Representing Victims Of Serious Slips, Trips, And Falls
Although some slip and fall accidents may only result in a few bumps and scratches, these accidents also have the potential to cause serious or life-altering injuries. Victims may suffer from broken bones, neck and back injuries, and traumatic brain injuries, which can leave them with pain and disabilities for the rest of their lives.
When a slip and fall accident is caused by dangerous or hazardous conditions on someone else’s property, victims can demand compensation for medical bills, missed time from work, and other losses suffered.
The Houston slip and fall accident lawyers at Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC have extensive experience helping victims in these complex cases. We have the skills and the resources to take on large companies and their deep-pocketed insurers to demand the fair compensation you deserve. Throughout your case, we will work to ensure you have access to the medical specialists and other support you need to stay on the road to recovery.
Contact our firm today for a free case evaluation. We can get to work immediately on your claim, with no upfront costs to you. In fact, we only get paid if we secure money for you.
What Do You Have to Prove in a Houston Slip and Fall Claim?
Texas law obligates property and business owners to take reasonable steps to keep their premises free of dangerous hazards that can injure lawful visitors. This duty requires owners to either make dangerous conditions reasonably safe or to warn visitors of the presence of such conditions.
In most slip and fall claims, you must prove that you suffered an injury due to a hazardous or dangerous condition that the property or business owner knew of or reasonably should have known about. This can be proven by showing that the condition was created by the property or business owner, that the owner had discovered or been advised of the condition, or that the condition existed for long enough that the owner should have reasonably discovered it.
For example, if you were injured in a slip and fall accident due to a puddle of liquid in a supermarket, you must prove:
- That the puddle was either created by the supermarket (such as liquid on the floor due to a leaky frozen display), or
- That the store had either already discovered the liquid or been advised of the spill if the puddle was created by a customer’s spill rather than by the store, or
- That the spill existed long enough that the store, if it were conducting reasonable checks of the premises, should have discovered the danger
If a customer spills liquid and you slip and fall on it only a minute later, the store will likely argue that it could not have reasonably discovered or remedied the condition that caused you to fall.
For certain types of visitors, such as social guests, delivery people, or door-to-door salespeople, a property or business owner only has a duty to protect them from dangerous conditions the owner actually knows about.
Evidence We May Use in a Slip and Fall Case
At Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC, we rely on many different pieces of evidence to prove what caused your fall and establish why the property or business owner is legally responsible.
Such evidence may include:
- Accident or incident reports drafted by the property or business owner
- Surveillance camera footage capturing the accident or the conditions that led to the fall
- Accident scene photos
- Eyewitness statements
- The residue of slippery substances from the shoes or clothing you were wearing at the time of the fall
- Medical records from your treatment
We evaluate all available evidence to build powerful, personalized cases for our clients. Our team is ready to get to work investigating your claim and developing an innovative legal strategy on your behalf.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents include:
- Spilled foods and liquids
- Recently mopped or waxed floors
- Mud and plant debris
- Broken hardwood or tile flooring
- Torn or loose rugs or carpeting
- Abrupt transitions between flooring surfaces, such as walking from carpet to hardwood
- Uneven floors and half-steps
- Broken or missing stairs and railings
- Lack of anti-slip/skid mats
- Broken and uneven pavement or sidewalks
- Potholes
- Obscured divots or holes in the ground
- Loose wires or cords on the ground
In nearly all instances, there is no excuse for property owners to not adequately address these and other hazardous conditions. If the property owner’s negligence contributed to or caused your accident, our attorneys can help you seek fair compensation.
Common Places Where Slip and Fall Accidents Occur
Although a slip and fall accident can happen virtually anywhere, these accidents tend to occur more frequently on properties such as:
- Grocery stores and supermarkets
- Department stores
- Hardware stores
- Malls and shopping centers
- Parking lots and garages
- Bars and restaurants
- Hotels
- Theaters
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Apartment and townhouse complexes or buildings
- Public sidewalks
- Recreational parks
- Amusement parks
- Swimming pools
Whether you were injured on public or private property, you may have a case. Call the attorneys at Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC to learn more during a free initial consultation.
