Killeen Slip and Fall Lawyer
Whether you are visiting friends in their home or shopping at a local grocery store, you expect the premises to be safe. Sometimes they are not, and you slip and fall because the owner, manager, or landlord did not fulfill their duty to clear harmful items from pathways. If you fall and are injured on another’s property, a Killeen slip and fall lawyer can investigate your case to see if you are eligible for compensation from the negligent party. Speak to a diligent personal injury attorney to discuss your options for recovering compensation for damages.
Types of Slip and Fall Accidents
Hazards can be anywhere, and those we see we can circumvent. But sometimes hazards are unexpected, causing people to lose their balance, slip, fall, and sustain injuries. Some common slip and fall accidents are caused by:
- Slippery floors, from spills in grocery stores and leaks in public bathrooms
- Cracked or uneven pavement, including sidewalks and parking lots
- Buckled carpeting
- Poor lighting in stairwells
- Children’s or pets’ toys left on stairs
- Large dogs that cause someone to lose their balance
Slip and Fall Accidents in Killeen are Based on Premises Liability
Similar to negligence, premises liability is based on a duty someone has to others. The difference is that negligence concerns a person’s reckless ongoing action that causes harm. In contrast, premises liability involves a hazardous condition that an owner or manager knows or should know about but does not fix or issue warnings. The owner of the premises has a duty to visitors, but that duty is different depending on the type of visitor on the land: invitees, licensees, or trespassers. A Killeen slip and fall attorney can help determine the type of visitor a client who slips and falls is to determine what duties are owed by the owner of the premises.
Types of Visitors in Slip and Fall Accidents
Trespassers are not invited onto another’s property, and often owners do not even know they are there. A property owner owes little duty to a trespasser, only a duty not injure the trespasser willfully, wantonly, or through gross negligence. Property owners do not have to inspect their property to discover dangers that may harm trespassers. But owners should refrain from intentionally harming trespassers. For instance, a stranger who enters a homeowner’s yard, steps in a large hole, , and breaks a leg will probably not be able to sue the homeowner for a slip and fall accident. But, if the homeowner intentionally created a trap to protect the property, and the trespasser steps in the trap and is seriously injured, the trespasser may have a case in either premises liability or negligence against the owner. A Killeen lawyer familiar with the nuances of negligence and premises liability can explain which course of action is best in a client’s slip and fall case.
Owners Must Warn Licensees of Dangers
Property owners open their doors to licensees, who are legally on the property for some reason that benefits the licensee. A licensee may be visiting friends at their home or could be the meter reader on the job. Owners must warn licensees about hazardous conditions the owner knows about, but the licensee does not.
Owners Must be Vigilant to Protect Invitees
Property owners owe the highest duty of care to invitees because invitees’ presence is a benefit to them both. For example, retail store owners invite customers to shop, and owners must make sure they repair or warn invitees about known hazards and any hazards owners would discover after reasonably inspecting the premises.
Reach Out to a Killeen Slip and Fall Attorney Today
You may be unable to work after a slip and fall accident in which you are injured. But your bills will keep rolling in. A Killeen slip and fall lawyer advocates for you and can help you recover the money you need to pay your bills if a property owner failed to warn you of a dangerous condition. Call for a free consultation.
