Llano Slip and Fall Attorney

Every day, slips, trips, and falls happen in Llano, Texas. Most of the time, it’s a minor incident, resulting in a bit of bruised pride and nothing else. But they can be much more severe. Muscle strains, ligament sprains, broken bones, and even more serious injuries can all result from a fall, causing real pain and suffering for those who experience it. Llano slip and fall lawyer W. Shane Jennings, who is licensed in Texas, and his expert team are here to help.

If someone is to blame for your fall injury — perhaps because they created a dangerous environment or simply didn’t take care of their property or walkway — it’s not fair that you should foot the bill. Slip and fall attorneys in Llano can help you understand your options and hopefully achieve the compensation you deserve.

Hazards That Could Lead to Falls in Llano, Texas

A slip or fall can happen at almost any time, and most of us have slipped or stumbled seemingly over nothing at some point in our lives. However, there are factors that can make these falls more likely, and these factors can put health, safety, and even lives at risk.

If you are visiting a business, a public place, or even a private property as an invited guest, someone will be responsible for keeping this space safe. If they neglect to maintain a safe space for visitors and users, this could be grounds for a lawsuit if it leads to an injury.

There are many reasons why someone may suffer a slip or fall. Here are some of the most common:

Wet or slick flooring
Uneven or awkward surfaces
Cabling or conduits that run across walkways
Items or debris that is left on the floor
Uneven steps or stairs
Changes in floor level
Broken floor tiles or loose floor coverings
Damaged handrails or handrails that are missing altogether
Dimly lit areas
Damage to exterior walls and ceiling that let in rain or other weather elements
Untidy or cluttered spaces

If you were injured as a result of any of the above, a slip and fall lawyer in Llano, TX, like W. Shane Jennings can provide the guidance and support you need. Even if you don’t see the reason for your slip or trip on the list, Shane may still be able to help you get the compensation you deserve following a painful experience.

Where Can a Slip and Fall Accident in Llano Occur?

Slip and fall lawyers in Llano deal with a variety of different cases, stemming from a range of different properties and locations. Most cases originate in one of the following five location categories:

At a Commercial Property

Commercial properties belong to specific business owners, and they are not really public property. However, they are places that are open to the public, and anyone can walk into a shop, restaurant, or another business. The business owner needs to take reasonable steps to protect the safety of everyone who comes through their doors.

In a Public Space

City parks, streets, sidewalks, and other areas like these are public spaces. Anyone can visit and use these areas, and typically, there will be no supervision when they do. Despite this, the local authority — or whoever is responsible for the space — still needs to make sure the space is safe and free from trip or fall hazards.

On Government Land

Certain spaces are owned by the government or by public servant organizations like law enforcement or citizens’ advice offices. If these spaces are open to the public or if you are invited or permitted to enter, you have a reasonable expectation of safety. A trip or fall due to negligence or neglect can still result in a personal injury lawsuit in Llano, TX.

At Your Workplace

Wherever you work, there is a reasonable expectation that your health will be protected. If you work in an office, this expectation may be greater than if you work in a lumber yard or construction site, but all workplaces need to be made as safe from hazards as possible.

On a Private Property

Private properties — such as homes or any space where access is prohibited — can still be at the center of a personal injury suit. If you are invited onto a property or if there is no clear boundary at the edge of the property, your health may be put at risk by any hazards you encounter.

Elderly Slip and Falls Can Cause Severe Injuries and Broken Bones

A slip or fall can be serious for anyone, but for elderly individuals, the likelihood and potential severity of injury is even greater. As we age, our balance, strength, vision, hearing, and general awareness may decline. What’s more, our bones and soft tissue may be weakened, which means a fall is more likely to result in injury.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the leading cause of injury for senior citizens (65 and older) is falling, and more than a quarter report a fall each year. As not all these slips, trips, and falls will be reported, the actual number could be significantly higher. The Texas DSHS further states that falls can be costly for the health and general well-being of seniors.

Many injuries can result from a senior slip or fall, but hip fractures are among the most common and the most severe. Nationwide, more than 300,000 Americans aged 65 and above end up in hospital with a hip fracture every year. In 95% of these cases, the fractures were the result of a fall.

Most hip fracture injuries occur in women — around 75% of the total incidences. This is because women are more susceptible to falls than men and may be more likely to develop osteoporosis, weakening the bones and making fractures more likely.

What if I Was Partially at Fault for the Accident in Llano, TX?

When you speak to a Llano slip and fall lawyer, you may want to know about the possible outcome of the case. In Texas, these cases may be very straightforward, resulting in a swift and simple decision. However, they can also be complicated. This is because of the comparative negligence laws that apply here in the Lone Star State.

