Texas Premises Liability Lawyer

Property owners in Texas have a legal obligation to maintain a safe environment for their guests, customers, and visitors. When they fail to do so, by ignoring hazardous conditions, cutting corners on safety, or neglecting maintenance, innocent people can suffer life-changing injuries. If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property, you may be entitled to compensation under Texas premises liability law.

At Trujillo Gonzalez, our skilled Texas premises liability lawyers help victims of unsafe property conditions get the justice they deserve. We don’t just settle for what’s easy; we take risks, go to trial, and pursue every dollar possible for our clients. Whether your injury occurred at a grocery store, apartment complex, hotel, or public building, our team is ready to fight for you.

With offices in Dallas, Allen, San Antonio, and Laredo, our Texas premises liability lawyers serve clients throughout the entire state, and we will travel to represent a strong case.

What Is Premises Liability?

Premises liability is an area of personal injury law that holds property owners, landlords, businesses, and sometimes government entities responsible when unsafe conditions on their premises cause injury. These cases cover a wide range of accidents, from slip and falls to serious injuries caused by falling merchandise, faulty staircases, broken handrails, or inadequate security.

Under Texas law, property owners owe a duty of care to people who lawfully enter their property. The level of that duty depends on whether the injured person was a customer (invitee), a guest (licensee), or a trespasser. In most cases, injured individuals are considered invitees, especially when entering businesses or public spaces; therefore, property owners must take reasonable steps to inspect for and correct any dangerous conditions.

When a property owner fails in this duty, and someone is hurt as a result, they may be legally and financially responsible for the consequences.

Common Types of Premises Liability Claims

At Trujillo Gonzalez, our Texas premises liability attorneys handle a wide range of cases involving negligence by property owners and managers. Some of the most common types of cases we see include:

Slip and Fall Accidents

These are among the most frequent premises liability claims. Falls often occur due to wet floors, spills, loose carpeting, poor lighting, or broken staircases. While some dismiss falls as minor, they can lead to serious injuries, especially for older adults or people with underlying health conditions.

Trip and Fall Accidents

Uneven pavement, exposed cords, cracked sidewalks, or debris in walkways can all cause someone to trip and fall. Property owners must take reasonable care to keep walking surfaces safe and free of hidden hazards.

Falling Objects

In retail stores, improperly shelved merchandise can fall and cause injury to customers. Falling tools or debris at construction sites, as well as poorly secured signage or ceiling tiles, can also lead to injuries.

Inadequate or Negligent Security

When a property owner fails to provide adequate security in areas known for crime, they can be held liable if a visitor is assaulted, robbed, or harmed. This often applies to apartment complexes, parking garages, hotels, or venues where break-ins, shootings, or sexual assaults occur due to broken locks, poor lighting, or a lack of security patrols.

Swimming Pool Accidents

Swimming pools can be hazardous, especially when they are not properly gated, supervised, or maintained. Drowning, slip and fall injuries, and diving accidents are common at poorly managed pools.

Elevator and Escalator Accidents

Malfunctioning elevators and escalators can cause serious injuries when not properly maintained. Property managers and maintenance contractors may be responsible for accidents caused by faulty equipment.

Fires and Electrical Hazards

Neglected fire alarms, exposed wiring, and faulty electrical systems can cause devastating injuries and fatalities. Property owners must ensure their buildings meet safety codes and are regularly inspected.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Premises Liability Case?

Liability isn’t always limited to the person or company listed on the property deed. Depending on the situation, several parties may be responsible for a hazardous condition, including:

• Commercial property owners (e.g., retail stores, office buildings, restaurants)
• Residential landlords or apartment management companies
• Homeowners who invite guests onto their property
• Government entities responsible for public buildings, sidewalks, or roadways
• Maintenance companies or independent contractors who failed to correct known hazards
• Security firms that failed to provide adequate protection

Our Texas premises liability attorneys investigate every angle to determine who was responsible for your injury. We won’t hesitate to hold multiple parties accountable when warranted, helping to maximize your compensation.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

When you’re injured due to unsafe property conditions, the law allows you to seek compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. Depending on your case, you may be entitled to recover:

• Medical expenses, including surgery, hospital stays, rehab, and medication
• Future medical care and long-term treatment
• Lost wages from time away from work
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Permanent disfigurement or disability

In cases involving gross negligence or willful misconduct, such as knowingly ignoring repeated safety violations, punitive damages may also be awarded to punish the wrongdoer and deter future harm.

