A slip and fall accident can change your life in an instant. One moment you are walking through a store or stepping across a parking lot, and the next you are on the ground in pain with no idea how you will pay for the treatment you need. You may be dealing with broken bones, a head injury, or damage to your back or spine that makes it difficult to work or care for your family. The property owner or business that should have kept the premises safe is now pointing fingers and trying to avoid responsibility for what happened to you.
If you have been hurt in a slip and fall accident in Houston, you are not alone in facing these challenges. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than one out of four older adults falls each year, and falling once doubles a person’s risk of falling again.[1] Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury in the United States, and they send approximately three million older adults to emergency departments every year.[1] These accidents happen in grocery stores, restaurants, office buildings, apartment complexes, and private homes across Houston every single day.
The Texas Hammer® understands what you and your family are going through, and we are ready to help you pursue the compensation you deserve. You should not have to shoulder the burden of someone else’s carelessness, and our Houston slip and fall lawyer team is here to make sure you do not face this fight alone.
With offices serving Houston and communities throughout Texas, our team can move quickly to secure evidence and start building your premises liability claim. Your first step is a FREE slip and fall case review.
Call 1-800-505-1414 now or click here to get started online.
When you are hurt in a slip and fall accident, the property owner and their insurance company will begin working immediately to protect their own interests. They may send adjusters to the scene, take photographs, and start building a defense before you have even seen a doctor. You deserve someone on your side who knows how to fight back and who will put your recovery first. A Houston slip and fall accident attorney from Jim Adler & Associates can help level the playing field and pursue the full compensation your injuries demand.
Slip and fall cases require a thorough understanding of Texas premises liability law and the ability to prove that a property owner knew or should have known about a dangerous condition. These cases are rarely straightforward, and insurance companies know that inexperienced attorneys often miss critical details that can make or break a claim. At Jim Adler & Associates, our legal team has spent more than five decades handling serious injury cases across Houston and throughout Texas. We know how to investigate accident scenes, obtain surveillance footage before it disappears, and build cases that hold negligent property owners accountable.
When you work with our firm, you are not handed off to a paralegal or left wondering what is happening with your case. You receive personalized attention from a dedicated slip and fall lawyer Houston families trust to guide them through every step of the legal process. We take the time to understand your injuries, your financial situation, and your goals for recovery, and then we build a strategy designed to achieve the best possible outcome for you and your family.
Worrying about how to pay for a lawyer should never stop you from getting the help you need after a serious injury. At Jim Adler & Associates, we handle slip and fall cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.* This arrangement allows you to focus on your medical care and your family while we handle the legal fight against the property owner and their insurance company.
Your initial case evaluation is completely free, and there is no obligation to hire us after we review your situation. We believe that everyone deserves access to experienced legal representation, regardless of their financial circumstances. When you call our office, you will speak with a real person who can answer your questions and help you understand your options.
Insurance adjusters are trained to protect their company’s bottom line, not to help you get the compensation you deserve. They may contact you within days of your accident, sounding friendly and concerned, but their goal is to get you to accept a quick settlement or to say something that undermines your claim. Research from the Insurance Research Council has consistently shown that injury victims who hire an attorney receive settlements approximately 3.5 times higher than those who try to handle their claims on their own.[2]
Our team at Jim Adler & Associates takes over all communications with the insurance company from day one. We know the tactics adjusters use to minimize payouts, and we do not let them pressure you into accepting less than your case is worth. When the insurance company knows that The Texas Hammer® is on your side, they understand that your claim will be handled by a firm that is fully prepared to fight for every dollar you deserve.
Most slip and fall cases settle before they ever reach a courtroom, but the key to getting a fair settlement is being fully prepared to go to trial if necessary. Insurance companies track which law firms are willing to take cases to trial and which ones will accept whatever offer is put on the table. When the defense knows your legal team has a proven track record of winning in court, they have much more incentive to offer fair compensation during settlement negotiations.
