Were you hurt on someone else’s land or in a building in Dallas, Texas? Property owners are required to maintain a reasonably safe space for visitors. If you were hurt because of their negligence, you may have a premises liability claim. Call a Dallas premises liability lawyer at (972) 550-6818 for a free consultation to learn more.
At Trujillo Gonzalez, P.C., we have decades of experience going up against the largest property owners and insurers in Texas. Let us help you get justice after your injury.
Why Choose Trujillo Gonzalez, P.C. for My Dallas Premises Liability Case?
Property hazards are often preventable. We are the team that can ensure negligent owners face full accountability for the harm you’ve suffered.
Clients across Dallas, TX, select our practice because:
- More than 300 trials and arbitrations taken to verdict by our founding attorney, including cases against property owners
- Recognition from respected organizations, including Texas Lawyer Magazine and the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Hundreds of millions of compensation recovered for injured clients
- Over 75 years of combined experience taking on property owners, management companies, and their insurers throughout the state
- Bilingual staff who can serve Dallas clients in both English and Spanish
- A contingency fee arrangement, so you owe nothing unless we recover compensation for you
Contact us today to speak with a Dallas premises liability attorney who understands what it takes to protect your rights. We’re here to stand up for you.
What Is Premises Liability?
Premises liability refers to personal injury claims caused by dangerous conditions on another person’s property. In Texas, property owners owe a duty of care to keep their property reasonably safe for guests. The level of duty depends on the guest’s legal status at the time of the incident.
Business invitees (e.g., customers/patrons) are owed the highest duty of care, requiring owners to make routine property inspections and fix or warn of known hazards. Licensees like social guests are owed protection against known, non-obvious dangers.
Premises liability claims center on whether a handler or owner failed to fix or warn about a hazard they knew about or should have reasonably uncovered.
What Is My Dallas Premises Liability Case Worth?
Determining what a premises liability claim is worth depends on the specific facts of the case. Property accidents often cause lasting physical harm and emotional trauma; these claims frequently result in significant compensation.
Key factors that affect the value of a claim include:
- The severity of your injuries and emotional distress
- When and whether you can return to work
- Available insurance coverages
- Whether you share fault for the incident
- Your visitor status at the time of the incident
An experienced personal injury attorney can review the details of your injury and work with safety and medical experts to calculate the full impact of your losses.
Common Types of Premises Liability Cases in Dallas
Dangerous property hazards take many forms. The specific nature of the hazard helps identify the type of premises liability claim.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slick surfaces, uncleaned spills, and freshly mopped floors without warning signs are a frequent source of slips and falls.
Trip and Fall Accidents
Uneven walkways and carpeting create serious tripping risks that frequently cause severe tripping accidents.
Negligent Security Claims
Landlords and businesses can be held liable for criminal attacks on their property if they fail to implement reasonable security measures in the face of known risks. Safety protocols include, but are not limited to, working locks, security guards, and proper lighting.
These claims often involve assaults or robberies at apartment complexes, garages, and commercial venues where prior crime made such incidents foreseeable. An isolated, unexpected attack is far more difficult to pursue than one following a clear history of reported threats.
Falling Object Accidents
Unsecured construction items or unstable merchandise displays can fall unexpectedly, causing traumatic head injuries to unsuspecting visitors.
Swimming Pool and Recreational Accidents
Pool facilities and recreational sites must adhere to strict safety codes, including secure barriers and functioning drain covers. Failing to meet these requirements can cause devastating drownings or catastrophic harm.
Structural and Building Code Violations
Broken handrails, crumbling stairs, and faulty elevators violate local building codes and create hazardous traps that owners must promptly fix.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Premises Liability Accident?
Determining all at-fault parties is an essential step in building a strong claim for full financial recovery.
Depending on your case, you may be able to hold the following entities responsible:
- Property owners are often ultimately accountable for conditions on their land.
- Commercial tenants and business operators can be held liable for dangers within their leased spaces.
