Houston Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer

Slip and fall accidents range from a momentary incident that everyone has a chuckle about to a major one that can cause serious injury or even death.
In fact, death from serious falls is more common than most people imagine. The CDC estimates that unintentional falls account for almost 20,000 deaths annually in the U.S. Around 20-30 percent of people who slip and fall will suffer a moderate to severe injury.

Whether a bruise, bone fracture, head injury or traumatic brain injury, you may have a legitimate claim if your injury was from an accident caused by the negligent or reckless actions of another party. This is often a business owner who did not exercise a duty of care.

Regardless of your type of slip and fall injury, personal injury lawyer Ryan DeHoyos can help you claim the compensation you deserve and get back on your feet after your injury.

Why hire a lawyer to recover damages in slip and fall cases?

It may sound simple. You slipped, fell and fractured your hip all because the local mall didn’t cordon off an area of wet flooring. You were forced to miss work, suffered considerable pain and discomfort, and are out of pocket because of sky-high medical bills.

Compensation should be easy, right? The business or the insurance company covering the mall for these “duty of care incidents” should pay up.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work that way.

Businesses and their insurance companies are adept at avoiding liability in slip and fall injury claims. They hire powerful legal teams to defend their interests and avoid large payouts.

Therefore, at a time when you are already in difficulty because of your injury, you are placed in further difficulty by having to fight with an insurance company for compensation. Unfortunately, the law in Texas also often favors the business rather than the injured party.

So, slip and fall cases can be challenging for those with no experience in personal injury claims.

A seasoned personal injury lawyer can change all that. Ryan DeHoyos has considerable experience in handling slip and fall injury claims and can help prove the liability of the responsible party and claim fair compensation for your losses.

He will conduct all communications with the insurance company while you focus on recovery from your injuries.

While most cases are settled out of court, Ryan DeHoyos is equally adept at trial if no settlement is possible.

Recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2019, Ryan DeHoyos is intimately familiar with the local Houston court system as well as the procedures and laws involved in all types of personal accident injury claims.

Some lawyers in Houston don’t take certain types of slip and fall injury cases but if you’ve been injured and incurred losses due to the negligence of another party, Ryan DeHoyos will help you fight for your rights.

He will not bow down to “strongarm” or deceptive tactics used by businesses or their insurance companies to avoid payment.

What are common causes of slip and fall injuries in Houston?

Slip and fall injuries can sometimes occur due to the carelessness of the injured party or unavoidable accidents. This is what the insurance company may argue.

However, they also happen because of hazards or unsafe conditions on the premises. Such injuries are often avoidable and may be due to the negligence of the property owner. For instance, a proper inspection of the premises was not carried out or necessary repairs were willfully ignored.

Typical causes of slip and fall injuries in Houston include the following:

• Wet or slippery floors during or after cleaning
• Slippery stairways or ramps
• Slippery carpets or flooring tiles due to wear and tear
• Unsecured wires or cords in a public walking area
• Poor lighting in an area that should be well lit (like a stairwell)
• Jutting-out obstacles
• Missing or broken stairs or handrails
• Failure to warn of known hazards

Why hire Ryan DeHoyos as your slip and fall injury lawyer?

Ryan A. DeHoyos has been an established face in the courtrooms of Houston for over a decade. In recent years, he has represented local families affected by personal accident injuries in the city and the surrounding areas.

Ryan went to South Texas School of Law and graduated with a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2009. Upon graduation, Ryan worked for a local law firm and several large businesses to hone his litigation and trial skills, and today he uses this experience and his holistic understanding of legal matters to obtain favorable results for his clients

His knowledge and understanding of the local court system, the associated procedures, and the personnel involved can benefit your case.

When you choose Ryan DeHoyos to manage your case, you can expect the following:

• A compassionate, friendly, and focused approach.
• An attorney who is truly focused on your best interests
• A detail-oriented examination of your case
• Tenacious negotiations with the insurance company of the at-fault party
• Open and regular communication to keep you informed at every stage of the process
• No “legalese”, Ryan will explain matters in clear English no matter how complex
• The expertise of a personal injury lawyer recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers
• An impressive track record of success in and out of the courtroom

Ryan DeHoyos will fight for your best interests, but you still retain control of the ultimate decision: whether to accept a settlement or proceed to a trial. His advice and guidance can prove invaluable when making this decision.

What must be proven and what losses can you claim for slip and fall injuries?

One of two basic requirements must generally be proven in slip and fall cases if you are hoping to win compensation from the property owner:

• The responsible party knew or should have known about the safety hazard/unsafe conditions, or
• The responsible party failed to fix the dangerous condition or provide adequate warnings to customers/the public

A property/business owner has a duty of care to keep the premises safe for visitors and customers. If a dangerous condition was the cause of your injury and one of the above elements is true, this duty of care has been breached.

Remember that the property/business owner or manager must have known about the hazard or should have known. A common defense for businesses is that the hazard presented itself immediately before the accident – but video surveillance footage can often prove this wrong.

If you suffer an injury due to your accident you may be able to claim the following losses, depending on the extent of your injury:

• All past, present and future medical bills for treating your injury
• Lost income from not being able to work
• Lost future earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Any other damages suffered as a direct result of your injury

What should you do after a slip and fall accident injury?

After a slip and fall accident at business premises, the first step is naturally to attend to your injuries and seek emergency medical care.

You will aid a future compensation claim for your injuries if you can also do the following:

• If possible, stay at the scene and take pictures of the hazard that caused the accident and any relevant surroundings
• Get an incident report from the management of the business if possible
• Get a diagnosis of your injuries as soon as possible and obtain a copy of all relevant medical records

After this, the most important step is to speak to Ryan DeHoyos and discuss your situation and your options. Ryan will investigate the incident, gather further evidence to prove liability, and liaise with the business owner and the insurance company while you focus on recovery.

Who can be held liable for slip and fall accidents in Texas?

All public businesses in Texas have a duty of care to ensure their premises are safe for visitors and patrons – whether they are guests, customers, shoppers, suppliers, and so on.

The types of properties in Texas that routinely face slip and fall accident injury claims include:

• Hotels
• Recreation centers
• Swimming pools and water parks
• Playgrounds
• Go-cart tracks
• Restaurants and Bars
• Office buildings
• Malls and department stores

Homeowners and landowners may also be held liable for slips and falls. They have a duty of care to visitors and even some trespassers! As such, they are expected to eliminate or warn of hazards on their property.

Contact DeHoyos Accident Attorneys, PLLC Today

Most slip and fall injury cases are complex and should not be attempted without the assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer.

If you or a loved one has been injured from a slip or fall in the Houston area, contact DeHoyos Accident Attorneys, PLLC today at (832) 745-4878 for a free and confidential consultation about your case.