Jim Adler & Associates prepares every case as if it is going to trial, even while we pursue settlement negotiations. Our firm has more than 30 attorneys and 300 legal professionals who have the resources and experience to take on large insurance companies and corporate defendants. If the property owner refuses to offer a fair settlement, we are ready and able to present your case to a jury and fight for the compensation you need to move forward with your life.
Slip and fall accidents happen every day in Houston, and the injuries they cause can be far more serious than many people realize. The National Safety Council reports that more than 8.8 million people were treated in emergency rooms for fall-related injuries in a single recent year, making falls the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death in the United States.[4] These accidents can occur in grocery stores, restaurants, office buildings, apartment complexes, parking lots, and countless other locations where property owners have failed to maintain safe conditions for visitors. Understanding what qualifies as a slip and fall claim and the potential consequences of these accidents can help you recognize when you have grounds to seek compensation for your injuries.
A slip and fall accident is a type of premises liability claim that arises when a visitor is injured because a hazardous condition exists on someone else’s property. Property owners owe a duty of care to people who enter their premises, and this duty includes regularly inspecting the property for potential hazards and taking reasonable steps to address them.[5] The hazard could be a wet or slippery floor, an uneven surface, a spilled liquid, a torn carpet, inadequate lighting, or any other dangerous condition that a reasonable property owner should have identified and corrected. These accidents can happen to anyone, regardless of age or physical condition, and they often occur without any warning signs to alert visitors to the danger.
To recover compensation in a slip and fall lawsuit, the injured person must generally show that the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to remedy it or warn visitors about the dangerous condition. The duty owed to visitors depends on why you were on the property at the time of your accident.[5] Customers, hotel guests, and other business visitors are classified as invitees and receive the highest level of protection. Property owners must not only warn invitees about known dangers but also conduct reasonable inspections to discover hidden hazards. When a property owner fails to meet this standard, and someone gets hurt as a result, that property owner may be held legally responsible for the resulting injuries and damages.
Slip and fall accidents can cause devastating injuries that affect every aspect of a person’s life. Broken bones are among the most common injuries, particularly fractures of the wrists, arms, hips, and ankles that occur when people try to catch themselves during a fall. Many victims also suffer concussions and traumatic brain injuries when their heads strike the ground or another hard surface. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury in the United States, and these injuries can lead to lasting problems with memory, concentration, and cognitive function.[1] Spinal cord injuries from slip and fall accidents can result in chronic pain, limited mobility, and, in the most severe cases, permanent paralysis that requires lifelong medical care and assistance.
Falls are particularly dangerous for older adults, who are more vulnerable to serious injury and often face longer, more difficult recoveries. The CDC reports that more than one in four adults aged 65 and older falls each year, and falling once doubles a person’s chances of falling again.[1] Emergency departments across the country treat approximately three million older adults for fall injuries every year.[1] The financial burden of these injuries is staggering. According to research published in the journal Injury Prevention, healthcare spending for non-fatal falls among older adults reached $80 billion, with the majority of those costs paid by Medicare.[3] These medical expenses can quickly overwhelm families who are already struggling with lost wages and the emotional toll of a serious injury.
If you have been hurt in a slip and fall accident, you do not have to face the financial and emotional burden alone. A slip and fall lawyer from Jim Adler & Associates can review your case, explain your legal options, and fight to hold the property owner accountable for the harm you have suffered. Call The Texas Hammer® today for a free consultation and let us put our experience to work for you.
The following hazardous conditions frequently cause slip and fall accidents in Houston and throughout Texas:
These hazards often arise because property owners fail to conduct regular inspections, ignore maintenance requests, or simply choose to cut corners rather than invest in safety. When a property owner knows about a dangerous condition and does nothing to fix it or warn visitors, that property owner may be held liable for any injuries that result. A Houston slip and fall lawyer from Jim Adler & Associates can investigate the circumstances of your accident, identify the hazards that caused your fall, and help you pursue compensation from the responsible parties.