- Property management companies hired to maintain day-to-day safety can share fault for unresolved hazards.
- Landlords may be liable alongside contractors if they ignore urgent repairs.
- Maintenance contractors may bear blame if negligent repairs directly caused your injuries.
- Security companies can be liable for failing to provide agreed-upon safety measures.
Many property claims involve multiple defendants, especially when management agencies handle maintenance or third-party guards handle security. s
How Do You Prove a Premises Liability Claim in Texas?
Simply falling or suffering an injury on someone else’s property is not enough to secure financial compensation. Plaintiffs must present evidence demonstrating:
- A dangerous condition on the premises
- The property owner held actual or constructive knowledge of the hazard
- The owner failed to fix the danger or provide adequate warnings
- You sustained injuries and damages as a result
To prove these elements, your injury lawyer will gather evidence like video footage, maintenance logs, inspection reports, and witness statements.
What Compensation Can You Recover After an Injury On Someone Else’s Property?
Texas law allows injury victims to seek compensation for economic losses connected to the incident, as well as non-economic damages for personal trauma. These damages may cover:
- Past and future medical care
- Lost wages and diminished earning potential
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Personal property damage repair
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental angst
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
If a dangerous hazard causes a tragic death, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death lawsuit for funeral costs, lost financial assistance, and emotional suffering.
Can I Still Recover if I’m Partially to Blame for My Accident?
Insurance companies often try to blame victims, claiming the hazard was open and obvious or that the victim should have seen it. Texas uses a modified comparative fault rule under Chapter 33 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Under this standard, you can still recover money as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, but your payout will be reduced by your percentage of blame.
You will only be barred from recovering compensation if you are mostly at fault, meaning 51% or more.
Don’t simply take an insurer’s word for it if they blame you. Shifting fault is a standard defense tactic, used for negotiating a lower payout as much as anything. Our lawyers know how to fight back against unfounded allegations.
Injuries We Handle From Dallas Premises Liability Accidents
Premises liability accidents cause painful physical injuries to the head, spine, and other critical body parts. The worst of these incidents can cause wrongful death
At Trujillo Gonzalez, P.C., we help clients dealing with all types of serious injuries, including:
- Crushed or fractured bones
- Head or brain injuries and concussions
- Neck, back, and herniated disc damage
- Spinal cord trauma and mobility loss
- Torn ligaments and severe joint damage
- Deep cuts, lacerations, and scarring
- Internal organ injuries
- Long-term psychological trauma and PTSD
If you suffered these or other injuries due to a property hazard, a premises liability claim may offer you the best shot of seeking money for your medical bills and other damages.
How Long Do I Have to File a Premises Liability Lawsuit in Texas?
In Texas, you generally have a strict window of two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline means permanently losing your right to pursue and recover financial compensation for your losses, medical expenses, and suffering.
Claims involving government properties may be subject to shorter notice requirements, whereas claims involving children may have longer deadlines. You should consult an experienced attorney to help you understand the deadlines in your case.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Premises Liability Lawyer in Dallas?
Most premises liability claims feature contingency fees. You pay no upfront legal fees and no hourly billing while your case moves forward. Instead, your attorney is paid a percentage of whatever settlement or verdict you receive, agreed upon before your case begins. If your case is unsuccessful, you typically owe nothing. This structure allows injured victims to seek justice without incurring added financial risk during recovery.
Contact a Dallas Premises Liability Lawyer for a Free Consultation
An unexpected property accident can feel like a betrayal from the businesses and property owners you trusted to keep you safe. You deserve an experienced advocate who will fight to hold the property owner accountable.
Trujillo Gonzalez, P.C., is ready to put decades and decades of trial experience to work for you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a dedicated Dallas premises liability attorney.
Visit Our Dallas Personal Injury Law Office
Trujillo Gonzalez PC – Dallas
1111 W Mockingbird Ln #260,
Dallas, TX 75247, United States
Phone: (972) 550-6818
Open 24/7
