Premises Liability Attorney in Dallas
Owners and property managers generally must keep their premises free of unreasonable hazards that might injure people who come onto the property. Responsible parties who fail to identify and address risks could be held liable for injuries visitors suffer.
Businesses can be held liable when they fail to make reasonable efforts to maintain their premises and clean up and fix any hazards that others might have created. If you have been injured by defective and unsafe conditions on someone else’s property, our Dallas premises liability lawyers can help you explore your legal options for recovering compensation.
Premises Liability Lawyer in Dallas
The Dallas premises liability attorneys here believe injured people deserve personalized, compassionate service and aggressive representation. We know you are facing one of the most challenging and vulnerable times in your life. We understand how stressful recovering from injuries can be, especially when you cannot work due to those injuries. Our lawyers are committed to standing up for your rights and interests and demanding fair compensation for the harm you’ve endured.
If you have been injured on somebody else’s property in Dallas, reach out to The Wilhite Law Firm for a free initial consultation. We’ll discuss how our Dallas premises liability lawyers can guide you through the legal process and seek justice for the harm you have suffered.
What Is Premises Liability?
“Premises liability” refers to a type of personal injury claim. In a premises liability claim, someone else’s property’s defective and unsafe condition caused the victim’s injuries. A premises liability claim can allow you to recover compensation from a property owner for expenses and losses because of an injury you sustained on their property.
Accidents in public businesses and establishments, such as grocery stores, restaurants, bars, clubs, hotels, theme parks, swimming pools, and apartment and townhouse buildings and complexes could become premises liability claims.
In a premises liability claim in the Dallas area, you will need to show that you were injured by a hazard that meets at least one of these criteria:
- It was either caused or created by the property owner.
- It existed on the owner’s property long enough for the owner to discover it.
- It should have been found and fixed through reasonable efforts to inspect the property.
You will also need to show the owner had sufficient opportunity to correct the hazard or place warning signs to inform visitors of its presence before you were injured by it. Finally, to recover compensation, you will need to prove that you incurred losses due to your injuries, such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Why You Need a Dallas Premises Liability Attorney After an Accident on Dangerous Property
Being hurt on someone else’s property doesn’t mean that you’re automatically entitled you recover compensation from the property owner. Proving that a property owner should be held liable for your injuries and losses can be a factually and legally complex process. You need an experienced Dallas premises liability attorney on your side.
A premises liability lawyer in Dallas from The Wilhite Law Firm can help in your case by:
- Investigating the accident to recover critical evidence such as accident scene photos, surveillance footage, accident reports, and eyewitness statements
- Hiring accident reconstruction and engineering experts to show how a dangerous condition of someone else’s property caused the accident and your injuries
- Calculating the full extent of your injuries and losses, including bringing in medical, vocational, and financial experts when necessary
- Identifying all liable parties, including parties other than the property owner, such as maintenance companies, and discovering sources of insurance coverage available to pay your claims
- Filing your demands for compensation with the at-fault parties and handling all communications with insurance adjusters and defense lawyers
- Aggressively pursuing negotiations to try to reach a settlement that pays you the fair financial recovery you need
- Filing a lawsuit in your case when litigation becomes necessary to fight for the compensation you deserve
Types of Premises Liability Cases We Handle
At The Wilhite Law Firm, our seasoned Dallas premises liability attorneys can help you seek financial compensation after injuries suffered because of:
- Slip and fall accidents – When you have slipped or tripped on a hazard on someone else’s property, let us work to pursue compensation for you from the property owner whose negligence allowed the hazard to remain in place long enough to injure you.
- Negligent security – If you have been injured due to criminal activity that was facilitated by a property’s inadequate security, we can demand accountability from you. Our attorneys can pursue negligent security cases arising from a lack of security cameras, poor lighting, unlocked doors, and inadequate numbers of trained security personnel.
- Swimming pool accidents – The Wilhite Law Firm can help if you were injured in an accident at a public pool or a pool at a hotel, resort, gym, or fitness center. We represent clients who have been hurt by dangerous and defective conditions of pools that led to accidents such as slips and falls, diving accidents, and drownings.
- Dog bites – After you have been bitten or attacked by someone else’s pet, we can handle everything necessary to seek the compensation you need and deserve from the pet owner’s insurance coverage.
Pursuing Compensation in a Premises Liability Claim
In a premises liability claim, you may be entitled to receive compensation for losses you incurred because of injuries you suffered in an accident on someone else’s property. Financial recovery in your case can provide you with money for:
- Medical bills and expenses, including those for ER and hospital care, doctor’s appointments, physical and occupational rehab, prescription medications, and medical and mobility devices and equipment
- Long-term care expenses to help with permanent disabilities you may have sustained due to your injuries
- Past, ongoing, and future loss of income when injuries and disabilities prevent you from working
- Pain and suffering, including emotional trauma and distress that you suffer from due to the accident
- Loss of enjoyment and quality of life due to disabilities, permanent scarring and disfigurement, and reduced life expectancy caused by your injuries
Texas Statute of Limitations on Premises Liability Cases
In Texas, the statute of limitations specifies the time you have to file a lawsuit in your premises liability case. Typically, you have only two years from the date you were hurt on someone else’s property to file a lawsuit against the property owner and other liable parties.
If you file suit after the limitations period has expired on your premises liability claim, the court will be barred from hearing your case, and you will likely miss out on your right to recover compensation from the at-fault party. At The Wilhite Law Firm, we can review your case and determine how the statute of limitations may affect your ability to seek compensation.
What to Do If You Are Hurt on Someone Else’s Property
If you have been hurt on someone else’s property, you can take steps to help ensure that you have the right and option to pursue a claim for compensation for your injuries. Actions to take after a premises liability accident include:
- Notify the property or business owner about your accident as soon as possible. If you are hurt in a commercial establishment, ask for a copy of the accident report.
- Get the contact information of any eyewitnesses who may have seen the accident. Also, look around for any surveillance cameras that may have recorded the incident.
- Take photos and video of the accident scene, including the hazard that caused your injuries, any warning signs and other safety equipment, the lighting conditions, any obstructions to your view, any visible injuries you suffered, and the clothing and footwear you were wearing at the time.
- See a doctor as soon as possible to document the injuries you sustained in the accident. Follow your doctor’s treatment instructions, and do not delay seeking any treatments your doctors recommend.
- Keep records of the financial expenses you incurred due to your injuries, including bills, invoices, and income statements.
- Start a journal to document the pain and reduced quality of life you experience due to your injuries and medical recovery.
- Speak with a Dallas premises liability attorney at The Wilhite Law Firm to learn more about your legal rights and options and discuss what steps you can take next to pursue financial recovery for your injuries.
Talk to a Dallas Premises Liability Attorney Now
When you have been injured on someone else’s property due to hazardous conditions, you could be owed compensation for your losses. Contact one of the best personal injury lawyers in Dallas at The Wilhite Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation case review with a Dallas premises liability attorney who cares about you and your future. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by contacting us today to discuss your case.