Proving Notice | The Impact of Weather Hazards | How Crowd Control Affects Your Claim
The holiday rush across Dallas–Fort Worth malls and big-box stores brings packed aisles, wet entryways, and distracted shoppers. Between Black Friday doorbusters and last-minute Christmas sales, slip-and-fall accidents spike every year.
Slips and falls are rarely accidents with no one at fault. In fact, the vast majority stem from unsafe store conditions, leading to accidents that could have been prevented had store owners used reasonable care.
Understanding Premises Liability in Texas
In Texas, premises liability holds property owners responsible for unsafe conditions that cause injury. Under Texas premises liability law, retailers and property owners owe customers a duty to maintain reasonably safe environments. When that duty is breached, and someone is injured, the law provides a path for recovery.
Shoppers are considered invitees, meaning store owners owe them the highest duty of care. They must regularly inspect, fix, or warn about hazards like wet floors, spills, or unstable displays. When they fail to do so and someone is hurt, the store can be held liable for negligence.
Proving Notice Under Texas Law
A successful slip-and-fall case in Texas requires proof of notice—that the store either knew or should reasonably have known about the hazard. Evidence such as surveillance videos, store maintenance logs, and witness statements are commonly used to establish notice. Texas law identifies two ways that notice may be demonstrated:
- Actual notice: The owner and/or employees had actual knowledge of a hazardous situation, such as a spill, torn carpet, broken step, or icy sidewalk.
- Constructive notice: The hazard either existed long enough that the store should reasonably have discovered it in the ordinary course of business or the same type of hazard had posed a danger in the past.
Weather Hazards and Parking Lot Duties
North Texas winters often bring rain or ice that make entrances and parking lots hazardous. While stores aren’t liable for the weather itself, they must act reasonably once conditions create foreseeable risks. That means laying mats, using “wet floor” signs, or salting icy walkways.
If melted snow or tracked-in water creates puddles, and the staff ignores them, the store may be responsible for injuries caused when someone slips.
Texas courts often distinguish between “natural accumulation” (fresh water tracked in) and negligent maintenance (failing to clean or warn). The latter supports liability when injuries occur.
Crowd Control and Holiday Events
Black Friday and year-end sales draw massive crowds—and with them, new safety concerns. Retailers who invite large gatherings must plan for crowd management to control entry, prevent or minimize overcrowding, and ensure that exits remain clear.
When shoppers are injured due to stampedes, blocked aisles, or poorly supervised events, it’s commonly considered to be preventable negligence. A Dallas–Fort Worth slip and fall attorney can investigate whether proper staffing and safety measures were in place during these peak events.
Comparative Negligence in Texas
Texas applies the legal principle of modified comparative negligence when allocating liability after an accident. Under this concept, if an injured shopper is more than 50% responsible for causing an accident, damages for their own injuries are unavailable. If, on the other hand, the shopper is less than 51% liable, but still contributed to causing the accident, their damage award will be reduced by their percentage of fault.
For instance, if a customer was texting while walking and slipped on a spill the store failed to clean, a jury might assign 20% fault to the shopper and 80% to the store. The jury would then calculate the shopper’s total losses and reduce that amount by 20% to determine the final damage award.
What To Do After a Holiday Slip-and-Fall
To protect your rights after a store injury:
- Report the incident and request a written report.
- Take photos of the hazard and your injuries.
- Get witness names and phone numbers.
- Seek medical attention immediately.
- Contact a Texas premises liability lawyer before speaking with insurers.
Read Also: How To File a Slip and Fall Claim
Get Legal Help After a Holiday Slip-and-Fall in DFW
At The Law Offices of Bailey & Galyen, we help injured shoppers and families across Dallas–Fort Worth recover after slip-and-fall accidents caused by unsafe store conditions.
Our attorneys understand Texas premises liability law and work to hold negligent retailers accountable while protecting your right to full and fair compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, and lost wages.
For a confidential consultation, call Bailey & Galyen at 844-402-2992 or contact us online. Our phones are answered 24/7 — because your recovery cannot wait. Se habla español.
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