When you suffer an injury on someone else’s property, the physical and financial consequences can follow you for months or even years. A dangerous condition that a property owner ignored, a hazard left unaddressed, or a failure to warn visitors of known risks can lead to fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and other life-altering harm. You did not cause the situation, and you should not bear the burden alone.
Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP has been standing up for injured Texans since 1959, and our Austin-based firm brings more than 65 years of experience to every premises liability case we handle. As the oldest plaintiffs’ personal injury law firm in Austin, we have built a reputation for taking on property owners and their insurers and securing results that reflect the true value of our clients’ losses. If you or someone you love has been hurt on another person’s or company’s property, our premises liability attorneys are ready to fight for you.
What Is Premises Liability in Texas?
Premises liability is a branch of personal injury law that holds property owners, managers, and occupiers legally responsible when unsafe conditions on their property cause harm to visitors. Texas law recognizes that property owners have a duty of care to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition and to warn visitors of known hazards they cannot reasonably discover on their own.
Who Is Owed a Duty of Care?
The level of protection a person receives under Texas law depends largely on why they were on the property. Invitees, such as customers at a retail store or guests at a hotel, are owed the highest duty of care. Property owners must regularly inspect for hazards and remedy or warn of any dangerous conditions they know about or should have discovered. Licensees, such as social guests, are owed a slightly lower standard, while trespassers in most circumstances receive minimal protection. Understanding where your situation falls within this framework is one of the first steps an experienced attorney will take when evaluating your case.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls result in approximately 3 million emergency department visits among older adults each year in the United States alone, and about 37% of those who fall report injuries serious enough to require medical treatment or restrict their activities. These numbers reflect the real-world stakes of preventable property hazards.
Common Types of Premises Liability Cases We Handle
Dangerous property conditions take many forms, and our attorneys have experience pursuing claims across a wide range of incident types. Whether your injury occurred at a commercial establishment, a private residence, a public space, or a construction site, we have the knowledge and resources to investigate what happened and hold the responsible parties accountable.
The following are some of the most common premises liability scenarios we see:
- Slip and fall accidents: Wet floors, uneven surfaces, cracked sidewalks, and poorly maintained walkways are among the most frequent causes of serious injury on someone else’s property. Our slip and fall accident lawyers have decades of experience building these claims.
- Swimming pool accidents: Inadequate fencing, lack of supervision, slippery pool decks, and broken equipment can lead to drowning or catastrophic injury. Learn more about swimming pool accident liability in Texas.
- Inadequate security: When a property owner fails to provide proper lighting, functioning locks, or adequate security measures and a visitor is assaulted or harmed, the owner may bear civil liability.
- Falling object accidents: Improperly stored merchandise, unsecured construction materials, and failing structural elements can cause severe injury when they fall on visitors or passersby.
- Dog bites and animal attacks: Texas follows a “one bite” rule in many circumstances, but property owners can still face liability when they are aware of an animal’s dangerous tendencies.
Any of these incidents can lead to injuries that require extensive medical care and long-term recovery. If the negligence of a property owner was the cause, you deserve to be compensated for what you have endured.
Proving a Premises Liability Claim in Texas
Successfully pursuing a premises liability claim requires more than simply showing that you were hurt. Texas law requires that you demonstrate the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition, that they failed to address it or warn you adequately, and that this failure directly caused your injury. These elements are not always easy to prove, particularly when property owners and their insurers work quickly to minimize or dispute liability.
Our attorneys move swiftly to gather surveillance footage, maintenance records, incident reports, and expert testimony to build a compelling case on your behalf. The damages available in a successful premises liability claim can include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and more. In cases involving catastrophic injuries such as spinal cord damage, those figures can be substantial.
Why Choose Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP for Your Premises Liability Case?
Our firm has a track record that speaks for itself. We have recovered over $100 million for our clients, maintain a 98% success rate, and are recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best Law Firms in the United States. We are listed in Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and the Bar Register of Pre-eminent Lawyers. Unlike high-volume advertising firms, we are built on reputation and word-of-mouth, and we take the time to genuinely understand each client’s situation.
We are true personal injury trial lawyers, which means we prepare every case as if it will go to trial. Insurance companies know this about us, and that knowledge regularly translates into better settlements for our clients. When negotiation falls short of what our clients deserve, we are fully prepared to take the fight to a jury. You pay nothing unless we win.
Contact Our Austin Premises Liability Attorneys
If you have been injured on someone else’s property, the decisions you make in the days following your accident can significantly impact the strength of your case. Evidence can be lost, witnesses’ memories can fade, and Texas’ statute of limitations places a firm deadline on when you can file. Acting promptly gives us the best opportunity to build the strongest case possible on your behalf.
The team at Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP is ready to review your situation, answer your questions, and guide you through the legal process with the skill and dedication that have defined our firm for over six decades. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation and take the first step toward securing the justice and compensation you deserve.