How Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers Helps After a Slip and Fall in Fort Worth
Our Fort Worth slip and fall lawyers handle the property owner and its insurance company so you can focus on healing. Owners rarely admit they knew about a hazard, and insurers often blame the person who fell. We build the evidence to answer both.
When you hire us, we:
- Speak for you in all conversations with the owner and the insurance company
- Investigate the fall and identify every party responsible for the property
- Collect incident reports, witness statements, video recordings, inspection logs, and medical records
- Respond to efforts to shift blame onto you
- Negotiate for a fair settlement
- Take your case to trial if the owner refuses to accept responsibility
We work on a contingency fee, so you don’t owe attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you. We serve all of Fort Worth and Tarrant County.
Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Happen in Fort Worth?
Slip and fall accidents can happen on almost any property open to the public. Our slip and fall attorneys handle cases from falls at:
- Grocery stores, retail stores, and shopping malls
- Restaurants, bars, and nightclubs
- Hotels and apartment complexes
- Office buildings and public buildings
- Hospitals, schools, and daycare centers
- Gyms, movie theaters, and houses of worship
- Parks and playgrounds
- Parking lots, parking garages, and sidewalks
Slips and falls are one type of premises liability claim. The same rules apply whether you slipped on a wet floor or tripped on a broken step.
What Causes Most Slips, Trips, and Falls?
Most falls happen because a hazard was left in place when the owner should have found and fixed it, or at least warned visitors. Common causes include:
- Wet or slippery floors, spills, and puddles
- Loose rugs, mats, and torn carpeting
- Uneven floors and broken sidewalks
- Broken stairs or floorboards
- Missing, loose, or broken handrails
- Unsecured electrical cords
- Debris, clutter, and merchandise in aisles
- Poor lighting
Any condition that creates an unreasonable risk of a fall can support a claim if the owner knew or should have known about it.
Who Is Liable for a Slip and Fall in Fort Worth?
The person or business that owns, operates, or maintains the property is usually liable when its failure to keep the premises reasonably safe caused your fall. When you enter a property with the owner’s consent, the owner takes on a duty to inspect for hazards, fix them in a reasonable time, and warn about dangers that can’t be fixed right away.
Liability is not limited to the owner. Depending on who controlled the property, responsible parties may include:
- Landlords
- Property management companies
- Maintenance and cleaning contractors
- Tenant businesses
- Government agencies
Claims against a city, county, or state agency follow special rules under the Texas Tort Claims Act, including short notice deadlines.
What Happens If the Property Owner Blames Me for the Fall?
You can still recover compensation if you were partly at fault, as long as your share of the blame is 50% or less. Texas follows modified comparative fault. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, and at 51% or more you recover nothing.
Owners and insurers often argue that the hazard was “open and obvious,” that you were distracted, or that your shoes were the problem. We answer those arguments with evidence: how long the hazard was there, whether employees knew about it, whether inspections were done, and whether warning signs were posted.
Common Slip and Fall Injuries
A fall can cause injuries that take months to heal or never fully heal, especially for older adults. Our clients’ cases often involve:
- Broken bones, including broken hips and wrists
- Knee, shoulder, and ankle injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Head injuries, concussions, and traumatic brain injuries
- Nerve damage
- Cuts, bruises, and soft tissue injuries
For the most serious cases, see our pages on catastrophic injuries and wrongful death.
What Is My Slip and Fall Case Worth?
Your case value depends mostly on how badly you were hurt and how the injury affects your life and work. You can seek compensatory damages in two categories.
Economic damages cover financial losses:
- Current and future medical bills
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- In-home care and assistance
Non-economic damages cover the human cost:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement and permanent impairment
Insurers may argue that your injury was pre-existing or that you waited too long to get treatment. Talk to a lawyer before you accept a settlement offer.
How Long Do I Have to File a Slip and Fall Lawsuit in Texas?
You generally have two years from the date of the fall to file a lawsuit. After the statute of limitations passes, you lose the right to sue. Falls on government property can require formal notice within six months or less. Evidence such as surveillance video is often erased within days or weeks, so contact a lawyer as soon as you can.
About Brad Parker
Fort Worth Slip and Fall Accident FAQs
Who is responsible for a slip and fall in Fort Worth?
The property owner is usually responsible, but liability can also fall on whoever controls or maintains the property. That can include a landlord, a property management company, a maintenance contractor, a tenant business, or a government agency. Anyone who took on responsibility for keeping the premises safe may be liable if their failure caused your fall.
What do I have to prove in a Texas slip and fall case?
You generally must show that a dangerous condition existed, that the owner knew or reasonably should have known about it, that the owner failed to fix it or warn you, and that this failure caused your injury. Photos, incident reports, surveillance video, witness statements, and inspection records often decide whether you can prove the owner knew.
Can I still recover if the store says I wasn't watching where I was going?
Possibly. Texas uses modified comparative fault. If you are found 50% or less at fault, your compensation is reduced by your share of the blame. If you are found 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing. Insurers often raise this argument, so evidence about the hazard matters.
How long do I have to file a slip and fall lawsuit in Texas?
You generally have two years from the date of the fall to file a personal injury lawsuit in Texas. After that deadline passes, you lose the right to sue. Falls on government property can require written notice within six months or less, so contact a lawyer early.
What should I do right after a slip and fall?
Get medical care, even if you feel fine. Report the fall to the manager or owner and ask for a copy of the report. Photograph the hazard, your shoes, and the area before anything changes. Get names of witnesses. Keep your medical records and bills, and don't give a recorded statement to the owner's insurance company before talking to a lawyer.
How much does a slip and fall lawyer cost?
We handle slip and fall cases on a contingency fee. You pay nothing upfront and don't owe attorney's fees unless we recover compensation for you. Our fee will never exceed your recovery, and we explain the exact terms in writing before we begin.
Visit Our Fort Worth Office
Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office
209 N Hampton St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
- Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday Closed