Slip and fall accidents can happen almost anywhere, but certain locations present higher risks because of the hazards commonly found there. Understanding where these accidents occur most frequently can help you recognize when a property owner may have failed in their duty to keep the premises safe. If you were hurt in a fall, knowing the typical dangers associated with specific locations may help you understand whether negligence played a role in your accident.
Falls are one of the leading causes of injury and death in workplace settings, particularly in the construction industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that falls, slips, and trips accounted for 39.2 percent of all construction fatalities, and the construction industry alone was responsible for nearly half of all fatal workplace falls nationwide.[7] Construction workers suffer approximately 300 fatal and 20,000 nonfatal fall-related injuries each year, according to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.[8]
Common causes of workplace falls include scaffolding collapses, ladders that shift or break, slippery surfaces from spills or weather, faulty equipment, and inadequate safety training. When employers fail to follow federal safety regulations or neglect to provide proper fall protection equipment, they may be held liable for injuries their workers sustain. If you were hurt in a workplace fall that was not your fault, you may have options beyond workers’ compensation, and a slip and fall lawyer Houston workers trust can help you understand your rights.
Retail stores, restaurants, grocery stores, and shopping centers see thousands of slip and fall accidents every year. Customers face hazards that include slick floors from recent mopping or spills, broken stairs and escalators, loose handrails, cluttered aisles, and poorly lit walkways or parking structures. These businesses have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors and to warn customers about any known hazards.
When a store employee mops a floor without placing warning signs, when a restaurant fails to clean up a spilled drink, or when a shopping center neglects to repair a cracked sidewalk, the property owner may be held responsible for injuries that result. Slip and fall accidents in commercial settings often cause serious injuries because victims have no warning before they hit the ground. If you were hurt while shopping or dining out in Houston, our team at Jim Adler & Associates can investigate the circumstances and help you pursue compensation from the responsible business.
Premises liability law applies to private properties just as it does to businesses, which means homeowners and landlords can be held accountable when unsafe conditions cause injuries to visitors or tenants. Falls at private residences and apartment buildings often result from cracked or uneven flooring, broken steps, missing handrails, cluttered walkways, and hazards in common areas like lobbies, stairwells, and parking garages.
Apartment building owners and property management companies have a particular responsibility to maintain the common areas that all tenants use. When a landlord ignores a broken stair rail for months, fails to repair uneven pavement in the parking lot, or neglects to fix lighting in a stairwell, that landlord may be liable for injuries that occur as a result. Property owners who invite guests into their homes also owe a duty of reasonable care to keep the premises safe. If you were injured in a fall at someone else’s property due to a hazardous condition, you may have grounds for a premises liability claim.
Hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical facilities present unique fall risks because they often combine slick floors with vulnerable patients who may be medicated, elderly, or physically impaired. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reports that approximately half of nursing home residents fall at least once each year, and a typical facility with 100 beds reports 100 to 200 falls annually.[9] Approximately 1,800 older adults living in nursing homes die each year from fall-related injuries, and many more suffer fractures, head injuries, and other serious harm.
Medical facilities have a heightened duty of care because they serve patients who are especially susceptible to falls. Failure to clean up spills promptly, inadequate staffing to assist patients who need help walking, improper bed heights, and lack of supervision for patients at high fall risk can all contribute to preventable accidents. When a nursing home or hospital fails to protect vulnerable patients from foreseeable hazards, the facility may face liability for the resulting injuries. Older adults and children face a particularly high risk of traumatic brain injuries after falls, making prevention and accountability even more critical.
Each year, more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger are treated in hospital emergency rooms for playground-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.[10] Falls account for approximately 79 percent of injuries on public playground equipment and 81 percent of injuries on home playground equipment. When children die from playground injuries, 20 percent of those deaths involve falls to inadequate surfacing, highlighting the importance of proper ground cover beneath play structures.
