East Texas Premises Liability Lawyer
East Texas Premises Liability Lawyer
You expect everyday places like stores, apartments, public parks, and offices to be safe, but hidden hazards can change that in an instant. Recognized as one of the Top 40 Under 40, our firm is known across the state for combining proven results with personal attention that helps clients feel heard.
When a property owner’s negligence causes harm, your East Texas premises liability lawyer from Goff Law, PLLC can explain how state law applies to your situation. If you have questions about medical bills or insurance issues, your East Texas personal injury lawyer will take time to address them so you understand what matters most after an accident on someone else’s property.
What Property Owners Owe You Under Texas Law
When you step onto someone else’s property, your rights depend on whether you are there as a customer, a guest, or an uninvited visitor. These differences can decide what safety measures the owner was required to take and how your case will be viewed under Texas law, including Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 75.003, which outlines general liability duties. Rural properties in East Texas raise even more questions, since landowners often balance hospitality with risks tied to livestock or uneven terrain.
Why Your Legal Status on a Property Can Change Your Claim
Texas law sorts visitors into three main groups: invitees, licensees, and trespassers. An invitee is usually a paying customer at a business, and the owner must actively inspect for hazards and correct them. A licensee is someone welcome but not there for business, such as a social guest, and the owner must warn of known dangers but does not have to search for hidden ones. A trespasser has the least protection, though landowners still cannot intentionally cause harm.
The category you fall into matters because it determines what the property owner was required to do and how a court may view your injuries. For example, if you slipped in a grocery store aisle, the store had a greater duty to keep that space safe than if you tripped while visiting a neighbor’s backyard. When you speak with your East Texas premises liability attorney at Goff Law, PLLC, you can better see how your visitor status could affect the outcome of your claim.
What These Rules Mean for Visitors to Farms and Rural Properties Like You
Barns and ranches are part of life in East Texas, but they also present risks that city properties rarely do. Uneven ground or unsecured livestock pens can cause injuries, and older structures may create hazards that go unnoticed until someone gets hurt. Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 75.002 limits landowner liability when property is opened for recreational use, which is why the reason for your visit is such an important detail in any claim.
If you were invited to hunt or fish on rural land, the owner may have fewer duties than if you were there for business or as a social guest. Even so, property owners cannot ignore hazardous conditions or create situations that put visitors in danger. You should understand how these rural rules apply because that knowledge helps you evaluate whether your claim may be valid and what steps to consider next.
Hazards You Could Come Across on East Texas Properties
Premises liability often begins with unsafe conditions that owners failed to prevent or repair. Some hazards are obvious, while others are hidden until someone gets seriously hurt. With an exclusive focus on litigation in Texas state and federal courts, our team understands how these dangers are evaluated in claims, whether you need an East Texas dog bite lawyer or are dealing with another type of premises liability case. Here are examples of risks you might encounter on East Texas properties:
- Barn collapses that injure workers or visitors
- Unsafe livestock fencing that allows animals to break through
- Unmarked wells that create fall risks
- Unstable decks that cannot hold the expected weight
- Poor lighting in parking areas that leads to assaults or falls
- Loose or broken stair railings
- Potholes or uneven pavement in walkways
- Swimming pools left without barriers or warnings
- Electrical hazards in barns or older buildings
These hazards create responsibility because property owners are expected to correct known dangers or warn visitors before accidents occur. Under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003, you generally have two years to file claims for injuries, which means delays can jeopardize your rights. Early awareness of how the hazard connects to your injury gives you a stronger chance to prove fault and fight for the compensation you deserve.
How Unsafe Properties Can Affect You and Your Family in East Texas
If you were hurt on someone else’s property, medical treatment and stress at home can quickly take over your life. New expenses can also strain your budget. These challenges affect your family too, as they try to adjust while supporting you through recovery. With one of the most reputable trial attorneys in the Metroplex on your side, your East Texas catastrophic injury lawyer can explain how unsafe conditions may affect your household and what steps may follow in a case like yours.
Unsafe Properties Can Drain Your Finances
An unsafe property accident often starts a chain of expenses you never planned for. Medical bills arrive first with charges for emergency care and follow-up visits. Treatment may continue well beyond the initial incident, and those costs often pile onto the pressure you are already facing. Lost wages add another burden if you cannot return to work, and damage to personal items in the fall can increase that strain.
You generally have two years to file most premises liability claims, which is not much time when bills keep arriving. If you miss this deadline, you may lose the ability to pursue payment for medical costs or lost income. This matters because it helps you see why deadlines are critical when your financial stability is already at risk.
What You May Experience When Holding Neighbors or Local Businesses Accountable
Pursuing a claim against a neighbor or a local business can feel personal because these are people you interact with often. You might worry about tension in your community or how relationships could change if you decide to act. Even so, these cases are about fixing unsafe conditions so the same danger does not injure someone else.
State law under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 33.001 explains comparative responsibility, meaning your compensation can be reduced or denied if you are found mostly at fault. Working with an East Texas slip and fall lawyer gives you guidance from someone who understands how these cases are challenged in court. By learning how this statute applies, you can better see what to expect and what choices may protect your claim.
Turn to a Respected Premises Liability Lawyer in East Texas for Help Today
