This is the first post in what will be a series on the handling of slip and fall cases in Austin, Texas. We have decided to write on this topic as the subject of premises liability often leads to confusion on the part of injury victims. The goal of our coming posts is to provide information which will help victims to better understand their situation and to assist them with making an informed decision in the selection of a personal injury attorney. It cannot be stressed enough that you should contact a lawyer immediately if have been injured as the result of a fall.
We will be addressing several topics over our coming articles. Issues which we will analyze include:
- When a property owner may be liable for a slip and fall
- Steps an attorney will take to establish liability
- Whether experts will be necessary in such a case
- Taking a slip and fall case to trial
Again, these are areas which many victims of injury misunderstand. First, a property owner is not necessarily responsible if a dangerous condition (such as a puddle of water) existed on their property and someone was injured as a result of that condition. The premises owner will only be responsible for such an accident if it is shown that they were not taking reasonable steps to prevent dangerous conditions. Second, it is important to understand the steps a lawyer will take to prove that the property owner was not taking reasonable precautions. Such steps can include acquiring maintenance records, speaking to witnesses, obtaining video surveillance if available, and more. Third, depending on the situation it may be necessary to retain an expert witness in order to determine what constitutes a reasonable precaution on the part of the property owner. Finally, understanding what to expect from the trial process is crucial to making sure that it goes smoothly.
If you have been injured as the result of a fall then contact counsel immediately. Your representative will take immediate steps to ensure that relevant evidence is preserved. This may include security footage, photos, etc. Retaining counsel will also allow your representative to focus on the law so that you may deal with the important business of focusing on your injuries. Our Austin slip and fall attorneys have extensive experience in handling such matters throughout the area. Contact our office today to schedule an initial consultation. We also service Travis County cities which include Rollingwood, Round Rock, Elgin, Jonestown, Manor, Bee Cave, Lago Vista, Sunset Valley, Lakeway, Creedmoor, the Williamson County cities of Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Leander, as well as other areas of Texas.
