Dallas Slip and Fall Lawyer

Helping Accident Victims Get Back on their Feet after a Dallas Slip and Fall

At The Pennington Law Firm, we help slip and fall accident victims request compensation when they slip on a hazard and injure themselves. This is a fairly common accident, but some people suffer devastating injuries as a result and are laid up at home or in the hospital. Texas law requires that property owners fix unreasonably dangerous hazards or at least warn visitors of them. If they fail to, then anyone hurt by the defect might sue for compensation. Contact us today to discuss your case. We can review whether you have a legal right to bring a slip and fall claim.

Common Hazards

Many people slip on some hazard which a property owner created or should have fixed:

• Spilled water
• Ice
• Loose tiles
• Worn carpets
• Defective stairs
• Trash
• Debris

These accidents can happen anywhere, but they are most common in grocery stores, retail stores, and fast-food chains.

After slipping, please immediately take a photograph of the hazard using your phone. This helps establish its existence. After you fall, the property owner might quickly fix or remove the hazard and then claim you tripped over your own feet. Getting a photograph helps prove that a hazard is really to blame.

Do You Have a Claim for Compensation?

Not everyone who falls can bring a claim against a property owner. You will have a case if you can prove the owner did not fix an unreasonably dangerous hazard or properly warn you of it. That is the duty an owner owes to someone they invite into a store or home. For example, a store might mop its floors while open, so it should put up a “Wet Floor” sign.

Property owners only need to fix hazards they know about. But if you were invited to enter, then the owner is also responsible for hazards they could have discovered with a reasonable inspection. As an example: a store should have staff regularly inspect aisles for hazards, like a smashed jar of pickles or spilled liquid.

If you were trespassing, then the owner owes lesser duties. They are only liable for gross negligence or for willfully and wantonly injuring you. For example, they can’t set a trap and injure you, but very few trespassers will have a claim for a slip and fall.

Slip and Fall Damages

The Pennington Law Firm brings personal injury claims on behalf of injured victims. If you fell, you could suffer a fracture, concussion, or back injury. Other victims endure whiplash and back injuries. Victims often need to miss work, so they suffer a drop in income at a time when their medical expenses explode.

We can request damages for your injuries, including:

• Cost of medical treatment
• Future medical expenses
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Lost wages or income
• Loss of earning capacity

Multiple factors go into determining the size of any settlement. Probably the most important factor is the severity of your injuries. Someone who suffers a temporary sprain will likely receive much less than someone who’s back injury requires surgery and rehabilitation.

Proportionate Responsibility & Your Settlement

Another factor affecting your settlement is whether you are partially responsible for the accident. In Texas, you can’t obtain compensation if you were more than 50% responsible for your slip and fall. For example, you might have had your nose glued to your phone and not watched where you were going. That would make you partially to blame if you slip on a puddle of water.

Someone who is less than 50% to blame can still seek compensation, but their damages are reduced proportionally to their share of fault. If you were 10% to blame, then you’ll receive 10% less.

Deadlines for a Dallas Slip and Fall Claim

Texas gives you only two years to file a lawsuit based on a slip and fall. You should quickly contact our law firm. If you go over the deadline, the defendant can ask a judge to dismiss your case—and you will lose the ability to receive any compensation.

A shorter deadline might apply if you fell inside a government building. You must file a Notice of Claim within 6 months of the accident. The notice explains the details of the accident and gives the government a chance to investigate and possibly propose a settlement.

Speak with a Dallas Slip and Fall Attorney Today

Obtaining a fair settlement is very complex, and any accident victim should reach out to The Pennington Firm as soon as possible to discuss what steps to take next. Our consultations are free, so there is no risk to calling.