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Premises Liability Lawyers in Houston, TX

(281) 283-8500

If you were hurt at a location or business that is not your home or place of employment, and you sustained serious personal injuries due to unsafe conditions, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses.

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Texas law holds landowners liable for accidents, injuries, and deaths that occur on their properties. This liability is based on the owner’s responsibility for the property’s condition and the duty of care they owe toward people who lawfully come onto that property for personal and professional reasons. If a person is injured or killed because of a hidden condition or defect on the land, then the injured individual or their surviving family members may be entitled to bring a claim for compensation.

Premises liability law depends on the landowner being negligent in regard to allowing the hidden dangerous condition or defect. Claims can require significant investigation and expert opinions. If you are unsure of your rights or legal options after getting hurt in an accident, contact our Houston premises liability lawyers at The Krist Law Firm, P.C. at 281-283-8500 as soon as possible. We will carefully review your circumstances and help you move forward with a claim for compensation.

Who May be Responsible for a Premises Liability Claim

A number of parties could potentially be responsible for your injuries through a premises liability claim. The most likely liable parties include:

  • The property owner – The actual property owner is often responsible for the property’s condition and for compensating you, if you are injured by a hidden dangerous condition or defect on their land.
  • The tenant – Both residential and commercial property are often leased to other individuals or businesses. When you are injured on leased property, the tenant may be responsible instead of or in connection with the property owner.
  • The maintenance provider – Property owners and tenants often contract their maintenance duties out to a third party. If you were injured because of a dangerous condition or defect that was the result of improper or lacking maintenance, this third-party vendor may be liable.

If you were injured in a person’s private home, the issue of premises liability may be straightforward – though there could be complications if renovations or construction are underway. In those cases and others, determining who is responsible for the condition that led to your injuries may be difficult. When it comes to commercial property, there may be multiple parties responsible for the land and buildings. You may need an experienced premises liability attorney to help you find the responsible party and ensure you file a claim correctly.

Damages in Premises Liability Claims

If you were injured on a person or business’s property due to a hidden dangerous condition or defect, you can pursue compensation for your past and future:

  • Medical costs
  • Loss of earning capacity
  • Physical pain
  • Physical limitations
  • Disfigurement
  • Mental anguish

While your economic damages, including your medical expenses and lost income, are quantifiable and typically easy to calculate, your non-economic damages will require a different approach. Before coming to a decision on the value of your pain, suffering, or other injuries, or accepting a settlement offer, speak with an experienced premises liability attorney.

Types of Premises Liability Claims

Premises liability claims arise in a myriad of situations. However, certain circumstances are more common than others, including:

Inadequate maintenance

If there is evidence a property owner was not inspecting, repairing, and otherwise maintaining the property and this created preventable dangerous conditions or defects that could foreseeably injure visitors, then an injured visitor may be able to file a claim for compensation.

Negligent security

Property owners or tenants may be liable for injuries that occur to guests based on failing to provide adequate security, such as security cameras, gates, and locks.

Malfunctioning equipment

Property owners are responsible for the condition of equipment that can be accessed by lawful visitors, including escalators, elevators, and vehicles. If someone is injured due to malfunctioning equipment, they may be able to file a claim for compensation.

Faulty railings

Handrails are often essential to preventing falls and may be required by a health or safety code. If someone is injured because of a lack of an appropriate rail or a faulty railing, then they may be able to sue for compensation.

Uncovered drain holes

Construction workers or landowners may need to remove drain holes for repairs or other work. If a visitor is injured because of an open drain hole, they may be able to seek compensation.

Falling objects

Anyone with an interest in the property or working on the property has a responsibility to prevent falling objects that could injure people below. If a lawful visitor on the property is injured by a falling object, they may be able to pursue compensation.

Premises Liability Insurance Issues

Common Insurance Issues in Premises Liability Claims

Despite insurance being a common way to obtain premises liability compensation, there are many issues you may run into. The responsible party may not have an appropriate insurance policy. For instance, despite being injured at in individual’s house, there may not be a homeowner’s insurance policy. If insurance is not available in your situation, contact a lawyer immediately. Your next option is to file a legal claim.

Another common insurance issue is when the property owner or other party disputes liability. In order to avoid paying you compensation out of pocket or facing higher insurance premiums in the future, the property owner, tenant, or third-party may argue that another individual or business is at fault or that you were responsible for your injuries. In this situation, you need an attorney to do two things: ensure you are fighting for compensation from the right parties and to fight against accusations that you are at fault. The other party may claim the condition was open and obvious or that you were negligent. Our experienced premises liability lawyers at The Krist Law Firm, P.C. can help you fight back and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Premises Liability Claim

Options for Recovering Premises Liability Claim Compensation

There may be two avenues you can use to pursue compensation: an insurance claim or a premises liability lawsuit. In many situations, you will first seek damages through an insurance claim. If you are injured at someone’s home or apartment, you may file a third-party insurance claim against their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. If you were injured in a business, it will likely have a business insurance policy that covers bodily injuries.

