Slip & Fall Lawyer in Beaumont Serving Throughout Texas
Slip & fall accidents may have become somewhat of a punchline in pop culture, but they are no joke: Every year, more than a million people across the United States go to the emergency room due to a slip and fall accident and cost billions of dollars annually in medical expenses and lost productivity. Slip and fall accidents can lead to fractured bones, spine injuries, organ damage, and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Severe falls can cause coma and even death. A premises owner owes a duty to keep the premises reasonably safe and to warn of any danger which it knew or should have known about. If a premises owner or manager was negligent in failing to keep the premises safe for patrons, injured guests have the right to receive fair and reasonable compensation for their losses and damages.
The premises liability attorneys at Gilbert Adams Law Offices take these cases very seriously. We will go head-to-head with big-box retailers, restaurant owners, insurance companies, defense lawyers, and any other person standing in the way of our clients receiving the medical care and just compensation they are due after a Texas slip or trip and fall accident. If you or someone you love has been injured in a restaurant in Beaumont or elsewhere, the dedicated Texas slip and fall attorneys at Gilbert Adams Law Offices are here to help.
When is a Premises Owner Liable for a Slip or Trip & Fall?
Liability in a typical personal injury case, such as a car accident or a slip and fall, is generally based on negligence. Whether someone is negligent depends on whether they were acting as we expect a reasonable person would act under the same or similar circumstances.
In evaluating the conduct of the business owner, a duty of reasonable care requires that it will provide adequate training to employees responsible for making and keeping the premises safe as a starting point. Safety experts expect that reasonable care includes regularly inspecting the premises to identify and correct dangerous conditions, including wet or slippery floors due to weather or spills, faulty staircases or other hazards, and to place barricades and warning signs next to hazards that have not yet been made safe, whether they are wet floors, uneven surfaces, or poorly-lit corridors. Premises owners are liable for slip & fall accidents if they fail to make safe or warn about a hazard when they knew or reasonably should have known about the danger. The length of time a premises was in a dangerous condition can be an important factor depending on whether the premises owner or a third party created the dangerous condition.
A zealous and clever Texas slip & fall injury attorney can gather supporting facts and evidence to present the best possible case from your perspective. If you were hurt due to a premises owner or manager’s negligence, you have the right to recover for your injuries.
What Can I Recover in a Restaurant Slip & Fall Case?
If you’ve been injured in a slip, trip, and fall accident in Texas, or if your loved one has been killed in a slip and fall, you have the right to recover damages for both the actual money you have lost as well as the mental and emotional trauma and grief you have suffered. In Texas, you can recover both “economic” and “noneconomic” damages. Economic damages are things that can be readily tied to a specific number, including:
- Medical expenses, both past and future
- Wages or Income lost due to missed work time
- Property damage
- Loss of future earning capacity as a result of injury or disability
- Loss of household services in some cases
Noneconomic damages refers to the psychological and emotional toll a serious injury takes on a person and their family. In Texas, you can recover damages for emotional harm, including:
- Physical impairment
- Mental grief, suffering and anguish
- Physical pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of life enjoyment
Additionally, in certain cases, you may also be eligible for punitive damages. Punitive damages are available where a defendant’s conduct was grossly negligent, reckless or malicious. Punitive damages are intended to punish the defendant to deter similar unsafe conduct in the future. Texas limits punitive damage awards to either $200,000 or double the economic damages, plus the noneconomic damages, up to a maximum of $750,000. Talk to a seasoned Texas slip or trip and fall attorney to find out how to maximize your available damages after a fall.
Passionate and Talented Legal Help With a Texas Restaurant Slip or Trip & Fall Injury Claim
Gilbert Adams Law Offices has successfully handled hundreds of cases involving premises liability in Beaumont and across Southeast Texas. We are dedicated to fighting for the best outcome for our clients, whether that means negotiating an acceptable settlement or obtaining a favorable verdict at trial. We have the resources and experience necessary to take on premises owners, businesses and large insurance companies. If you are suffering from a slip or trip and fall injury, the lawyers at Gilbert Adams Law Offices are ready to hear about your case. Call us today for a free consultation.