Beyond playgrounds, slip and fall accidents occur frequently at public pools, gyms, recreation centers, manufacturing plants, cafeterias, airports, and other public spaces. Property owners and government entities that operate these facilities have a duty to maintain safe conditions, which includes regular inspections, prompt repairs, and adequate warnings about any known hazards. If your child was hurt on a playground or you were injured in a public space due to negligent maintenance, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other losses. The Texas Hammer® is here to help Houston families hold negligent property owners accountable.
With thousands of personal injury cases filed, our numbers speak for themselves.
When you hit the ground unexpectedly, your body has no time to brace for impact, and the resulting injuries can range from painful bruises to life-changing trauma. The type and severity of your injuries depend on many factors, including how you fell, what surface you landed on, and your overall health at the time of the accident. Understanding the kinds of injuries that commonly result from slip and fall accidents can help you recognize the seriousness of your situation and the importance of seeking both medical attention and legal advice.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries, and the agency notes that approximately 37 percent of people who fall require medical treatment or experience restricted activity for at least one day.[1] The following injuries are among the most common and most serious consequences of slip and fall accidents:
Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries in the United States, and these injuries often require extensive and costly medical care including emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing therapy. The financial burden of treating fall-related injuries can be overwhelming, particularly when victims are unable to work during their recovery. If you have suffered any of these injuries because a property owner failed to maintain safe conditions, a Houston slip and fall lawyer from Jim Adler & Associates can help you pursue the compensation you need to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
The moments after a slip and fall accident can be confusing and overwhelming, especially if you are hurt and trying to make sense of what just happened. Taking certain steps in the hours and days following your fall may help protect both your health and your ability to seek compensation later. The following suggestions reflect what most health and safety professionals recommend, though your specific situation may require different actions depending on the circumstances. When in doubt, prioritize your immediate safety and wellbeing above all else.
You should seek medical attention as soon as possible after a fall, even if you feel fine or believe your injuries are minor. Some serious conditions, including traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, and hairline fractures, may not produce obvious symptoms right away, and delaying treatment can allow these injuries to worsen. A medical evaluation creates documentation that connects your injuries to the accident, which may be important if you later decide to pursue a claim. If you hit your head during the fall, medical professionals generally recommend being evaluated promptly because brain injuries can be difficult to detect without proper examination.
If you are physically able to do so, documenting the scene of your accident may help preserve important evidence that could support a future claim. Taking photographs or video of the hazardous condition that caused your fall, the surrounding area, any warning signs or lack thereof, and your visible injuries can create a record of conditions as they existed at the time. You may also want to write down the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed your fall, as their accounts could provide valuable support for your version of events. Evidence of dangerous conditions can disappear quickly once a property owner becomes aware of an accident, so capturing this information promptly is often recommended by legal professionals.
Being cautious about what you say and post after a slip and fall accident may help protect your interests if you decide to pursue a claim. Many attorneys recommend avoiding detailed discussions about the accident with the property owner, their employees, or insurance representatives until you have had a chance to speak with a lawyer who can advise you on your specific situation. You may also want to consider staying off social media or avoiding posts about the accident, your injuries, or your activities during recovery, as insurance companies have been known to monitor claimants’ online presence for information that could be used to dispute or minimize claims.
Contacting a qualified slip and fall attorney can help you understand your legal rights and options after an accident. A lawyer experienced in premises liability cases can advise you on whether you may have a valid claim, help collect and preserve evidence before it disappears, handle communications with insurance adjusters who may be focused on minimizing what you receive, and guide you through the legal process while you focus on your recovery. Many slip and fall attorneys, including the team at Jim Adler & Associates, offer free consultations so you can learn about your options without any financial obligation.
