Houston Slip & Fall Accident Attorneys
Helping Those Catastrophically Injured in Texas Slip & Fall Accidents
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that close to 50% of workplace fatalities are the result of a slip and fall. Slip and fall cases are claims that a property owner's negligence led to an unnecessary accident. In these types of cases, "property owner negligence" is a term used to describe an owner's decision to allow dangerous conditions to exist on their premises that they should have resolved or been aware of.
Proving their negligence led to your harm can win you compensation for your medical costs, lost wages, and more.
At Arnold & Itkin, our Houston slip and fall attorneys passionately pursue justice on behalf of the injured. We truly care about our clients' well-being, and it shows in our results. We have recovered billions of dollars in settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients because we believe in fighting for our clients—no matter how long it takes or what it costs. If you've been hurt in a slip and fall accident, we can help.
To learn more about your case, participate in a free case evaluation with our firm!
Proving Liability in a Slip & Fall Case
A slip and fall case will take shape in similar ways to that of a premises liability case. In both, it is generally assumed that the property owner or premises manager should be held responsible for ensuring that their premises are safely maintained and free of any hazards.
In proving liability, the following elements need to be proven:
- The unsafe area must have been caused by the owner of the premises (or an employee).
- The responsible party who knew about the dangerous area did nothing to make it safer or to warn others.
- The owner failed to follow the actions of what a "reasonable person" would have done in the same situation.
When business owners, managers, or store personnel fail to maintain safety regulations (i.e. well-lit hallways, dry walkways, unobstructed paths, etc.) the potential for slipping and falling is tremendous.
Unfortunately, these are accidents that can result in catastrophic injuries.
Slip & Fall Accident FAQ
I was injured in a slip and fall accident, but the property owner said I should have been looking where I was going. What should I do?
People are responsible for their own safety—to a degree. This includes taking reasonable precautions to watch where you are walking. This does not, however, exclude property owners from being responsible for allowing hazardous conditions to exist on their properties. Poor lighting, uneven flooring, defective ladders or scaffolding—situations like this can cause even a careful person to slip and fall. By investigating what caused your accident, our team can determine fault. Even if the property owner or their insurance company has said that you weren’t looking where you were going, you may still have a case. Talk to an attorney and find out what to do to see justice served.
What responsibilities do I have if I was injured in a slip and fall accident at work?
If you were injured at work, you have a responsibility to inform your employer. Each state has different rules that dictate how quickly you must inform your supervisor or manager of a slip and fall incident, but it is usually around 30 days. Failing to report your injuries may limit your ability to recover workers’ compensation benefits. Statutes of limitations also apply to premises liability lawsuits stemming from slip and fall accidents, if a third party (someone other than your employer or a co-worker) was to blame. Be sure to ask your attorney about all of your rights and responsibilities regarding a work-related fall.
What is my slip and fall claim worth?
Every slip and fall accident is different. Each case has its own value based on the extent of the victim’s injuries and the impact these injuries have had and will have on the victim’s life. The value of your claim will depend on medical bills, the cost of ongoing treatment or care, how much work you’ve missed, and whether you will lose more income in the future. You may also recover financial compensation for non-economic damages, like pain and suffering or loss of enjoyment of life. Maximizing your recovery will help you rebuild and move on after a serious slip and fall.
What Causes Slip & Falls? How Can You Prevent It?
Slip and fall injuries can occur because of defective floors or slippery work conditions. There may be a lack of adequate signage that bars workers from entering work areas where floors are prone to slipping. When safety guardrails and personnel restraints are not available or properly employed, falls can occur from elevated positions. Falls are a major cause of injuries on a construction site, with falls from scaffolding, cranes, forklifts, and trucks accounting for a majority of the accidents. The frequency of slip and fall accidents can be greatly reduced if proper fall protection systems are in place. Employers must recognize fall hazards in the form of holes on the working surface, or unsafe conditions that may result in a fall like windy weather, and provide for adequate safety systems, body belts, harnesses, and guardrails for worker protection.
Other ways to prevent these types of accidents include:
- Inspecting fall protection systems frequently
- Clear warnings to keep workers away from known hazards
- Guarding any holes on a site larger than 12 in x 12 in
- Compelling employers to make concrete commitments to fall prevention
- Regularly inspecting known slip-and-fall hazards
- Sufficient lighting that illuminates all areas of the workplace
- Providing high-traction footwear to all workers working on slippery surfaces
- Providing high-traction footwear when the weather creates a more slippery workplace
- Prohibiting forklift and tractor operators from carrying personnel
- Thoroughly recording and investigating any slip-and-fall accident in the workplace
Our Houston Slip & Fall Lawyers Can Fight for You: Call (888) 493-1629
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, then you should not wait to speak with a top-rated Houston premises liability attorney from Arnold & Itkin LLP. In most cases, we will need to launch an investigation to determine the slip resistance of the walking surface upon which you fell. Special devices such as the pendulum tester and the BOT-3000 can be used to identify whether the walking surface was at the proper level of resistance. If it was above or below the threshold, then you could have a case on your hands.
At Arnold & Itkin, we're committed to pursuing just compensation for our clients. To find out how we can help you, contact us for a free case evaluation.