The second avenue to premises liability compensation is through filing a lawsuit. During a suit, you and your legal team will have to prove the named defendant(s) were negligent, which means they failed to uphold the duty of care they owed you as a lawful visitor.

Exceptions to Premises Liability

There are a few significant exceptions to a property owner’s responsibility for injuries sustained on their land. One is when a condition or defect is considered “open and obvious.” If there is evidence that a condition that was clearly apparent to visitors led to your injuries, then a land owner or other party may escape liability. A condition or defect may be considered open and obvious if it is easily visible or if you already knew of it prior to the incident in which you were hurt.

A second exception is if you were considered a trespasser under the law. The duty landowners owe to lawful visitors on their property is higher than to individuals who come or stay on the land without permission. If you were a trespasser, you would need to show you were injured by the property owner or another party’s intentional conduct or gross negligence. The simple existence of a dangerous defect or condition may not be enough to obtain compensation.

Premises Liability and Wrongful Death

If a hidden dangerous condition or defect led to the death of your parent, spouse, or child, contact us today. When another individual or business is responsible for your loved one’s death based on their carelessness, recklessness, or intentional misconduct, then you and the other surviving family members may have the right to pursue compensation for your economic and non-economic injuries. However, a Texas wrongful death claim can be complicated and needs to be brought within two years of the date of the cause of action accruing, which is usually the date of your loved one’s death. Your best course of action is to work with an experienced Houston wrongful death lawyer.

Through a wrongful death premises liability claim, you may be able to recover for the following losses:

  • Burial expenses
  • Loss of financial contributions from the deceased
  • Loss of care, support, maintenance, advice, and counsel
  • Loss of love, companionship, comfort, and society
  • Loss of inheritance you may have received if your family member had lived a normal expected lifespan

Scott C. Krist
Owner & Lead Trial Lawyer

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Frequently Asked Questions About Premises Liability

What Is Premises Liability?

Premises liability is a legal term that describes the liability that property owners or tenants have for people who are injured on their property. In order to be held liable, the property owner or occupier must have either created an unreasonably dangerous condition, failed to warn of a dangerous condition they knew about, or knew there was a danger and did not take reasonable steps to protect people from it.

What Types of Accidents Are Covered by Premises Liability?

If an individual visits a property and gets hurt, the property owner may be legally responsible for that person’s injuries. Many different types of accidents can occur on someone else’s property, but some of the most common are slip and fall accidents. Other premises liability accidents include dog bites, fire hazards, inadequate security, and swimming pool accidents.

Who Is Responsible for My Injuries if I am Injured on Someone Else’s Property?

The property owner (whether an individual or a business) is typically liable for injuries that occur on their land. This is known as premises liability. The owner of the premises has an obligation to make sure that the premises are reasonably safe for people to be on them. If it can be proven that there was a danger that the owner should have known about and did not fix, they may be liable for your injuries.

What are Common Premises Liability Injuries?

Common injuries caused by premises liability incidents may include broken or fractured bones, back or neck injuries, head injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and more. Injuries from these types of incidents usually occur because the landowner failed to maintain the property in a safe condition or provide adequate warnings about hazardous conditions on their property.

How Much Time Do I Have to File a Premises Liability Claim?

The time limit for filing a civil lawsuit is usually set by state law. In Texas, the statute of limitations for a premises liability lawsuit is two years from the date of the incident. The statute of limitations may be different if the incident occurred in a different state.

How Can a Premises Liability Lawyer Help Me?

If you or a loved one has been injured on someone else’s property, a premises liability lawyer can help. Our experienced Houston premises liability lawyers know the legal standards regarding what constitutes premises liability and how to use those standards to best put forth the facts of your case. Our legal team will also be able to provide you with legal advice about your rights and help you pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more. To set up a free consultation with a knowledgeable Texas premises liability lawyer, contact The Krist Law Firm, P.C. today.


Let Our Houston Premises Liability Lawyers Help You

If you were injured in an accident caused by a dangerous defect or condition on another person or business’s property, contact our experienced and trusted premises liability attorneys at The Krist Law Firm, P.C. as soon as you can. We will carefully review your situation to determine your best course of action. Our top priorities will always be to protect your rights and fight for the maximum compensation possible for your injuries.

To schedule your free consultation, contact us online or call 281-283-8500 .