Every slip and fall accident is different, and the steps that make sense for one person may not be appropriate for another. If you have questions about your specific situation or want to understand whether you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, The Texas Hammer® is here to help. Our team offers free case evaluations, and you pay no attorney fees unless we recover money for you.*
If you were hurt in a slip and fall accident, understanding the legal principles that govern these cases can help you recognize when you may have a valid claim against a negligent property owner. Texas premises liability law establishes the responsibilities that property owners owe to people who enter their land, and it provides a framework for holding owners accountable when they fail to maintain safe conditions. The following sections explain the key legal concepts that apply to slip and fall cases in Texas.
To succeed in a slip and fall case, the injured person generally must demonstrate several key elements. First, a hazardous condition must have existed on the property at the time of the accident. Second, the property owner must have known about the hazard or should have discovered it through reasonable inspection. Third, the owner must have failed to fix the dangerous condition or adequately warn visitors about it within a reasonable time. Fourth, the hazardous condition must have directly caused the injury the victim suffered.
Proving these elements often requires gathering evidence such as photographs of the scene, witness statements, surveillance footage, maintenance records, and incident reports. Property owners and their insurance companies frequently argue that they did not know about the hazard, that the condition was open and obvious, or that the injured person was responsible for not paying attention. An experienced slip and fall attorney understands how to investigate these cases, collect the evidence needed to prove liability, and counter the defenses that property owners commonly raise.
Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means that an injured person can still recover compensation even if they were partially at fault for their accident. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001, a claimant may not recover damages if their percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent.[11] If you are found to be 50 percent or less responsible for your slip and fall accident, you can still pursue compensation, but your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
For example, if a jury determines that your total damages are $100,000 but finds that you were 30 percent responsible for the accident, your compensation would be reduced to $70,000. However, if you are found to be 51 percent or more at fault, you would be barred from recovering any compensation at all. Insurance companies and defense attorneys often try to shift as much blame as possible onto the injured person to reduce or eliminate their client’s liability. The Tough, Smart Lawyer® at Jim Adler & Associates knows how to fight back against these tactics and work to ensure that fault is assigned fairly based on the evidence in your case.
A serious slip and fall accident can leave you facing mounting medical expenses, lost income, and pain that affects every aspect of your daily life. Understanding the types of compensation you may be entitled to can help you make informed decisions about your case and avoid settling for less than you need to fully recover. Slip and fall victims in Texas may pursue both economic and non-economic damages, and in rare cases involving especially egregious conduct, punitive damages may also be available.
Our Houston slip and fall lawyers help Texans get the financial compensation they deserve. We only get paid if you win.* And we fight to win.
Economic damages compensate you for the financial losses you can calculate and document with expenses, receipts, pay stubs, and other records. Medical expenses are often the largest category, and they can include emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, diagnostic imaging, physical therapy, prescription medications, and any medical equipment you need during your recovery. If your injuries require ongoing treatment, you may also be entitled to compensation for future medical care, including rehabilitation, follow-up appointments, and long-term therapy.
Lost wages compensate you for the income you missed while you were too hurt to work, and this category extends beyond your immediate paycheck. If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job or limit the type of work you can do in the future, you may be entitled to compensation for your diminished earning capacity over the rest of your working life. An experienced slip and fall lawyer can work with medical experts, vocational specialists, and economists to calculate the full financial impact of your injuries and make sure nothing is left on the table.
Not every loss from a slip and fall accident shows up on a bill or bank statement. Non-economic damages recognize the human cost of your injuries, including the physical pain you have endured and will continue to experience during your recovery. These damages account for the suffering that accompanies serious injuries, from the immediate agony of a broken bone to the chronic discomfort that can persist for months or years.
Emotional distress covers the anxiety, depression, fear, and psychological suffering that often accompany serious injuries. Many slip and fall victims experience lasting mental health effects, including difficulty sleeping, fear of falling again, and frustration with the limitations their injuries impose. Loss of enjoyment of life compensates you for hobbies, activities, and experiences you can no longer participate in because of what happened. If your injuries have resulted in permanent disability or disfigurement, you may also be entitled to compensation for how these changes affect your daily life and self-image.