Proving Negligence in a Texas Premises Liability Case

To succeed in a Texas premises liability claim, you must prove that the property owner or occupier was negligent, that they either knew or should have known about a hazardous condition and failed to act in a reasonable and timely manner to fix it or provide a warning. Proving this requires a detailed understanding of how property hazards occur, how long they were present, and what the property owner did or failed to do in response.

The Hazard Existed Long Enough to Be Discovered

A hazard that appears only moments before an accident may not create liability. Still, if it was present for an extended period and the property owner failed to notice or address it, that can demonstrate negligence. Courts consider whether the owner had a reasonable opportunity to identify the hazard during routine inspections or day-to-day operations. For example, if a spill in a grocery store aisle remained unattended for over an hour with no cleanup efforts or warning signs, it’s likely the store failed to meet its duty of care. 

The Property Owner Failed to Repair or Warn

Even if a property owner is aware of a dangerous condition, they are still responsible for responding appropriately. This includes repairing the hazard promptly or, if that is not possible, clearly warning visitors of the danger. A “Wet Floor” sign, temporary barrier, or verbal warning from staff can make a difference, but the absence of any effort to protect guests from known risks is a hallmark of negligence.

Did they mark the area? Was there any notice posted? Did they close off access? If the answer is no, and someone was injured as a result, we will pursue full accountability.

The Dangerous Condition Directly Caused the Injury

A critical element in any premises liability case is causation. We must establish a clear link between the dangerous condition and the harm you suffered. For example, if you slipped on a puddle from a leaking freezer at a supermarket and broke your hip, we need to prove that the fall, and not another unrelated factor, was the direct result of the leak.

You Were Lawfully on the Property

Texas law distinguishes between lawful visitors, such as invitees and licensees, and trespassers. To recover damages in most premises liability cases, you must have been on the property legally and with permission. This includes customers in a store, tenants in an apartment building, and social guests at a home. Property owners owe these visitors a duty of reasonable care.

While trespassers have fewer legal protections, there are some exceptions, such as when a property owner sets traps or when children are attracted to an unprotected hazard (known as the “attractive nuisance doctrine”).

The earlier you reach out to us, the more effective we can be at gathering evidence and strengthening your case. Don’t wait for the property owner’s insurance company to “do the right thing.” Let us take control and hold negligent parties accountable for your injuries and losses.

The Statute of Limitations for Premises Liability in Texas

Under Texas law, you have two years from the date of your injury to file a premises liability lawsuit. This two-year statute of limitations is strict, and waiting too long can cost you your right to compensation, no matter how strong your case is.

Some claims, particularly those against government entities, have even shorter deadlines and specific notice requirements. If you don’t act quickly, your case could be dismissed before it even begins. As such, it’s imperative to speak with a Texas premises liability lawyer as soon as possible after your injury.

Why Choose Trujillo Gonzalez?

Premises liability cases are often contested fiercely by property owners and insurers. They’ll claim you were at fault, deny the hazard existed, or try to minimize your injuries. You need a legal team that won’t back down.

At Trujillo Gonzalez, our Texas premises liability attorneys have taken hundreds of cases to trial and settled thousands more, not because we look for quick payouts, but because we fight for maximum value. We prepare every case for litigation from the start, and we’re not afraid to take calculated risks for our clients. We also work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay us unless we win.

Do You Need a Texas Premises Liability Lawyer? Contact Trujillo Gonzalez Today

If you were hurt due to unsafe conditions on someone else’s property, don’t wait for the insurance company to do the right thing. Let us fight for you. Whether your injuries were caused by a fall, a security failure, or a neglected hazard, we’re here to hold the responsible party accountable.

Call (972) 550-6818 today or contact us online to schedule your free consultation with a Texas premises liability lawyer. Let Trujillo Gonzalez help you take the first step toward recovery and justice.