Abilene Slip and Fall Lawyer

Abilene Slip and Fall Attorney

In Abilene, if you were injured in a slip and fall accident, an Abilene slip and fall lawyer can provide an overview of Texas premises liability standards and other laws that may apply to your case.

If you fell in a grocery store on South Clack Street, a medical building on Buffalo Gap Road, or an Abilene Christian University walkway, issues often arise about maintenance and lighting in:

• Parking lots
• Sidewalks
• Inside aisles
• Products on the floor
• Stairs
• Other walkway surfaces

The Law Offices of Miller & Bicklein, P.C., can discuss how the fall happened, review available evidence, and provide an overview of evidence preservation and injury investigation processes under Texas law.

Hire a Slip and Fall Lawyer

Established in 1994, The Law Offices of Miller & Bicklein, P.C., has represented many injured Texans, including those pursuing slip and fall claims in Abilene and Taylor County. Our bilingual team can communicate effectively in English and Spanish. We can review medical records, property safety standards, investigation procedures, and other issues that arise when a fall causes injuries.

Our attorneys assess potential hazards and apply Texas premises liability rules to the facts of your case. We provide our clients with guidance based on our experience in handling injury cases throughout Texas.

Abilene Slip and Fall

Call Law Offices of Miller & Bicklein today at 210-366-2400 for your Free Consultation!

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Understanding Premises Liability in Abilene

Slip and fall claims in Abilene and throughout Texas often turn on whether a property owner used reasonable care to inspect and maintain the condition of walkways, floors, and entrances. The process of investigating a slip and fall accident may look at:

• How long a hazard was present
• Whether an area was being watched
• Whether barricades or warning signs were in place

Studies by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) demonstrate that over 14 million older adults experience falls annually, which result in approximately nine million fall-related injuries.

Evidence Collection and Hazard Documentation

Accurate information is important to understand a slip and fall situation. Photos of the surface, witness names, maintenance logs, or incident reports, for example, can establish how and when the hazard developed and if it could or should have been remedied.

In Abilene, this might include reviewing security camera footage from:

• Businesses on South Clack Street
• Apartment entrances near Hardin Simmons University
• Clinic hallways near Southwest Drive

In 2023, Texas had 92 fall-related work fatalities, according to the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation. The longer a hazard exists before a fall, the easier it may be to prove that a property owner or manager should have known about it. Clean, well-documented records of maintenance schedules and unedited video can explain what happened and how long a hazard was present.

Filing Requirements and Local Considerations in Taylor County

In Abilene, slip and fall cases must be filed within two years, which matches the statute of limitations typical for personal injury claims. Taking action sooner also leaves more time to preserve medical records, research how a fall happened, and request that surveillance or maintenance records be kept before being erased.

Depending on the amount of damages and other procedural aspects, a case may be filed in the Taylor County Court at Law or in the district court. Falls are the leading cause of injury among adults aged 65 and over, so it is important to preserve evidence as soon as possible.

Witnesses may not be easy to find months later, video may be erased by a business or apartment management, and a hospital or medical clinic may have lost records of property safety conditions unless a formal request is made within a reasonable period under Texas slip and fall laws.

FAQs

How Can Footwear Affect a Slip and Fall Evaluation?

Knowing the type of shoes the victim wore can clarify the causes of a fall or simply illustrate the conditions involved. The relevant features include the tread patterns, the degree of wear, and whether the footwear was well-suited to the circumstances. Preservation by not cleaning or modifying the footwear can allow for an examination after the incident. The cause of a slip and fall may not turn on the footwear, but the kind of shoes can illuminate the process.

How Does Texas Handle Shared Fault in Slip and Fall Cases?

The Texas proportionate responsibility statute says that an injured person can obtain compensation unless their share of responsibility for a fall reaches 51%. In most cases, there is evidence that shows both the property owner’s maintenance practices and the injured person’s behavior.

Photo and video documentation, witness interviews, and reviews of safety and inspection records can clarify how a hazard came to be present and if reasonable actions were taken by either side.

What If the Hazard Was Hard to See or I Did Not Notice It?

A slip and fall claim does not automatically fail because the hazard was not noticed before the incident. Certain conditions are not always apparent or easy to spot in plain view. Some conditions, such as clear liquid on tile, uneven flooring with little contrast, or inadequate lighting, may not be obvious. An investigation can obtain information about lighting conditions and practices for property inspections. It would also address the use of warnings for hazards in place.

Do Outdoor Falls Count in Premises Liability Claims?

Falls that occur outdoors, including those in parking lots, on sidewalks, or near an entrance, may be subject to a premises liability standard if the landowner had control of the area. The surfaces and related defects, weather-related hazards, lighting, drainage, and maintenance and inspection routines may all be factors.

The main issue is whether the hazard had been present long enough to be identified and remedied. Maintenance logs, photos, and witness statements may be used to show if reasonable safety steps were taken and warnings used when necessary.

Contact an Abilene Slip and Fall Attorney

Slip and fall cases in Abilene depend on clear evidence, close analysis of the property conditions, and a knowledge of Texas premises liability rules as they apply to everyday settings, from stores to medical offices to apartment complexes. Initial steps for most cases start with gathering medical records, trying to secure any surveillance video, and confirming ownership or maintenance control of where the fall happened.

In a no-obligation consultation, you can explain your situation to an Abilene slip and fall attorney. We can then go over your legal options. Contact The Law Offices of Miller & Bicklein, P.C., to learn more.