In the San Antonio area there are thousands of walk-in stores – This includes retail stores, grocery stores, convenience stores as well as more generalized walk-in places such as lobbys and shopping malls. At any given time there could be a slip and fall danger in these places. These dangerous areas may be from employees mopping without the proper warning signs or accidental spills by other customers. In any case, it is the responsibility of every store to identify and clean up any slick areas that may cause people to fall and hurt themselves.
In most cases we can’t expect a store owner or their employees to immediately. One example is if a customer spills a drink on a tile floor. Then another slips on that spill shortly after. It’s likely the owner nor employees is even aware of the danger, let alone had time to get supplies to clean up the spill. The requirements to seek compensation for slippery or dangerous conditions in a store is that the owner or employees knew about the hazard a reasonable time before the slip / fall happened. This is where there is room for interpretation and the details of your particular case need to be reviewed. For example, many stores in San Antonio such as Wal Mart, Target, Costco, etc often have greeters at the front door. These people should be able to identify a spill or dangerous area fairly quickly in that area. However, in other parts of the store such as in side isles that aren’t necessarily monitored it could take some time for anyone to know there is a spill. This is why it’s important to have an experienced slip and fall lawyer for your case.
What Should You Do If You Slip at a Store and Hurt Yourself?
As with all injures irrelevant of the nature, please get necessary medical treatment. Particularly with falls, you might twist your ankle or wrist (for example) with minimal discomfort initially, but deeper injuries to bone or tissue might present days to weeks later. The store you fell at will likely be responsible to reimburse you for any costs due to getting your injury checked out and treatment you receive. However, they may not be forthcoming about this and hope you or your insurance pays for your medical care. This is why it’s important to have a San Antonio slip and fall attorney review your case. Nearly all personal injury attorneys in San Antonio and Texas will review your case for free and not charge anything unless you are reimbursed for medical expenses, time away from work and long-term pain.
Why Contact The Law Firm of Aaron A. Herbert, PC?
Many slip and fall lawyers in the San Antonio area will negotiate with the store’s attorneys and come to a settlement agreement. While this is easier for the attorney it’s not necessarily the best option for someone who was injured in a slip and fall accident. Aaron H. Herbert and hit team of lawyers, paralegals and other legal professions are trial lawyers. This means if we believe we can get you a better outcome by going to trial, we will. In addition, Aaron is a board certified trial lawyer in Texas so you can start your case with us knowing you will receive the best legal representation possible. Only about 2% of all Texas lawyers are board certified, and we have two on our staff.
Call, Email or chat with us 24/7 to start your case review
Residents of San Antonio sometimes encounter a threat from sinkholes, which can damage property and injure or kill people. The holes occur more frequently in Texas than any other state. They occur naturally and can form without any obvious warning signs. Texas law includes protections for citizens and insurance companies, but many find these regulations complicated. Read on to learn more about sinkholes, the damages they cause and how the government classifies them, methods available to you for filing a claim, and what you should do in the aftermath of a sinkhole.
What Is a Sinkhole?
When water dissolves land forms of soil, sediment, or rock as foundation, a sink hole occurs. The ground may sink into an underground cave that forms from the water dissolution. Insurers are required to cover a catastrophic ground cover collapse when the ground collapses abruptly, a visible hole or depression appears, structures are damaged, and the government condemns the structures due to the damages.
If your home is damaged by a sinkhole but all four of those conditions are not met, and you do not have sinkhole coverage, an insurance company can deny a claim. All companies insuring homes in Texas must offer sinkhole coverage. However, if the company completes an inspection and finds sinkhole activity on the property or nearby, they may refuse coverage.
Methods for Filing Suit
When sinkholes occur, owners and those injured may file a claim for liability. These claims fall into different categories, based on the circumstances:
Premises Liability
Visitors to a home or building who receive injuries because of a sinkhole may file suit against the owner claiming premises liability. Owners must make every effort to keep visitors to their property safe from harm. When an owner is aware of a potential sinkhole forming but does not take action to address the dangerous situation, the injured party can sue the owner for failing to fulfill his or her responsibilities.
Real Estate Fraud
Home sellers must advise potential buyers of sinkhole threats. Although the warning signs of a sinkhole forming can be hard to spot, if a seller knows of a sinkhole and fails to inform the buyer, the seller could bear full liability for the damages. Most commonly these holes cause an injury that only a San Antonio slip and fall lawyer can help with.
Neighborly Nuisance
Sometimes a company or entity near your home sets the stage for the sinkhole to happen, causing the damage to your home. A gas company may be doing maintenance on pipes, for example. A factory could do some work that affects an entire neighborhood. Suing a neighbor may prove the best way for a victim to seek damages.
What Should You Do
If you suspect a sinkhole may exist or be forming near your home, contact a professional service. They can fill some small holes as they form. Others require evacuation and may lead to massive damages.
In the event you suspect a nearby sinkhole caused damage, make sure you ask the local utility companies to inspect your lines. After that, call your insurance company to file your claim. You may want to call an inspector in to help you identify other damages like cracks in your foundation, walls, or ceilings.