Calculating non-economic damages requires careful evaluation of how your injuries have affected you personally, and insurance companies often try to minimize or dismiss these losses. A slip and fall accident attorney from Jim Adler & Associates can document the full extent of your suffering and fight for compensation that truly reflects the impact the accident has had on your life.
In most slip and fall cases, compensation focuses on making you whole by covering your losses. However, Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 41 allows for an additional category called exemplary damages, commonly known as punitive damages, when the person or company that hurt you acted with fraud, malice, or gross negligence.[12] These damages are designed to punish especially reckless or intentional behavior and discourage others from acting the same way.
Punitive damages are rare in slip and fall cases, but they may apply in situations where a property owner knowingly ignored a dangerous condition that posed a severe risk to visitors, intentionally concealed hazards, or demonstrated a reckless disregard for the safety of others. While these damages are not available in every case, they can significantly increase your total recovery when the evidence shows truly outrageous conduct. Our attorneys evaluate every case for potential punitive damages and pursue them aggressively when the facts support it.
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, you deserve compensation that accounts for every way the accident has affected your life. The Texas Hammer® has spent more than 50 years fighting for injured Texans, and we know how to build cases that maximize our clients’ recovery. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn what your case may be worth.*
Texas sets strict deadlines for filing personal injury lawsuits, and missing these deadlines can permanently destroy your right to seek compensation. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, you generally have two years from the date of your slip and fall accident to file a lawsuit for your injuries.[13] If you attempt to file after this deadline has passed, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case, and you will lose your right to pursue compensation forever. The specific deadline that applies to your situation may vary depending on the facts of your case, particularly if your accident occurred on government property, where notice requirements can be as short as 45 to 90 days.
Two years may sound like plenty of time, but building a strong slip and fall case requires extensive investigation, and critical evidence can disappear quickly if you wait too long. Surveillance footage may be recorded over within days, witnesses forget details or move away, and property owners may repair hazardous conditions before anyone documents what caused your fall. If you or a loved one has been injured, do not wait to explore your legal options. Contact a Houston slip and fall lawyer at Jim Adler & Associates today for a free consultation, and let our team start protecting your claim while there is still time to act.*
Slip and fall cases can be more difficult to prove than many people expect. Property owners and their insurance companies rarely accept responsibility without a fight, and they often employ aggressive tactics to avoid paying fair compensation. Understanding the obstacles you may face can help you appreciate why having an experienced legal team on your side matters.
Property owners frequently deny any wrongdoing after a slip and fall accident, even when dangerous conditions clearly existed on their premises. They may claim they had no knowledge of the hazard, argue that they addressed the problem within a reasonable time, or insist that the condition was open and obvious and that you should have seen it and avoided it. In some cases, property owners or their employees remove or repair hazardous conditions immediately after an accident, eliminating physical evidence before anyone has a chance to document it. Without photographs, video footage, or other proof of what caused your fall, establishing liability becomes significantly more challenging.
Shifting blame onto the victim is another common defense strategy. Property owners and insurance adjusters may argue that you were distracted, wearing inappropriate footwear, or simply not paying attention to where you were walking. They may scrutinize your medical history for pre-existing conditions they can use to minimize your injuries or claim that your harm resulted from something other than the fall. Insurance companies are also known for denying valid claims outright or offering lowball settlements that fall far short of covering the true cost of your injuries, hoping that financial pressure will force you to accept less than you deserve.
An experienced slip and fall accident attorney knows how to overcome these obstacles and build a case that holds negligent property owners accountable. Thorough investigation is the foundation of every successful claim, and our legal team moves quickly to collect and preserve evidence before it disappears. We work to obtain surveillance footage from the property and neighboring businesses, gather incident reports and maintenance records, and interview witnesses who saw the hazardous condition or your fall. When necessary, we work with accident reconstruction experts, medical specialists, and other professionals who can provide testimony supporting your version of events.
