If you slipped on a wet supermarket floor, fell through a weak balcony railing, or were hurt during an assault in a poorly lit parking lot, you are not alone. Property owners in Texas have a legal duty to keep their buildings and land reasonably safe. When they ignore hazards, injured visitors pay the price with medical bills, missed work, and lingering pain.
At the Law Office of Shane R. Kadlec, we have helped injured Texans secure fair compensation since 1996, and we are ready to review your case at no charge.
What is Premises Liability?
Premises liability is the area of Texas personal injury law that holds property owners and occupiers responsible when unsafe conditions hurt guests. A business, homeowner, or management company must fix hazards within a reasonable time or warn visitors about the danger. Failing to do so can lead to financial responsibility for the visitor’s injuries, lost income, and other losses.
Texas courts look at whether the property holder knew, or should have known, about the risk. Evidence such as inspection logs, repair requests, or surveillance footage often shows knowledge of the problem. Our firm gathers these details quickly before they disappear.
Common Premises Liability Cases We Handle
No two injury cases or clients are exactly alike, yet many cases share familiar causes, and our approach to investigating and prosecuting these cases has proven successful time and time again. We regularly assist clients hurt in the following circumstances:
● Slip and fall incidents caused by spills, freshly mopped floors, or missing wet-floor signs
● Trip and fall events involving uneven sidewalks, potholes, or loose extension cords
● Drowning accidents in unfenced backyard pools or apartment complexes without staffed lifeguards
● Collapsing floors, ramps, broken stairs, or loose railings that give way under normal use
● Negligent security that allows assaults, robberies, or car break-ins because of broken locks or a lack of lighting
● Electrocution from exposed wiring, faulty outlets, or missing ground-fault breakers
● Dog bites and other animal attacks occur when owners fail to restrain aggressive pets
Each scenario requires a prompt investigation to record conditions before they change, so reaching out quickly helps preserve your claim.
How the Law Office of Shane R. Kadlec Can Help
Recovering after a premises injury involves far more than signing a few forms. Our team guides you through every step.
Thorough Case Evaluation
We visit the scene, collect photographs, request maintenance records, and interview witnesses. By piecing together inspection schedules and repair logs, we pinpoint who is accountable.
Assessing Your Legal Options
After reviewing the facts, we outline avenues for compensation, such as insurance claims against the owner, a third-party contractor, or a security company. We also explain damages that can be sought, including hospital bills, future therapy, lost wages, and pain.
Aggressive Representation
Insurance adjusters often argue that a hazard was “open and obvious” or that you were careless. We counter those arguments with photographs, expert testimony, and a clear timeline showing how long the danger existed.
Client-Focused Approach
You receive regular updates and honest answers. When settlement offers arrive, we explain the pros and cons so you can choose the path that fits your goals.
Your Rights as a Visitor
Texas law divides visitors into three groups, and the property holder’s duty changes with each status:
● Invitee: Customer, tenant, or other guest present for mutual benefit. The owner must inspect, fix hazards, and warn about risks.
● Licensee: Social guest or delivery driver on the land for personal reasons. The owner must warn about known dangers that are not obvious.
● Trespasser: Person entering without consent. The owner must avoid intentional harm. Children lured by an unfenced pool can be treated differently under the attractive-nuisance rule.
Determining your status is the first step in proving the duty owed to you.
Proving Negligence in a Premises Liability Claim
Four building blocks form the foundation of a successful case. The chart below summarizes each element.
| Element | What You Must Show |
| Duty of Care | The owner or occupier owed you a level of safety based on your visitor status. |
| Breach | The owner failed to repair, inspect, or warn about the hazard. |
| Causation | The unsafe condition directly led to your injury. |
| Damages | You suffered financial or physical harm, such as medical bills, lost income, or pain. |
We work with safety engineers, building inspectors, or security experts to connect these dots clearly for insurers and, if necessary, a jury.
Real Life Examples
Now let’s take a closer look at some real-life examples of premises liability.
Drowning Accidents Due to Unsecured Pools
A common premises liability case involves a child drowning in a neighbor’s unsecured swimming pool. For example, a homeowner was found liable when a toddler entered their yard through a broken fence and drowned. The owner was negligent because they failed to maintain a secure pool enclosure as mandated by law. This failure to safeguard an “attractive nuisance” directly caused the preventable tragedy, making the owner responsible for the family’s damages and highlighting the critical duty of property owners.
Injuries from Structural Failures
In a real-life example of structural failure, a tenant was severely injured when their apartment balcony collapsed. An investigation found that the property management had ignored clear signs of wood rot and skipped routine inspections, leading to the collapse. This negligence in maintaining the building’s safety made the owner liable for the tenant’s extensive medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. This underscores a landlord’s duty to ensure all structures, including stairs and railings, are in safe repair.
Negligent Security Leading to Harm
A classic example of negligent security is a resident being assaulted in a dimly lit apartment parking garage. The building’s management was aware of prior criminal activity in the area but failed to install better lighting, functioning cameras, or hire security guards. This inaction created a foreseeable risk of harm, which directly led to the attack. The property owner was ultimately held liable for the victim’s physical and emotional trauma due to their failure to provide a reasonably safe environment.
Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation
Still wondering how bills will get paid or whether the property owner is at fault? Our team is ready to listen. Initial consultations are free, and you pay nothing unless we obtain compensation.
Your health and peace of mind come first. Call our office at 281-643-2000, or send a message through our contact form. We welcome your questions and will schedule a time that works for you.
Taking action now helps secure proof, strengthens your claim, and sets you on the path toward the financial support you need. Let’s talk and see how we can help you move forward.
