Serious Injuries
Houston Premises Liability and Slip & Fall Lawyer for Serious Injury Claims
Get Personal Representation After a Premises Liability Accident
Property owners have a legal responsibility to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors. When they fail to repair dangerous conditions or warn people about known hazards, serious injuries can happen.
When that duty is ignored, the consequences can include serious injuries, mounting medical expenses, time away from work, and uncertainty about what comes next.
Whether you were injured in a grocery store, shopping centre, apartment complex, hotel, restaurant, office building, or another commercial property, recovering compensation is rarely straightforward. Property owners and their insurance companies often argue that the hazard was obvious, the accident could have been avoided, or the injured person was responsible for what happened.
At Herrera PLLC, Jonathan Herrera represents premises liability victims throughout Houston and Texas. Before becoming an attorney, he spent more than a decade handling insurance claims as a licensed adjuster and claims supervisor. He later worked as an insurance defense attorney before founding Herrera PLLC. That experience provides valuable insight into how insurers investigate liability claims, evaluate dangerous property conditions, and defend injury lawsuits.
For a broader look at the serious injury cases Herrera PLLC handles, explore the firm’s Serious Injuries practice.
What Is Premises Liability?
Premises liability is the area of Texas law that allows injured people to seek compensation when unsafe property conditions cause preventable injuries.
Every accident is different, but a successful claim generally requires proving that:
- A dangerous condition existed
- The property owner knew or should have known about it
- The hazard was not repaired or properly addressed
- The dangerous condition caused your injuries
The level of care owed also depends on why you were on the property. Customers, invited guests, and other lawful visitors are generally entitled to greater legal protection than trespassers.
Where Do Premises Liability Accidents Commonly Happen?
Dangerous property conditions can exist in many different locations, including:
- Grocery stores
- Retail shopping centres
- Restaurants and bars
- Hotels
- Apartment complexes
- Office buildings
- Parking lots and garages
- Construction sites open to visitors
- Nursing homes
- Entertainment venues
- Private residences
Construction sites can also present hazards to visitors, contractors, and third parties. Learn more about how Herrera PLLC handles construction and industrial accident claims.
What Causes Most Premises Liability Accidents?
Slip and fall accidents are among the most common premises liability claims, but unsafe property conditions can lead to many different types of injuries.
Common hazards include:
- Wet or slippery floors
- Uneven walkways
- Broken stairs
- Loose flooring
- Poor lighting
- Missing handrails
- Damaged sidewalks
- Debris left in walkways
- Weather-related hazards where applicable
A fall that initially appears minor can still result in serious injuries to the head, neck, back, or spine. Older adults are especially vulnerable to severe injuries following a fall, although people of any age can suffer permanent harm.
Serious head injuries are common after dangerous property accidents. Learn more about how traumatic brain injuries affect accident victims.
How Is Fault Proven in a Premises Liability Claim?
Property owners are not automatically responsible simply because an injury occurred on their property.
A successful claim often depends on evidence showing that the owner knew, or reasonably should have known, about the dangerous condition before the accident happened. In many cases, the key issue is not whether the hazard existed, but whether the owner had enough time to discover and correct it before the accident occurred.
Evidence may include:
- Incident reports
- Surveillance footage
- Maintenance records
- Inspection logs
- Witness statements
- Photographs of the hazard
- Prior complaints
- Expert inspections
Insurance companies frequently argue that the condition was open and obvious or that the injured person failed to pay attention. A thorough investigation helps address these arguments before they affect the value of your claim.
How Does Jonathan Herrera’s Background Help Premises Liability Victims?
Premises liability claims are frequently defended by experienced insurance adjusters and corporate legal teams.
Jonathan Herrera understands how these claims are evaluated because he previously handled insurance claims as a licensed adjuster and later defended insurers as an attorney. That perspective allows him to anticipate the arguments insurers often raise before they become obstacles to your claim.
Today, he uses that experience to build strong cases supported by evidence, maintenance records, expert analysis, and thorough documentation. Every claim is prepared with the expectation that it may ultimately be reviewed by experienced insurance professionals, opposing counsel, or a jury.
Learn more about Jonathan Herrera’s background, legal experience, and insurance industry knowledge.
What Compensation May Be Available?
Depending on the circumstances, compensation may include:
Economic Damages
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Future rehabilitation expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Physical impairment
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement
Every case is different, but a thorough investigation helps identify every available source of compensation supported by the evidence.
Why Does Early Investigation Matter?
Property owners often begin investigating immediately after an accident is reported.
Surveillance footage may be overwritten, hazardous conditions repaired, and witnesses become more difficult to locate as time passes. Cleaning schedules, inspection records, employee reports, and maintenance logs can also become more difficult to obtain.
Beginning an investigation as soon as possible helps preserve critical evidence and build a stronger claim from the outset.
Speak Directly With Jonathan Herrera About Your Premises Liability Claim
If you were injured on someone else’s property in Houston or elsewhere in Texas, Herrera PLLC is available to discuss your situation.
Taking action early gives your legal team the best opportunity to preserve evidence before it disappears.
Jonathan Herrera personally handles every matter and works directly with clients throughout the legal process.
Learn more about Herrera PLLC’s approach to personal representation and trial preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Premises liability is the area of Texas law that allows injured people to seek compensation when unsafe property conditions cause injuries. Property owners may be held responsible if they knew, or reasonably should have known, about a dangerous condition and failed to address it.
The absence of a warning sign may strengthen a premises liability claim, particularly if the property owner knew about the hazard or should have discovered it through reasonable inspections.
Potentially. Businesses have a duty to maintain reasonably safe premises for customers and other lawful visitors. Whether you have a claim depends on the circumstances surrounding the accident and the available evidence.
Property owners and insurance companies frequently make this argument. Whether a hazard was truly open and obvious depends on the specific facts, the surrounding conditions, and the available evidence.
Texas generally gives injured people two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Beginning the investigation early helps preserve evidence and protect your claim.