Our attorneys also handle all communications with insurance companies, protecting you from adjusters who may try to twist your words or pressure you into accepting an inadequate settlement. We know the tactics insurers use to minimize claims, and we fight back with thorough documentation, compelling evidence, and aggressive negotiation. If the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation, the trial-tested lawyers at Jim Adler & Associates are fully prepared to present your case to a jury. Insurance companies know which law firms are willing to go to court, and that reputation gives us leverage in every negotiation. When you have The Texas Hammer® in your corner, property owners and their insurers know you mean business.
The majority of slip and fall cases settle before reaching trial because settlements are typically faster, less costly, and provide certainty about the outcome. Resolving your case through negotiation allows you to receive compensation months or even years sooner than you would if your case went before a jury, and it eliminates the risk that a jury might rule against you or award less than expected. However, insurance companies know that many injured people need money quickly, and adjusters may use this financial pressure to push for a settlement that falls short of what your case is truly worth. Accepting a settlement also means giving up your right to pursue additional compensation later, even if your injuries turn out to be more serious than you initially realized.
While most cases settle, some slip and fall claims proceed to trial when the parties cannot agree on a fair resolution. Trials take longer and involve more uncertainty, but they can result in larger awards when a jury hears the full story of how a property owner’s negligence affected your life, and in cases involving especially egregious conduct, a trial may also result in punitive damages. The decision to accept a settlement or proceed to trial depends on the specific facts of your case, the strength of your evidence, and your personal circumstances. A skilled slip and fall lawyer can evaluate the offers on the table, advise you on the risks and potential rewards of each option, and help you make the choice that best serves your interests. At Jim Adler & Associates, we prepare every case as if it is going to trial, and that approach consistently produces better outcomes because insurance companies know we are not bluffing when we reject inadequate offers.
When you are hurt because a property owner failed to maintain safe conditions, you need more than just a lawyer who will file paperwork and wait for a settlement check. You need a legal team that will fight for you with the same intensity that insurance companies bring to protecting their money. At Jim Adler & Associates, we have been standing up for injured Texans since 1973, and we bring more than 50 years of experience to every slip and fall case we handle. Our team includes more than 30 attorneys and 300 legal professionals who understand the unique challenges that slip and fall cases present, and we have the resources, local knowledge, and determination to take on property owners and their insurers no matter how aggressively they fight back.
We handle slip and fall cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover money for you.* Your initial consultation is completely free, and there is no obligation to hire us after we review your case. We can also help you access medical care through a Letter of Protection, which allows doctors in our trusted network to provide treatment now and wait for payment until your case is resolved. If you or someone you love has been injured in a slip and fall accident in Houston or anywhere in the greater Houston area, The Texas Hammer® is ready to fight for you. Call us today or fill out the contact form on this page to schedule your free consultation, and let us carry the legal burden so you can focus on healing.*
After a serious slip and fall accident, you probably have a lot of questions about what comes next and how to protect your family’s future. The answers below address some of the concerns we hear most often from people in your situation. If you have questions that are not covered here, our team at Jim Adler & Associates is always available to speak with you directly during a free consultation.
The value of your case depends on the specific facts of your situation, including the severity of your injuries, your medical expenses, how much income you have lost, and how the accident has affected your daily life and relationships. Slip and fall cases involving serious injuries like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, or hip fractures typically result in higher compensation than cases involving minor injuries. We cannot promise a specific dollar amount without understanding your full situation, but we can promise that we will fight for every dollar you deserve and will not accept lowball settlement offers just to close cases quickly.
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, you generally have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit.[13] If you miss this deadline, you will almost certainly lose your right to pursue compensation forever. The timeline may be shorter if your accident occurred on government property, where notice requirements can be as brief as 45 to 90 days. We encourage you to contact an attorney as soon as possible so we can protect your rights and begin collecting evidence while it is still available.
