A slip and fall accident can happen when you least expect it. You might be grocery shopping, walking to your car in a parking garage, or visiting a restaurant in Houston when suddenly, the ground goes out from underneath you. In an instant, your life can change due to a serious injury.

If you were hurt because a property owner was careless, you should not have to pay for your medical bills and lost wages on your own. At The Super Lawyer, our Houston slip and fall lawyers help injured victims fight for the compensation they deserve. We understand Texas premises liability law, and we know how to stand up to insurance companies that try to deny your claim.

Understanding Slip and Fall Accidents in Houston

In legal terms, a slip and fall case falls under an area of law called premises liability. This means that property owners and managers have a legal “duty of care” to keep their property reasonably safe for visitors. They must fix dangerous conditions or warn you about them.

However, simply falling on someone else’s property does not automatically mean they are responsible. To win a case, we must prove negligence. This means showing that the owner knew—or should have known—about the hazard and failed to do anything about it. This concept is often called “constructive notice.”

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Injuries

Houston is a busy city, and hazards can appear anywhere from shopping malls to apartment complexes. Some of the most common dangerous property conditions that lead to lawsuits include:

• Wet floors: Spills in grocery stores or tracked-in rain at entryways without “Wet Floor” signs.
• Uneven surfaces: Cracked sidewalks, potholes in parking lots, or torn carpeting.
• Poor lighting: Dark stairwells or parking garages where you cannot see where you are stepping.
• Cluttered walkways: Boxes, cords, or debris left in aisles or hallways.
• Defective stairs: Loose handrails or broken steps.

Types of Injuries in Slip and Fall Cases

Many people think a fall is just a minor embarrassment, but the physical damage can be severe. As experienced injury attorneys, we see clients suffering from life-altering conditions, including:

• Broken bones and fractures: Hip fractures are especially common in older adults, while wrist and arm breaks often happen when trying to break a fall.
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Hitting your head on the floor or an object can cause concussions or severe brain damage.
• Back and spinal injuries: Herniated discs or spinal cord damage can lead to chronic pain or paralysis.
• Soft-tissue injuries: Sprains, strains, and tears to ligaments and tendons.

What to Do After a Slip and Fall in Houston

The steps you take immediately after your accident can make a big difference in your ability to recover compensation. If you are able to, try to do the following:

1. Seek medical care: Your health is the priority. Go to a doctor or emergency room immediately, even if you feel okay. Some injuries, like internal bleeding or concussions, may not show symptoms right away.
2. Report the incident: Tell the manager, landlord, or property owner about the fall. Ask them to create a written incident report and request a copy.
3. Document the scene: Take photos or videos of the hazard (like the spill or broken step) before it is cleaned up or fixed. This is crucial evidence.
4. Get witness info: If anyone saw you fall, get their names and phone numbers.
5. Preserve evidence: Keep the shoes and clothes you were wearing, and save all medical records and receipts.

Who Is Liable for Your Injury?

Determining who is at fault can be complicated. In Houston, potential liable parties might include:

• Property owners: The individual or company that owns the land or building.
• Business operators: Store managers or restaurant owners who lease the space.
• Management companies: Firms hired to maintain apartment complexes or office buildings.
• Government entities: If you fall on public property, like a city sidewalk or in a government building, special rules apply under the Texas Tort Claims Act.

Texas Laws That Affect Your Claim

There are specific rules in Texas that will impact your case. Understanding these is vital to protecting your rights.

Statute of Limitations

In Texas, you generally have a two-year statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit. This clock usually starts ticking on the day of the accident. If you miss this deadline, you will likely lose your right to sue. Claims against government entities often have much shorter deadlines (sometimes as short as 90 days or 6 months) to file a notice of claim.

Comparative Negligence

Texas follows a “proportionate responsibility” rule. This means you can still get compensation even if you were partly at fault, as long as you were not more than 50% responsible. However, your payout will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20% at fault for looking at your phone, your final settlement will be reduced by 20%.

Compensation Available in Slip and Fall Cases

When our Houston slip and fall lawyers build your case, we look at how the injury has affected your entire life. We fight to recover damages for:

• Medical expenses: Emergency room visits, surgeries, physical therapy, and medication.
• Lost wages: Income you lost while recovering and unable to work.
• Loss of earning capacity: If your injury prevents you from doing your job in the future.
• Pain and suffering: Compensation for physical pain and emotional distress.
• Disability: Damages for long-term impairment or disfigurement.

Why Hiring a Local Houston Lawyer Matters

Insurance companies often try to blame the victim. They might argue that the hazard was “open and obvious” or that you were just clumsy. You need a legal team that knows how to counter these defenses.

We handle the entire legal process for you. This includes investigating the accident scene, gathering surveillance video, consulting with medical experts, and negotiating directly with the insurance adjusters. Most importantly, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no upfront fees. We only get paid a percentage of the settlement or verdict if we successfully recover money for you.