What to Do If You’ve Been Hurt in a Fall
There are certain things you can and should do after a slip, trip, and fall accident. Knowing what steps to take can not only protect your continued wellbeing but can also greatly impact your ability to file a personal injury claim and recover compensation for your damages.
The following steps can help protect your legal rights after a serious slip and fall accident:
- Notify the property or business owner of the accident. You don’t have to accuse anyone of any legal fault. Just calmly let the property owner or business know what happened. If you fall in a commercial establishment, a manager or employee may fill out an accident report for the records of the business or their insurance company. Make sure to obtain a copy of this report for your own records.
- Try to take photos of the accident scene, including details such as whatever you believe caused the accident (such as a puddle or a loose rug), any safety or warning signs, the weather conditions outside (if relevant), the lighting conditions, and anything that may have obstructed your view of the ground. If surveillance cameras may have caught footage of your fall or other relevant details, ask the property owner or business to preserve the footage.
- Photograph or preserve the clothing and footwear you were wearing at the time of the accident. If you fell due to a slippery substance, for example, your shoes and clothing may have residue on them that could be helpful to your case.
- Get examined by a doctor as soon as possible to diagnose all the injuries you sustained in the accident. Follow your treatment plan, including getting the recommended rest or time off work, if required.
- As soon as possible, contact Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC, for a free case evaluation with a knowledgeable Houston slip and fall lawyer. We can launch an immediate investigation into your accident to begin preserving evidence and building a strong claim.
How Can a Houston Slip and Fall Attorney Help?
A Houston slip and fall accident attorney from Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC can help take the pressure off you by handling every aspect of your legal claim.
As your legal team, we will:
- Meet with you in a free case review to go over your rights, answer your questions, and explain what to expect
- Connect you with medical providers to get treatment for your injuries
- Perform our own investigation into the accident to secure all relevant evidence, including accident reports, surveillance footage, accident scene photos, and witness statements
- Collaborate with accident reconstruction experts to help us persuasively explain what caused your fall and how the property or business owner is legally responsible
- Work with you to collect all documentation of your losses to ensure we are pursuing a full financial recovery on your behalf
- Handle all aspects of your insurance claim, including filing the necessary paperwork and communicating with insurance representatives on your behalf
- Vigorously pursuing a negotiated settlement that provides you with fair and full compensation for your losses
- Preparing your case to go to trial if that’s what is necessary to secure justice for you
With our firm, you can trust that your attorney will take the time to understand your concerns, needs, and goals. Using this information, we can craft a strategy to pursue the best possible outcome for you after a slip and fall injury.
Compensation Available After a Slip and Fall Accident
If you’ve suffered serious injuries in a slip and fall accident, you may be entitled to pursue compensation from the property or business owner where your fall occurred.
Damages you may be entitled to include:
- Costs of medical recovery, including ER and hospital bills, surgeries and other medical procedures, pain medication, physical therapy, and out-of-pocket expenses for mobility or medical equipment like braces or crutches
- Long-term care costs, like home health care services or home maintenance services, if you suffer disabilities that impact your ability to care for yourself
- Lost wages and income from the time you miss from work while recovering from injuries
- Lost earning capacity, if you suffer disabilities that prevent you from returning to full-time work and you experience a reduction in your normal income as a result
- Physical and mental pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment or quality of life due to physical scars and disfigurement or disabilities that impact your daily living
At Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC, we fight for the full, fair compensation our clients deserve. We are prepared to do everything in our power to maximize your recovery after a serious slip and fall accident.
Talk to a Houston Slip and Fall Attorney Now
If you’ve suffered serious injuries in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your losses. Contact Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC today for a free consultation. There are no upfront fees to talk to us or to retain us for your case. You only pay if and when we win compensation for you.
Call us at (713) 609-1930 or reach us online using our secure contact form. Hablamos español.