The Things You Need to Do After a Slip, Trip, or Fall in Winter Weather Conditions
It’s nearly winter in Texas, and while you probably won’t have to deal with a couple feet of snow, it’s fairly common for temperatures to dip below freezing, often after there’s been rain or sleet.
In Texas, as in all states, when you’ve been hurt in a slip and fall on either residential or commercial property, you may be able to recover monetary compensation for your losses. How do you do that?
Premises Liability Law in Texas
In Texas, as in virtually every state, the owner of (or any person with control over) residential or commercial property must take measures to maintain the property in a safe condition, such that it does not pose an unreasonable risk of injury to anyone legally visiting the premises. The duty is not absolute but must be consistent with what a reasonable person would do.
How Do You Protect Your Legal Rights in Texas After a Slip or Fall in Icy or Snowy Conditions?
After any accident, your health and well-being should be your first priority. Make certain you get the medical attention you need as soon as possible, both to maximize your physical well-being and protect your legal rights. If you wait unnecessarily to get treatment, you can jeopardize your claim in a couple of ways:
- You may make it more difficult for your attorney to prove that the slip and fall caused your injuries, particularly if you hurt yourself in a mishap at home in the interim.
- You may give defense counsel ammunition to argue that your injuries are not that serious.
When you seek medical attention, ask doctors and nurses to put everything in writing. Make sure you tell them about anything that seems abnormal—don’t focus on the obvious injuries, such as the broken foot, and neglect to mention the stiffness in your back or neck.
Another important thing to do as soon as possible is retain experienced personal injury counsel. Your lawyer can serve as your intermediary with insurance providers, helping make certain you get all the care you need. Your lawyer will also conduct a thorough investigation of the facts and circumstances surrounding the accident, interviewing potential witnesses to determine exactly what happened. Your lawyer will also prepare and file the complaint to initiate your personal injury lawsuit.
Be Willing to Acknowledge Your Injury
It’s a natural inclination, in the aftermath of an injury, to want to return to all your prior activities as soon as possible, even if that causes you pain or discomfort. That may not be in your best interests. Insurance companies and defense attorneys may hire private investigators to try to find evidence that your injuries are not that serious. They may take pictures or gather other information that can be used against you in court. Your attorney can help you do the right thing.
At the law offices of Bailey & Galyen, we have more than 40 years of experience helping personal injury victims across Texas get full and fair compensation for the carelessness or negligence of others.
We will aggressively help you pursue full and fair compensation when you have been injured in any type of accident. Contact us by email or call us at 844-402-2992. You also can call our offices at one of the convenient locations listed below. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
