should have been followed at that property.

How Texas Premises Liability Law Works

In Texas, the duty a property owner or occupier owes you depends in part on why you were on the property. The law generally expects owners and managers to act reasonably to prevent avoidable harm, but the details can shift with the situation.

In simple terms:

• Customers and clients in stores or businesses are usually owed the highest duty of care, which includes regular inspections, fixing hazards, and giving clear warnings about dangers that are not yet fixed.
• Tenants and their guests are owed a duty to keep common areas like hallways, stairwells, parking lots, and pools reasonably safe and to address known problems within a reasonable time.
• Social guests in a private home should be warned about hidden dangers the owner knows about, such as broken steps, loose railings, or other risks that are not obvious.

In all of these situations, the focus is on whether the owner or occupier took reasonable steps to find hazards, repair them, or warn people before someone got hurt. When they fall short and a dangerous condition causes an injury, a premises liability claim may be available.

How Do You Prove a Premises Liability Case in Texas?

A premises liability case is not automatic just because you were hurt on someone else’s property.

In most cases, you need to show that:

• You were lawfully on the property, for example as a customer, tenant, worker, or invited guest.
• There was a dangerous condition on the property, such as a spill, broken step, poor lighting, lack of security, or other hazard.
• The owner, manager, or occupier knew or should have known about the danger.
• They did not fix the hazard or give a clear and reasonable warning in time.
• The hazard caused your injury, and you suffered losses such as medical bills, lost income, pain, or other harm.

Evidence can include photos and video of the scene, incident reports, prior complaints, inspection or repair records, security footage, and medical records.

A Houston premises liability lawyer can gather and organize this information into a clear story that supports your claim.

What To Do After a Premises Liability Accident in Houston

Right after an accident, it is hard to think clearly.

When you can, these steps can help protect your health and your legal rights:

• Get to a safe place away from the hazard and seek medical help if you are hurt.
• Report the incident to the property owner, manager, or staff, and ask that an incident report be prepared.
• Ask how you can get a copy of that report.
• Take photos or video of the hazard, surrounding area, and your visible injuries before anything is cleaned up or moved.
• Get names and contact details for any witnesses and employees you speak with.
• Keep the shoes and clothing you were wearing in the same condition.
• Follow up with a doctor and follow their recommendations, even if you hoped the injury would “just go away.”
• Avoid detailed or recorded statements to the property’s insurance company before you talk with a lawyer.

If your injuries were too serious to do these things at the time, you may still have a case. Other evidence, including staff records, surveillance footage, and medical documentation, can still support your claim.