Strong evidence is critical to proving your case. Useful evidence includes photographs or video of the hazardous condition that caused your fall, surveillance footage from the property or nearby businesses, incident reports filed with the property owner, maintenance records showing the owner knew about the hazard, and witness statements from people who saw your fall or noticed the dangerous condition. Medical records documenting your injuries and connecting them to the accident are also essential. Evidence can disappear quickly after an accident, so contacting an attorney promptly allows us to send preservation letters and collect critical documentation before it is lost or destroyed.
The property owner is often the most obvious defendant, but other parties may also share responsibility depending on the circumstances. Property management companies that were hired to maintain the premises, tenants who created or failed to address a hazard, maintenance contractors who neglected their duties, and even government entities that own public property can potentially be held liable. Identifying all responsible parties matters because each one may carry separate insurance coverage, which can increase the total compensation available to cover your injuries. Our attorneys investigate every potential defendant to make sure you have access to the maximum recovery possible.
The majority of slip and fall cases settle before reaching trial because settlements are faster, less costly, and provide certainty about the outcome. However, some cases go to trial when the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation. Trials take longer and carry some risk, but they can result in larger awards and may include punitive damages that would not be available through settlement. At Jim Adler & Associates, we prepare every case as if it is going to trial, and that approach gives us leverage in negotiations because insurance companies know we are willing to take them to court if necessary. Your attorney will advise you on whether to accept a settlement or proceed to trial based on the specific facts of your case.
After a slip and fall accident in Houston, you need a team that knows how to take on property owners and their insurers. Jim Adler & Associates steps in to secure evidence, handle insurance communications, and build your case while you focus on recovery. We offer a free case review so you can understand your options before you commit, and you pay no fee unless we win.* Our team is available to speak with you in both English and Spanish. If a dangerous property condition turned your life upside down in Houston or anywhere in the greater Houston area, call The Texas Hammer® today and let us fight for the compensation you deserve.
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Facts About Falls.” https://www.cdc.gov/falls/data-research/facts-stats/index.html
[2] Insurance Research Council. (1999). Paying for auto injuries: A consumer panel survey of auto accident victims. Insurance Research Council.
[3] Haddad YK, Miller GF, Kakara R, et al. “Healthcare Spending for Non-Fatal Falls Among Older Adults, USA.” Injury Prevention. 30:272-276. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39029927/
[4] National Safety Council. “Slips, Trips and Falls.” Workplace Safety Topics. https://www.nsc.org/workplace/safety-topics/slips-trips-and-falls
[5] Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. “Texas Landowner Liability Part II: Premises Liability – Legal Status and Duty Owed.” Texas Agriculture Law. https://agrilife.org/texasaglaw/2015/03/18/texas-landowner-liability-part-ii-premises-liability-legal-status-and-duty-owed/
[6] Occupational Safety and Health Administration. “Slips, Trips & Falls Safety Committee Meeting Handout.” U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/2018-12/fy16_sh-29672-sh6_SlipsTripsFallsHandoutforSafetyCommitteeMeetings.pdf
[7] Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Fatal Falls in the Construction Industry in 2023.” The Economics Daily, U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2025/fatal-falls-in-the-construction-industry-in-2023.htm
[8] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NIOSH Science Blog. “The Problem of Falls from Elevation in Construction and Prevention Resources.” https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2024/05/01/falls-2024/
[9] Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. “Falls Management Program: Chapter 1. Introduction and Program Overview.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.ahrq.gov/patient-safety/settings/long-term-care/resource/injuries/fallspx/man1.html
[10] U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. “Special Study: Injuries and Deaths Associated with Children’s Playground Equipment.” https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/pdfs/playgrnd.pdf
[11] Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 33, Section 33.001, “Proportionate Responsibility.” https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/CP/pdf/CP.33.pdf#33
[12] Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 41, “Damages.” https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/?tab=1&code=CP&chapter=CP.41&artSec=41.001
[13] Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 16, Section 16.003, “Two-Year Limitations Period.” https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.16.htm
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