Slip and fall accidents are very common, and they fall under the category of premises liability cases. These kinds of accidents can occur anywhere, but they more commonly occur in public places like shopping malls, grocery marts, and offices. They can also occur on sidewalks and public parks. Unsafe and poorly managed floors/premises can cause major slip and fall cases.
Poor carpeting, wet or dirty floors, and walkways covered with snow are usually the culprits behind the slip and fall cases. A personal injury attorney in Plano can guide you through the whole legal process if you are facing a slip and fall accident in Plano. If you know someone who is going through a post-slip and fall situation, then you might need to help them get a legal professional to process the claim. Let us look into that.
Why Do We Actually Need A Slip & Fall Accident Attorney?
Slip and fall accidents can cause serious injuries for life, and they occur mostly because of the other party’s ignorance and mismanagement. After experiencing a slip and fall accident, it is normal to think about hiring an attorney. There are several aspects to that.
You need to ensure the lawyer you are hiring is experienced in slip and fall claims and has a good number of won cases in the category. He should be well versed in the laws related to slip and fall accidents to make sure you receive the deserved compensation.
Understanding A Slip and Fall Accident
Slip and fall accidents fall under the category of law known as “premises liability.” Premises liability is applicable when there is a slip and fall accident, and someone gets injured on someone’s property due to the negligence of the landowner. This depicts the duty of a landowner to make sure that his land and property are safe for visitors.
There are several factors that can lead to serious slip and fall injuries. For instance, dark stairways with no proper lighting and damaged floors or sidewalks can cause people to slip and fall. A victim of a slip and fall accident is entitled to receive a deserved compensation for his loss, like his financial and physical sufferings. If you are someone facing the same scenario, then you might want to see a personal injury attorney to get legal advice.
All About Premises Liability
As we know, slip and fall accidents fall under the category of premises liability, and these kinds of accidents are more likely to occur in crowded public places. Mostly, they occur in restaurants, shopping malls, or offices. The owner is only at fault if he was aware of the unsafe condition of his property but was unable to resolve the issue or caution the visitors or guests. In this situation, the property owner will be responsible for paying the liability.
Imagine that there is a puddle of water, and the owner is fully aware of the danger. He didn’t fix the issue or inform the visitors. Now if someone slips and falls there because of that puddle of water, the property owner will be held responsible for his negligence. He will have to pay the liability or compensation to the victims who got injured on his premises.
Property owners are required to take proper care of their premises for their visitors. According to Texas law, there are three categories of visitors, invitee, licensee, and Trespassers. The property owner is responsible for the maintenance of his property according to the status of his visitors.
- Invitees
An invitee falls under the category of visitors in liability premises. This category of visitor carries express or implied permission to visit or enter the property. Under Texas law, a property owner is responsible to maintain proper care of his property for his invitees.
Suppose there is some issue with his property that can be harmful to his invitee. In that case, it is the owner’s responsibility to fix it or caution the invitee about the potential danger. The owner will be responsible for any mishaps on his property, and he will have to pay the liability to the victims.
- Licensees
Licensees are the visitors who own the implicit or express authorization from the property owner to visit or enter the property for their personal reasons. There is a lesser responsibility of property owners for licensees. For instance, if there is a potential danger but there are zero chances for the licensee to get hurt. In that case, the property owner is not responsible for informing the licensee about the potential danger.
- Trespassers
Trespassers are uninvited visitors who visit someone’s property without any permission. Landowners have no responsibility towards these kinds of visitors. Landowners owe them nothing in case they get injured on their property. But there should not be any case of getting hurt on purpose.
Slip and fall accidents are very common, and oftentimes, injuries can go unnoticed. That is why it is crucial to seek medical help right after a slip and fall accident and involve a personal injury lawyer. A legal team can support you through the legal proceedings and help you understand your rights.
