Do You Have a Valid Premises Liability Claim?
We’ve all had those moments of losing our footing. But there is a massive difference between a clumsy trip and a severe injury caused by a property owner’s negligence. In Texas, if you slip, trip, and injure yourself on someone else’s property—whether it’s a Houston supermarket, a restaurant in the Heights, or an apartment complex—you may have a premises liability claim.
However, winning a slip and fall case in Texas requires proving specific legal elements.
What You Must Prove to Win Your Case
To hold a property owner accountable for your injuries, your legal team must demonstrate that:
| Element | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Duty of Care | The property owner owed you a duty to keep the premises safe (e.g., you were a customer or invited guest). |
| A Dangerous Condition Existed | There was an unreasonable risk of harm (e.g., a wet floor with no warning sign, a broken staircase, or hidden debris). |
| Knowledge of the Hazard | The owner knew or should have reasonably known about the danger and failed to fix it or warn you. |
| Causation & Damages | The hazardous condition directly caused your slip and fall, resulting in actual physical and financial injuries. |
The “Should Have Known” Factor
The hardest part of a slip and fall case is often proving how long the danger was present. For example, if a customer spills a drink in a grocery store aisle and you slip on it two minutes later, a court might rule the store didn’t have reasonable time to discover and clean it. But if the spill sat there for two hours, the store is likely liable.
Take Action: If you are hurt in a slip and fall, take photos of the hazard immediately, report it to the manager to get a written incident report, and call PM Law Firm. We will help you gather the evidence needed to hold negligent property owners accountable.