When Can Texas Businesses Be Liable for Slip and Fall Accidents?

Slip and fall accidents can happen almost anywhere, from grocery stores and restaurants to office buildings and shopping centers. While some falls are simply accidents, many occur because a business failed to keep its property safe for customers or employees. Understanding when a Texas business can be held legally responsible for a slip and fall injury can make a major difference in whether you recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

What Makes a Business Liable for a Slip and Fall Accident?

In Texas, businesses are required to maintain reasonably safe premises for their customers and guests. This means property owners and managers must inspect their property, correct dangerous conditions, and warn visitors about hazards that are not immediately obvious. When they fail to do so, and someone gets hurt, they can be held liable for negligence.

To prove that a business was negligent in a slip and fall case, your attorney must show four key elements:

• The business had a duty to keep its property safe.
• The business knew or should have known about a dangerous condition.
• The business failed to fix or warn about the hazard.
• You were injured as a result of that negligence.

Common examples of hazards that lead to business liability include wet floors without warning signs, broken flooring, uneven sidewalks, spilled food or liquids, cluttered aisles, or poor lighting that hides potential dangers.

Understanding “Actual” and “Constructive” Notice

One of the most important factors in a Texas slip and fall case is whether the business had notice of the dangerous condition. There are two main types of notice: actual and constructive.

Actual notice means the business knew about the hazard. For example, if an employee saw a spilled drink on the floor but did nothing to clean it up, the company had actual notice of the danger.

Constructive notice means the business should have known about the hazard because it existed long enough that a reasonable inspection would have found it. For instance, if a spill was present for several hours before your fall, a court might find that the business “should have known” and therefore is responsible for your injuries.

Determining whether a company had actual or constructive notice often requires strong evidence, such as surveillance footage, cleaning logs, or witness statements. This is where having an experienced attorney becomes essential.

How Comparative Negligence Affects Your Case

Texas follows a rule called modified comparative negligence. Under this system, both you and the business can share responsibility for the accident. If you are found to be partially at fault, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

For example, if a jury finds that you were 20 percent responsible because you were distracted by your phone when you fell, and your total damages were $100,000, you could still recover $80,000. However, if you are more than 50 percent at fault, you may not recover any compensation at all.

This makes it especially important to work with legal counsel who can counter any claims that you caused your own injuries and who can present evidence showing that the business’s negligence was the primary factor in your fall.

Examples of Business Negligence in Texas Slip and Fall Cases

While every slip and fall case is different, there are several common scenarios in which Texas businesses can be held liable for injuries:

• Failure to clean up spills promptly: Restaurants and stores often face liability when employees ignore or delay cleaning a spill that later causes a fall.
• Inadequate lighting: Dim parking lots and stairwells increase the risk of tripping or slipping because hazards are difficult to see.
• Broken flooring or stairs: Cracked tiles, uneven flooring, and loose handrails create unsafe conditions that property owners must repair quickly.
• Neglected outdoor maintenance: Businesses can be responsible for accidents caused by standing water, ice, or debris on sidewalks and entryways.
• Improper safety procedures: Failing to train employees on proper cleaning and inspection routines often leads to dangerous oversights.

Each of these examples shows how easily a preventable hazard can cause a serious injury. Businesses that take safety seriously usually have regular inspection policies, cleaning schedules, and clear warning procedures in place. When those systems fail, people get hurt.

If you were injured in one of these situations, our slip and fall attorneys can help you investigate what went wrong and hold the business accountable for its negligence.

What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident

What you do immediately after a slip and fall can make a major difference in the strength of your case. If you are injured, take these steps whenever possible:

• Report the accident to a manager or employee and make sure an incident report is filed.
• Take photos of the scene, including the hazard that caused your fall.
• Collect names and contact information of witnesses.
• Seek medical treatment as soon as possible, even if your injuries seem minor.
• Contact an attorney before speaking with the insurance company.

Businesses and their insurers often try to deny responsibility by arguing that you were careless or that the hazard was obvious. Taking immediate action helps preserve the evidence needed to prove your claim.

Get Legal Help After a Slip and Fall Injury

Slip and fall cases in Texas can be complicated, but you do not have to face them alone. At Barrow Law, we have extensive experience representing injury victims against businesses that fail to keep their premises safe. We know how to uncover evidence of negligence, challenge unfair insurance tactics, and pursue full compensation for your losses.

If you were hurt in a fall, we are ready to help you take the next step toward recovery. Contact us today to speak with an experienced attorney who can review your case and explain your options.