Representing Victims of Negligent Property Owners
If you slipped and fell on a wet or otherwise improperly maintained floor, sidewalk, or stairway, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries. At Gonzalez Druker Law Firm, PLLC, our Laredo slip and fall injury lawyers are committed to helping victims of slip & falls seek just compensation for their injuries and associated losses. We understand how difficult it can be to recover from a slip & fall injury, especially if you were not at fault for the accident.
At Gonzalez Druker Law Firm, PLLC, we understand how difficult it can be to recover from a slip & fall injury. Our Laredo personal injury lawyers are committed to helping victims of slip & falls seek just compensation for their injuries and associated losses.
If you slipped and fell on someone else’s property, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries. We can help you understand your legal options. Call us at (956) 728-9191 or contact us online today.
What Causes Slip & Falls?
Slip & falls can occur for a variety of reasons. Common causes of slip & falls include:
- Wet or icy floors
- Poorly lit or dimly lit areas
- Uneven or cracked floors and sidewalks
- Defective or damaged walkways and stairs
- Unexpected drops or holes
- Loose or missing floor mats
- Defective or dangerous signage
- Improper maintenance
Recovering Compensation for Your Injuries
If you slipped and fell on someone else’s property, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries. Property owners are legally responsible for maintaining their premises in a reasonably safe condition. If they fail to do so, they may be liable for any resulting injuries.
To recover compensation for your injuries, you will need to prove the following:
- You slipped and fell on the property owner’s premises
- The property owner owed you a duty of care
- The property owner breached their duty of care
- The breach of duty caused your injuries
- You sustained physical injuries
In most cases, you will need to prove that you sustained physical injuries in order to recover compensation for your slip & fall injury. If you were not injured, you may be able to recover compensation for emotional distress and/or property damage.
How to Prove Fault After a Slip and Fall Incident
Most slip and fall accident claims in Laredo are based on the legal doctrine of negligence. Negligence means that a property owner or party did not meet the required standards of care when it comes to ensuring the reasonable safety of guests. Proving fault for your slip and fall accident requires demonstrating that the defendant was negligent.
Establishing negligence involves four elements of proof:
- Duty of care: the defendant had a legal obligation or responsibility to keep the premises safe.
- Breach of duty: the defendant failed to remedy or warn others about the slip and fall hazard.
- Causation: the defendant’s negligence directly caused or contributed to the fall accident.
- Damages: the victim suffered compensable losses because of the slip and fall.
The specific duties of care owed by a property owner in Laredo depend on the type of visitor. Invitees, for example, are owed a duty to inspect the premises for hazards, repair discovered defects and warn of potential injury risks. Trespassers, on the other hand, are not owed any duties of care.
Evidence in a Slip and Fall Claim
Proving a property owner’s negligence takes enough evidence to meet the burden of proof, which is “based on a preponderance of the evidence,” or enough to show that the defendant more likely than not is responsible for the slip and fall accident.
Common forms of evidence include pictures or videos of the slip and fall hazard, surveillance footage, eyewitness statements, an incident report, property maintenance records, medical records, and expert testimony.
What Damages Can I Recover If I Sustained Physical Injuries?
If you were physically injured in a slip and fall accident, you may be able to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, future lost earnings, pain and suffering, and more.
Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may be able to recover damages for:
- Emergency room visits
- Hospitalization
- Surgeries
- Nerve damage
- Physical therapy
- Chronic pain
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Reduced quality of life
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
At Gonzalez Druker Law Firm, PLLC, we understand how difficult it can be to recover from a slip & fall injury. We are committed to helping victims of slip & falls seek just compensation for their injuries and associated losses.
How Long Do I Have to File a Laredo Slip and Fall Claim?
If you wish to file a slip and fall claim in Laredo, Texas, your time limit to do so is most likely two years from the date of the incident or the date that you discovered (or reasonably should have discovered) your injuries. This is the statute of limitations on all personal injury claims in Texas under Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003.
This law states:
Sec. 16.003. TWO-YEAR LIMITATIONS PERIOD. (a) Except as provided by Sections 16.010, 16.0031, and 16.0045, a person must bring suit for trespass for injury to the estate or to the property of another, conversion of personal property, taking or detaining the personal property of another, personal injury, forcible entry and detainer, and forcible detainer not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues.
If you were injured in a slip and fall on public property, however, you may have less time to bring a claim. Claims against government entities in Texas have unique deadlines according to municipal law. Claims in Laredo must be filed within just 60 days from the date of the injury. Act quickly to avoid missing your deadline.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident
If you get involved in a slip and fall incident in Laredo, put your safety first. Seek medical attention and get checked for injuries immediately. Report the fall to a property owner or manager and request an incident report. Before you leave, take photos of the property hazard and write down eyewitness information. Preserve your shoes and clothing as evidence.
Avoid admitting any fault for the accident. Keep records of all medical care, lost wages from missed work, out-of-pocket expenses, and pain and suffering. When you’re ready to pursue financial compensation for your slip and fall injury, contact our personal injury lawyers to begin with a free legal consultation.
Why Choose Gonzalez Druker Law Firm, PLLC?
At Gonzalez Druker Law Firm, PLLC, we are committed to helping victims of slip and falls seek just compensation for their injuries and associated losses. Our Laredo slip and fall accident lawyers can help you understand your legal options. If you slipped and fell on someone else’s property, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries.
To learn more about your legal options if you slipped and fell on someone else’s property, contact our Laredo slip & fall injury lawyers at (956) 728-9191 today!