You weren’t being reckless. You were just there.
A slippery floor, a broken step, an unmarked hazard. You went to a store, a restaurant, or someone else’s property and never expected to leave in pain. When an owner fails to fix a known hazard or warn you, that is negligence.
We hold property owners accountable
From wet floors to faulty handrails and poor lighting, unsafe-premises injuries happen every day and can change your life instantly, while the owner’s insurer works to deflect blame and avoid paying.
We pursue every dollar you deserve
We know how to build strong premises liability claims. We investigate the scene, gather evidence, and pursue full compensation for your pain, your time, and your future. The property wasn’t safe. That’s not your fault.
Practice Areas
Contact us today for a free consultation and find out how we can help.
(281) 500-1000
Types of Premises Liability Cases We Handle
Property owners and businesses have a duty to keep their property reasonably safe for the people they invite in. When they don’t, people get hurt. We handle cases involving:
Negligent security
Assaults, robberies, and shootings in parking lots, apartment complexes, hotels, and stores where the owner knew or should have known about the danger.
Slip & fall accidents
Wet floors, spills, loose mats, and debris that weren’t cleaned up or marked with a warning.
Trip & fall accidents
Broken sidewalks, uneven flooring, parking lot potholes, and cords or clutter in walkways.
Stairway & handrail failures
Broken steps, missing or loose handrails, and poorly lit stairwells.
Falling objects
Merchandise stacked too high, loose fixtures, and shelving or ceiling collapses.
Dog attacks
Attacks by dogs whose owners knew they were dangerous or failed to control them.
When a Business Fails to Protect You From Crime
Some of the most serious premises cases start in a parking lot. A shopper is attacked walking to their car. A hotel guest is robbed in a dark stairwell. An apartment resident is assaulted after the gate was left broken for months.
Under Texas law, a property owner can be held responsible for a criminal attack when the crime was foreseeable and the owner failed to take reasonable steps to prevent it. Courts look at whether there were prior similar crimes on or near the property, how recent and frequent they were, and whether the owner knew about them.
These cases are hard, and the companies behind them fight hard. When the evidence shows a business knew about the danger and did nothing, we hold it accountable.
Signs a business may have failed you
- Prior crimes on or near the property
- Broken gates, locks, or doors
- Poor or burned-out lighting
- Security cameras that didn’t work
- No security staff where it was clearly needed
- Complaints or warnings that were ignored
What to Do After an Injury on Someone Else’s Property
Get medical care
Your health comes first. Get checked out right away, and keep records of every visit.
Report it
Tell the manager, owner, or landlord and ask for a copy of the incident report. If you were attacked, call the police.
Photograph the hazard
Take photos and video of what caused your injury before it’s cleaned up or repaired: the spill, the broken step, the dark parking lot.
Find witnesses
Get names and phone numbers of anyone who saw what happened.
Keep your shoes & clothing
What you were wearing can help show how you fell or were hurt.
Call us before you talk to insurers
Don’t give a recorded statement until you’ve talked to a lawyer. Surveillance video can be erased quickly, so time matters.
What to Know About Texas Premises Liability Claims
You generally have two years
Most Texas personal injury and wrongful death claims must be filed within two years. Claims against a city, county, or state agency can require written notice much sooner, sometimes within months.
Shared fault doesn’t end your case
Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule. You can recover as long as you are not more than 50% responsible, though your recovery is reduced by your share of fault. Insurers use this rule to shift blame, so evidence matters.
Why you were there matters
Texas law gives the most protection to invitees, such as customers in a store. Owners must fix or warn about dangerous conditions they knew about or reasonably should have known about.
Hurt in Southern California?
California has its own rules on several of these points. Our founder, Charles Vethan, is licensed in both Texas and California, so call us either way and we’ll explain the rules that apply to your case.
Premises Liability Questions
Straight answers to the questions we hear most. Have a different question? Call us.
- Free, confidential case review
- No fee unless we recover
- We’ll call you back within one business day
What do I have to prove in a Texas premises liability case?
In general, that the property had a dangerous condition, the owner knew or reasonably should have known about it, the owner failed to fix it or warn you, and that failure caused your injury. The rules differ depending on why you were on the property.
Can a business be responsible if I was attacked in its parking lot?
In some cases, yes. If the crime was foreseeable, for example because of prior similar crimes on or near the property, and the business failed to take reasonable security measures, it may be liable for your injuries.
What if I was partly at fault for my fall?
You may still recover. Under Texas’s comparative fault rule, you can recover damages as long as you are not more than 50% responsible, reduced by your share of fault.
What can I recover in a premises liability claim?
Depending on your case, you may recover medical expenses, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and physical impairment. Families who lost a loved one may have a wrongful death claim.
How much does it cost to hire Raven Injury Law?
Nothing up front. We handle injury cases on a contingency fee, which means you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover for you.
The information on this page is general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different.