Were you hurt in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property in Austin, Texas? Contact Heaton McLean Personal Injury Lawyers at (512) 503-4878 to schedule a free consultation. Our Austin slip and fall lawyers can help you file a claim for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, and more.
Our personal injury law firm has 32 years of combined legal experience and has recovered millions of dollars for accident victims across Texas. We understand how devastating slip and fall injuries can be and are committed to fighting for you every step of the way, including taking your case to trial if necessary.
Contact our Austin personal injury attorneys today to get started and to learn more about our legal services.
Why Should I Hire Heaton McLean Personal Injury Lawyers After a Slip and Fall Accident in Austin, Texas?
Not all law firms are the same. When choosing an Austin slip and fall attorney, you want a legal team with resources and a proven commitment to client results. Heaton McLean Personal Injury Lawyers offers all of that and more.
Here’s why clients trust our Austin personal injury lawyers with their cases:
- 32 years of combined experience handling personal injury and premises liability cases in Texas
- Millions of dollars recovered for accident victims and their families
- Personalized attention, meaning we’ll make your case our priority from the start
- Aggressive negotiation and litigation strategies designed to secure the best possible results on your behalf
- Local knowledge of Texas courts, laws, and insurance defense tactics
Contact our award-winning slip and fall lawyers in Austin, TX, today to schedule a free consultation.
How Much Is My Austin Slip and Fall Case Worth?
Every slip and fall case is unique, and so the value of your claim depends on the specific facts and circumstances involved in the situation.
Some of the key factors that influence compensation include:
- The severity of your injuries
- The cost of your medical treatment and rehabilitation
- Whether you can return to work or have a reduced earning capacity
- The strength of the evidence proving liability
- The available insurance coverage
- Whether you are partially at fault for the accident
Victims with more serious injuries, such as spinal cord damage or traumatic brain injuries, generally have higher-value claims. This is because of the significant medical care and long-term impact involved.
The skill of your personal injury attorney in Austin could also impact the value of your claim, as not all lawyers are equally capable and have access to the same kinds of resources.
What Damages Are Available After a Slip and Fall in Austin?
Texas law allows injured victims to pursue compensatory damages to cover both financial (economic) and non-financial (non-economic) losses. In rare situations, punitive damages may also apply if the property owner’s actions were especially reckless or intentional.
Economic damages include measurable financial costs such as:
- Medical expenses, both current and future
- Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
- Property damage (like broken phones or glasses)
- Out-of-pocket expenses related to your accident
Non-economic damages address the harder-to-measure effects of an injury, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages may only be available in rare cases that go to trial. You must also present “clear and convincing evidence” to recover them as opposed to a lower evidentiary standard (“by a preponderance of the evidence”) for the other kinds of damages.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Slip and Fall Lawyer in Austin?
Our firm works on a contingency fee basis. That means you can hire us without paying anything up front. From there, we only get paid if we recover compensation for you.
Many people worry about the cost of hiring a lawyer after an accident, especially when medical bills and lost wages are piling up. This structure ensures you can afford high-quality legal representation regardless of your financial situation. It also means our interests are aligned insofar as we are motivated to recover the most money possible for your case.
Can I Still Recover Compensation if I’m Partly at Fault for My Slip and Fall in Texas?
Under Texas’s modified comparative negligence law, you can typically still recover compensation as long as you are less than 51% responsible for the accident. However, your damages will likely be reduced by your percentage of fault.
For instance, if your claim is worth $100,000 but you are found 10% at fault, you would recover $90,000. If you are found 51% or more at fault, you usually cannot recover at all.
Many property owners and insurance companies defend slip and fall cases by blaming the victim. For example, they might claim you weren’t paying attention or that you ignored warning signs. This makes it critical to have an experienced slip and fall attorney in Austin who can push back against unfair blame and protect the value of your case.
Common Slip and Fall Accident Injuries in Austin, TX
Slip and fall accidents may sound minor, but they can cause serious and life-altering injuries. Victims often face long recovery times and ongoing medical needs.
We can represent clients who have suffered:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Back and neck injuries
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord damage and paralysis
- Soft tissue injuries
- Cuts and lacerations
- Knee, ankle, and wrist injuries
- Hip fractures, especially in older adults
- Permanent scarring or disfiguration
- The wrongful death of a loved one
If you have suffered any of these injuries, our team will fight to ensure you receive fair compensation for all the effects you’ve experienced and will continue to experience.
What Causes Most Slip and Fall Accidents in Texas?
Slip and fall accidents can occur in countless settings.
We can handle claims involving a wide range of hazardous conditions, including:
- Grocery stores with spilled liquids or food
- Restaurants and bars with wet or sticky floors
- Uneven sidewalks or broken pavement
- Poorly lit stairwells and hallways
- Missing or broken handrails
- Cluttered walkways in retail stores
- Potholes and cracks in parking lots
- Slippery pool decks at hotels or apartments
- Construction sites with unsafe flooring or debris
- Nursing homes where staff failed to prevent falls
No matter where your slip and fall took place, our attorneys can investigate and pursue a claim on your behalf. We also represent employees injured in workplace slip and fall accidents, which may involve both workers’ compensation and personal injury claims.
How Long Do I Have to File a Slip and Fall Claim in Texas?
The Texas statute of limitations gives most slip and fall victims two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline almost always means losing your right to seek compensation in court.
There are limited exceptions. For example, if the claim involves a government-owned property, you may need to provide notice within just a few months of the accident.
To avoid missing important deadlines, it is best to contact Heaton McLean Personal Injury Lawyers as soon as possible. We can preserve evidence and work to ensure your claim is filed appropriately.
What Do I Need To Prove in a Texas Slip and Fall Case?
Slip and fall claims are a type of premises liability case under Texas law. Property owners and managers have a duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions. When they fail in this duty, they may be held liable for resulting injuries.
To win your slip and fall case in Austin, you generally must prove:
- The property owner owed you a duty of care.
- The property owner breached that duty by failing to maintain safe conditions or warn of hazards.
- That breach directly caused your slip and fall accident.
- You suffered damages, such as a physical injury and/or financial losses.
The level of care owed to you depends on why you were on the property:
- Invitees (such as customers in a store) are owed the highest duty of care. Owners must regularly inspect and fix hazards or warn about them.
- Licensees (such as social guests) must be warned of known dangers that are not obvious.
- Trespassers are generally not owed much duty. However, exceptions exist, particularly for children under the “attractive nuisance” doctrine.
Texas law places the burden on the injured person to prove the property owner knew or should have known of the dangerous condition. That’s why it’s critical to act quickly to gather evidence after your accident.
Contact Our Experienced Austin Slip and Fall Attorneys for a Free Consultation
A slip and fall accident can leave you with a number of debilitating consequences to deal with all at once, but the good news is that you may be entitled to take legal action against the responsible party. Heaton McLean Personal Injury Lawyers is here to guide you through the legal process and fight for the full amount of compensation you need and deserve.
With decades of combined experience and a track record of results, we know what it takes to win. Call today to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our skilled Austin slip and fall lawyers.