Were you hurt in a fall on someone else’s property in Mesquite?
At Kelso Law, we represent people injured by unsafe property in Mesquite and pursue the full value of a claim.
If you were hurt in a fall on someone else’s property in Mesquite, the owner may be responsible for the hazard that caused it. Kelso Law has represented injured people in the Dallas area since 2012, including many premises and fall cases. Our Mesquite, TX slip and fall lawyer can determine whether the property owner knew about the danger, prove how the fall happened, and pursue the compensation you are owed. You can request a free consultation to learn where your claim stands and what steps come next.
Slip and Fall Lawyer Mesquite, TX
A slip and fall claim is a premises liability case that arises when a property owner fails to keep the property reasonably safe. Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injury, according to the CDC, and they cause millions of injuries treated in hospitals each year, from fractures to head trauma.
The heart of a slip and fall claim is notice. The owner is responsible when they knew about a hazard, or should have found it through reasonable inspection, and failed to fix it or warn visitors. A Mesquite slip and fall attorney investigates the condition that caused the fall, determines whether the owner had notice, and pursues the full cost of the harm. When a fair recovery is not offered, the next step is a lawsuit and, if needed, a trial.
Types of Slip and Fall Cases We Handle in Mesquite
Falls happen in many settings, and the location often decides who is responsible and what duty the owner owed. How and where the fall happened guides the evidence we gather. These are the slip and fall cases our Mesquite office handles most often.
- Grocery and retail store falls. Spills, freshly mopped floors, and fallen merchandise cause many of these injuries. We trace how long the hazard existed before anyone addressed it.
- Brain injuries. A fall onto a hard floor can cause a serious head injury, and falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury. These cases require long-term care planning and a full accounting of future costs.
- Restaurant and bar falls. Wet entryways, greasy floors, and poor lighting put guests at risk. The business’s cleaning and inspection practices are central to the claim.
- Parking lot and sidewalk falls. Cracked pavement, curbs, potholes, and poor lighting cause hard falls outside a business. Responsibility can fall on the owner or the property manager.
- Wrongful death. A fatal fall, often on stairs or from a height, allows surviving family members to bring a claim. We handle these cases with care for the family and for the record.
- Apartment and stairwell falls. A landlord who ignores a broken step, a loose railing, or a dim stairwell can be responsible for a tenant’s or a guest’s injuries.
- Workplace and premises falls. When a third party’s unsafe property causes a fall at work, a premises claim may be available alongside any workers’ compensation.
Why Choose Kelso Law as Your Slip and Fall Lawyer in Mesquite, TX?
Trial Experience in Premises Liability Cases
Founding attorney Rhiannon Kelso has tried more than 25 cases to a jury verdict since she began practicing in 2012, including a verdict above $8 million in Dallas County. She earned her Juris Doctor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award, and is admitted in every Texas state court and all three federal districts in the state. Her memberships include the Dallas Bar Association and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. We serve clients in both English and Spanish.
Proving the Property Owner’s Notice
Kelso Law represents only injured people, never the property owners or their insurers. A slip and fall claim depends on showing the owner knew, or should have known, about the hazard, so we move quickly to secure the surveillance video, the incident report, and the cleaning and inspection records before they are gone. Over years of plaintiff-side practice, Kelso Law has recovered more than $20 million for injured clients, including the following results:
- $8 million jury verdict in a grocery store assault case in Dallas County
- $1 million recovery in a workplace injury matter
- $1 million recovery in a premises liability case
- $400,000 recovery in a separate premises liability case
We handle slip and fall cases on a contingency basis, so there is no fee unless we recover for you. Because a premises claim depends on this kind of proof, an injured client is well served by a personal injury lawyer in Mesquite, TX who builds the record early.
What Is Important to Understand About a Slip and Fall Case?
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Slip and Fall Cases
Texas premises liability requires proof that the property owner failed to keep the property reasonably safe and that the failure caused the injury. When that is shown, the owner owes the full range of damages, which can include the following.
- Economic losses: medical bills, future treatment, rehabilitation, and lost earnings.
- Non-economic losses: physical pain, disfigurement, and the loss of daily life.
- The owner’s notice: a claim depends on showing the owner knew, or should have known, about the hazard and failed to act.
- Shared-fault reduction: under the comparative fault rule, a visitor more than 50 percent at fault cannot recover, and any award drops by their share.
Several factors affect what a claim is worth, including the severity of the injury and how clearly the hazard can be shown.
What Are Important Aspects of a Slip and Fall Case?
The evidence that proves a fall claim can disappear within days, so a few steps matter more than any others.
- Report the fall: ask the business to make an incident report, and get a copy if you can.
- Preserve the video: stores often record over surveillance footage within days, so it should be requested early.
- Photograph the hazard: pictures of the spill, the broken step, or the obstacle show the condition that caused the fall.
- Find witnesses: what witnesses saw can confirm the hazard and how long it was there.
What Is the Slip and Fall Case Timeline?
A slip and fall claim usually moves through the same stages, though the pace varies from case to case. The steps, in the order they occur, are:
- Consultation and case review soon after the fall
- Investigation of the scene, the video, and the records
- Medical treatment continuing until your condition stabilizes
- A demand and negotiation with the property owner’s insurer
- A lawsuit filed if a fair settlement is not reached
- Discovery, depositions, and trial if the case does not settle
A two-year deadline applies to most slip and fall suits, measured from the date of the fall, so a claim should not sit idle. Most cases settle before trial, though the timeline can run from a few months to a few years depending on the injuries and the disputes.
What Should You Bring to Your Slip and Fall Consultation?
A first meeting goes faster when you bring what you have. Helpful items include any incident report from the business, photographs of the hazard and your injuries, the names and contact information of any witnesses, your medical records and bills, and any letters from the property owner’s insurer. You do not need every item to begin, and we can request records that you cannot obtain on your own. Once we review what happened and what the owner knew, we can tell you how strong the claim is and what it should include.
Most Dangerous Locations for Slip and Fall Accidents in Mesquite
Falls in Mesquite happen most often at the city’s busiest indoor and outdoor spaces, where spills, uneven surfaces, and poor maintenance go unaddressed. The stores, food court, and parking areas around Town East Mall draw heavy foot traffic, as do the grocery and big-box stores and the restaurants along Town East Boulevard, Belt Line Road, and Galloway Avenue. Apartment complexes are another common setting, with their stairwells, walkways, and pools, and parking lots throughout the city pose a risk from cracked pavement, curbs, and poor lighting.
Reach Out to Kelso Law to Schedule a Consultation
Because the evidence in a fall case fades quickly, there is real value in starting soon. Our Mesquite slip and fall lawyer can investigate the property, determine whether the owner had notice of the hazard, and pursue full and fair compensation on your behalf, at no cost to you and no fee unless we recover. When you are ready to take the next step, schedule a consultation with Kelso Law.