Texan courts use modified comparative negligence rules when they hear personal injury cases. This is also known as proportionate responsibility. In other words, there may be more than one party to blame in your case.

How Proportionate Responsibility Can Work in Practice

Take a look at these two examples:

One: You are shopping at a store, and you stumble on a loose piece of carpeting covering a step, causing an injury. No steps had been taken to draw attention to the step, and the loose carpeting had not been fixed by the store owner.

In this case, the fault will probably rest with the store owner. They may be responsible for the incident, so you may be awarded 100% of any damages.

Two: You are shopping at a store, and you slip on a wet step that has recently been mopped. You reach out to grab the handrail, but it is damaged, and you fall. The broken rail causes a cut to your hand, while the fall results in soft tissue damage to your knee. Signs had been deployed to warn shoppers of the wet floor, but you didn’t see the sign because you were looking at your phone.

In this case, you may be found to be partially at fault. The store owner did attempt to alert you to the wet floor, but you were looking at your phone as you descended the stairs, not taking the proper care and attention. However, the broken handrail was the store owner’s responsibility. You may receive partial damages for the knee injury and full damages for the cut to your hand.

What Parties Can Be Held Responsible in a Slip and Fall in Llano, Texas?

When deciding who is at fault in a personal injury case, the key factor for Llano slip and fall lawyers is responsibility. So, who may be responsible if you are injured in a fall?

Commercial Properties

One or more of the following may be responsible for a commercial property:

The owner of the property
The party who leases the property to another
The party who leases the property from another
The party who is responsible for managing the space

Public Spaces

Public spaces may be under the jurisdiction of one of the following parties:

The municipality or local authority
The owner of a nearby property
The party who leases a nearby property to another
The party who leases a nearby property from another

Private Properties

Even in private spaces, there may be a duty of care. If you are invited over to someone’s home, for example, perhaps as a personal guest or in a professional capacity, one of the following parties may have a reasonable duty of care:

The owner of the property
The party who leases the property to another
The party who leases the property from another
Another resident of the property

Other Possible Cases

There may be another party at fault, including the following:

Contractors carrying out work nearby
Business employees
Passersby or other individuals in the area
Anyone who carried out an action that put someone else at risk or who was negligent or neglectful, resulting in injury

What Damages Can I Recover With a Slip and Fall Lawsuit?

The most obvious outcome of a bad slip or fall is a physical injury, but there may be other results too. With this in mind, what damages can you recover in a Llano, Texas, premises liability claim involving a slip and fall?

Acute injuries and treatment. A serious or painful injury in Llano, TX, may need immediate treatment.
Ongoing physical treatment. Sprains, strains, or broken bones may require ongoing treatment and rehabilitation and may result in further injury.
Modifications to home and transport. Serious injury may result in disability, and you may need to modify your home, car, or other aspects of your life as a result.
Psychological treatment. Not all damage will be visible, and you may need emotional or psychological treatment.
Loss of earnings. It may not be possible to work while you recover from your injury.
Damage to property. A fall may result in damage to your personal property.
Possible other damages. Depending on the case, you may be able to claim for other less tangible damages, such as distress and discomfort or loss of enjoyment from life.

How Are Slip and Fall Settlements Calculated in Llano, Texas?

Your slip and fall lawyer in Llano will consider the following factors when they take on your case, as these aspects can impact the compensation you receive:

The severity of your injuries. An extremely painful, serious, or life-threatening injury may entitle you to greater compensation.
Your proportion of the responsibility. Under comparative negligence laws, you may share some of the responsibility in certain cases.
Your fitness to return to work. Your ability to work and earn money will be taken into account.
Your ongoing care needs. Many injuries may require ongoing care and treatment, which may need to be factored in.
Pain and suffering. Texan law does not have a set method for calculating these less tangible damages, but your Llano slip and fall lawyer will still take this into account when they take on your case.

Contact a Llano Slip and Fall Lawyer at the Law Offices of W. Shane Jennings Today!

If you’ve suffered a slip or fall in Llano, Texas, and it wasn’t your fault, call on the Law Office of W. Shane Jennings. Our team has the expertise and experience to help you through this difficult time and achieve the outcome you deserve. Call us today and get your free consultation. You’ll be able to speak with one of our lawyers, so you’ll immediately know the next steps in your case. Peace of mind, expertise, and warm, friendly service are what we offer.

In addition to Llano, TX, the Law Office of W. Shane Jennings also serves Marble Falls, Burnet, Mason, Brady, Fredericksburg, Lakeway, Leander, Copperas Cove, Cedar Park, Anderson Mill, Kerrville, Jollyville, Round Rock, Hobbs, New Mexico, Las Cruces, and more.