The cold-weather catastrophe that has played out in Texas this month brought many systems and citizens to their knees. It has caused power outages for huge areas of the state along with injuries, deaths, and property damage. Sifting through the wreckage will take time, and many lawsuits are sure to be filed in the wake of these unprecedented weather events. Among them, there are likely to be a fair number of premises-related personal injury suits.
Slip-and-Fall Accidents Can Happen to Anyone
A ‘slip-and-fall accident’ is a type of premises liability occurrence wherein an individual is injured on another’s property due to negligence. Property owners are responsible for maintaining safe conditions for visitors. When a person is injured because of another’s negligence, they may choose to hire an Austin personal injury lawyer in order to pay for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
To help illustrate this, here are three hypothetical slip-and-falls which could occur in the extreme cold.
1. An Accident in a Grocery Store
Jim visits a grocery store. Throughout the interior, there are wet tracks left by other customers who have come in with snowy shoes. Jim slips on a puddle while reaching to grab a box of cereal off the top shelf and breaks his hip. Jim hires an Austin personal injury lawyer to sue the grocery store for failing to warn him of the hazard with clear signage or mop up the puddle.
2. Good Samaritan Slips in the Driveway
While walking her dog, Amy finds keys on the sidewalk in front of someone’s house. In an attempt to reunite them with the owner, she steps onto the private property and walks towards the front door. Below the snow, there is ice, and Amy falls and breaks her arm. Amy hires an attorney to help her sue the owner for failing to keep the property reasonably safe for visitors.
3. Loose Railing With Deadly Consequences
Miriam enters her apartment building and begins to climb the wet stairs. As she approaches the second landing, she slips on the step and grips onto the railing for support, which detaches from the wall. Miriam falls and suffers a fatal head injury. The accident is caught on security cameras and Miriam’s wife sues the property owner for failing to maintain safe conditions.
Bear in mind that none of these hypothetical cases are ‘open-and-shut.’ As with any lawsuit, there are potential defenses which may tip the results of the case in the defense’s favor.
Have You Suffered an Injury on Another Person’s Property?
If the situations above echo an experience from your own life, get in touch with our San Antonio or Austin personal injury lawyers today. Our legal team is prepared to go over the details of your case and help you determine if it is worth pursuing civil litigation. Get in touch with us to book a free case consultation.
San Antonio Office: 3107 Broadway Street, San Antonio, Texas 78209. (210) 807-8656.
Austin Office: 2025 Guadalupe Street Suite 260, Austin, Texas 78705. (512) 982-4798.
