The Crash Team is proud to serve Texas with trusted legal representation for victims injured on unsafe or dangerous properties. Across Texas, people visit grocery stores, apartment complexes, restaurants, hotels, parking lots, office buildings, and entertainment venues every day expecting safe conditions. Unfortunately, negligent property owners and managers sometimes fail to maintain their premises, creating hazards that can lead to serious injuries. When those preventable accidents happen, our experienced Texas premises liability lawyers can help you pursue accountability and financial compensation.
As “Top Accident Attorneys with a Proven Track Record,” our firm is known for fast case launches, same-day callbacks, and relentless advocacy. Our lead attorneys, Aaron Galvan and Breanne Galvan, combine aggressive legal advocacy with personalized attention while helping clients navigate complicated premises liability claims throughout the state.
Have you been injured on someone else’s property in Texas? Contact a Texas premises liability lawyer at The Crash Team today. Call us at 713-300-0000 or contact us online for a free consultation.
What Is Premises Liability?
Premises liability refers to a property owner’s legal responsibility to maintain reasonably safe conditions for visitors and guests. When unsafe property conditions cause injuries, the injured person may have the right to pursue compensation through a premises liability claim.
Texas premises liability law generally requires injured victims to prove:
- The property owner controlled the premises
- A dangerous condition existed
- The owner knew or should have known about the hazard
- The owner failed to fix or warn about the danger
- The unsafe condition caused injuries
These cases commonly involve businesses, landlords, homeowners, apartment complexes, retail stores, and commercial property operators.
Texas courts analyze premises liability claims under negligence principles established through court decisions and Texas Civil Practice and Remedies laws. Depending on the circumstances, liability may involve negligent maintenance, inadequate security, dangerous stairways, poor lighting, wet floors, or unsafe property design.
Because evidence can disappear quickly after an accident, early investigation often becomes critical. Surveillance footage may be deleted, hazards may be repaired, and witness memories may fade within days.
Understanding a Property Owner’s Duties in Texas
Texas law classifies visitors differently depending on why they entered the property. The property owner’s legal duty often depends on this classification.
Invitee
An invitee enters the property for the benefit of the owner, such as customers in stores, restaurants, shopping centers, or hotels. Property owners owe invitees the highest duty of care and must inspect for hazards, repair dangerous conditions, or provide adequate warnings.
Licensee
A licensee enters the property with permission but primarily for personal reasons, such as social guests visiting a private residence. Property owners generally must warn licensees about known dangers that are not obvious.
Trespasser
Trespassers enter property without permission. In most cases, property owners owe limited duties to trespassers, although exceptions sometimes apply, particularly involving children under the attractive nuisance doctrine.
Disputes over visitor classification can significantly affect legal outcomes in Texas premises liability cases.
Common Types of Premises Liability Accidents
Premises liability accidents happen in many different environments throughout Texas, from crowded Houston retail stores to apartment complexes in Sugar Land and construction sites.
- Slip-and-fall accidents: Wet floors, loose flooring, uneven sidewalks, and poor maintenance frequently cause serious falls resulting in fractures, spinal injuries, or traumatic brain injuries.
- Dog bites and animal attacks: Dangerous or uncontrolled animals on private or commercial property can cause severe physical injuries and emotional trauma.
- Inadequate security incidents: Poor lighting, broken gates, or negligent security measures may contribute to assaults, robberies, or violent criminal acts on unsafe properties.
- Swimming pool accidents: Unsafe pool conditions, lack of barriers, defective drains, or inadequate supervision can lead to drowning and catastrophic injuries.
- Falling object accidents: Improperly secured merchandise, construction materials, or equipment may strike visitors and cause severe head or neck injuries.
- Stairway and escalator accidents: Broken handrails, uneven steps, defective escalators, or inadequate lighting may create dangerous conditions for visitors.
- Elevator accidents: Malfunctioning elevators can lead to crushing injuries, falls, or sudden mechanical failures, causing significant physical harm.
- Parking lot accidents: Poor lighting, potholes, debris, and unsafe traffic flow patterns frequently contribute to injuries in commercial parking areas.
Common Injuries Sustained by Victims in Premises Liability Cases
Premises liability accidents often cause severe injuries requiring extensive treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care. Some victims face permanent disabilities that affect nearly every aspect of daily life.
Common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Burn injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Lacerations and scarring
- Paralysis
- Wrongful death
Many of these injuries require treatment at major Texas medical facilities such as Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, or Texas Medical Center trauma units. Early medical documentation can play an important role in strengthening a legal claim.
Premises liability injuries often involve not only physical harm, but also emotional distress, financial hardship, and significant disruptions to work and family life.
Steps to Take If You Sustained an Injury on Someone Else’s Property
The actions you take after a premises liability accident can directly affect your health and your ability to recover compensation. Insurance companies often look for gaps in treatment or missing evidence when disputing claims.
If you were injured on someone else’s property, you should take the following steps as quickly as possible:
- Seek medical attention immediately: Prompt treatment protects your health and creates medical records connecting your injuries to the accident.
- Report the incident to management or ownership: Notify the property owner, manager, or supervisor and request a written incident report if possible.
- Photograph the dangerous condition: Capture pictures of hazards, injuries, lighting conditions, warning signs, or surrounding property conditions before changes occur.
- Collect witness information: Obtain names and contact information from anyone who saw the accident or unsafe conditions.
- Preserve clothing and physical evidence: Keep damaged clothing, shoes, or personal belongings connected to the incident.
- Contact a premises liability attorney quickly: Early legal representation can help preserve evidence and prevent insurance companies from taking advantage of you.
Taking immediate action after an accident can make a substantial difference in the outcome of your case and your ability to recover full compensation.
Compensation and Damages in Texas Premises Liability Cases
Victims injured on unsafe properties may be entitled to recover compensation for both financial losses and personal suffering. The value of a claim depends on injury severity, long-term complications, and the strength of the evidence.
Compensation may include:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Permanent disability
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Wrongful death damages
Texas follows a modified comparative fault system under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 33. This means compensation may be reduced if the injured person is partially responsible for the accident. If a victim is found more than 50% at fault, recovery may be barred entirely.
Insurance companies frequently attempt to shift blame to injured victims in premises liability claims. Strong evidence and aggressive legal advocacy can make a major difference during settlement negotiations or litigation.
What Our Texas Premises Liability Lawyers Can Do for You
Premises liability claims can become complicated quickly, especially when property owners or insurance companies deny responsibility. Our attorneys work to protect your rights while building a strong case on your behalf.
- We investigate dangerous property conditions for you: We can gather surveillance footage, maintenance records, photographs, and witness statements before critical evidence disappears.
- We communicate with insurers for you: We can handle negotiations and protect you from insurance tactics designed to minimize or deny your claim.
- We document your damages for you: We can evaluate medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future financial losses tied to your injuries.
- We work with experts for you: We can consult medical professionals, safety specialists, and accident reconstruction experts to strengthen your case.
- We identify liable parties for you: We can investigate property owners, managers, landlords, maintenance companies, or third parties who may share responsibility.
- We prepare your case for litigation for you: We can aggressively represent your interests in court if settlement negotiations fail.
- We provide responsive legal support for you: We can offer same-day callbacks, bilingual communication, and 24/7 availability throughout your case.
At The Crash Team, our goal is to reduce stress for injured clients while aggressively pursuing the compensation they deserve after preventable property-related accidents.
Contact a Texas Premises Liability Lawyer at The Crash Team Today
A premises liability accident can leave you facing serious injuries, medical expenses, lost income, and uncertainty about what comes next. At The Crash Team, attorneys Aaron Galvan and Breanne Galvan are committed to helping injured Texans pursue accountability and financial recovery after preventable property-related accidents. Our personal injury lawyers are based in Sugar Land, but we proudly represent clients in Houston, Pasadena, Pearland, League City, Missouri City, and throughout Texas with aggressive advocacy and compassionate guidance.
We are available 24/7, we offer bilingual support, and we handle premises liability cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you don’t pay us anything unless we recover compensation for you.
Have questions about your premises liability claim, or wondering what steps to take after being injured on someone else’s property? Contact The Crash Team today for a free consultation with an experienced Texas premises liability lawyer. Call us now at 713-300-0000 to discuss your case and learn how we can help protect your rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
I slipped and fell in a store. Do I have a valid premises liability case?
Possibly. To pursue compensation, we generally must show the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition and failed to address it. Helpful evidence may include:
- Surveillance footage
- Incident reports
- Witness statements
- Photographs of the hazard
Our attorneys can investigate the circumstances surrounding your fall.
How long do I have to file a premises liability lawsuit in Texas?
Texas generally imposes a two-year statute of limitations under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003. Missing the filing deadline can prevent you from recovering compensation entirely. Some exceptions may apply depending on the facts of the case, so speaking with an attorney early is important.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault?
Yes, in many cases. Texas follows modified comparative fault rules, meaning you may still recover compensation if you were less than 51% responsible for the accident. However, your compensation may be reduced based on your percentage of fault.
What kinds of evidence help prove a premises liability claim?
Several types of evidence can strengthen your case, including:
- Medical records
- Photographs of the hazard
- Maintenance logs
- Witness testimony
- Property inspection records
Our legal team works quickly to preserve evidence before it disappears or is altered.
Do premises liability cases usually settle out of court?
Many premises liability claims settle through negotiations with insurance companies, but some cases require litigation when insurers refuse to offer fair compensation. We prepare every case thoroughly and remain ready to aggressively represent our clients in court when necessary.
