Austin Premises Liability Attorney
Holding Negligent Property Owners Accountable
If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury on someone else's property, you are not just a victim of an "accident"—you are likely the victim of negligence. Whether it was a slip and fall at a downtown business, an injury from unsafe conditions at an apartment complex, or a dog attack in an Austin neighborhood, the property owner had a duty to keep you safe.
Now, you face a fight against a property owner and their powerful insurance company, whose only goal is to deny your claim and pay you as little as possible. At Smith & Vinson Law Firm, we believe in holding them accountable. Our award-winning trial lawyers fight to recover the maximum compensation you deserve for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
You pay us nothing unless we win your case. Call (512) 359-3743 today for a free, confidential consultation.
Why Trust Smith & Vinson Law Firm With Your Premises Liability Case?
When you are in a fight against a major insurance corporation, you need a law firm that isn't afraid to go to court. Our reputation as aggressive trial lawyers is our greatest strength.
- We Are Trial Lawyers, Not a Settlement Mill: Insurance companies have two lists: one for lawyers who take the first lowball offer and one for lawyers who will actually go to trial. We are on the second list. We prepare every case for a jury, which gives us the leverage to demand a full and fair settlement.
- We Have a Record of High-Value Results: We have recovered millions of dollars for injured clients, including a $2.5 Million personal injury settlement and an $810,000 wrongful death result. Our track record proves we have the skill and resources to win complex injury cases.
- We Hold Powerful Insurers Accountable: Our firm is built on taking on and beating powerful opponents. We bring that same "fearless" energy to your personal injury claim, leveling the playing field against the insurance giants.
- You Pay Nothing Unless We Win: We handle all premises liability cases on a contingency-fee basis. There are no upfront costs. We front all expenses for the investigation and your case, and we only get paid if we successfully recover compensation for you.
Contact an Austin Premises liability Lawyer Today
The insurance company is already building its case against you. You need a team of aggressive trial lawyers to build a stronger one for you.
Reach out to Smith & Vinson Law Firm now for a free, confidential consultation. We will answer your questions, review your options, and explain how we will fight for you.
Call (512) 359-3743 or contact us online to take the first step. You pay us nothing unless we win.
If you've been hurt due to someone else's negligence—whether in a car accident, slip and fall, or workplace incident—you may have a right to compensation.
Premises Liability in Texas: What You Need to Know
In Texas, property owners have a legal duty to maintain their property and ensure it is reasonably safe for visitors. When they fail in this duty, and you get hurt as a result, they can be held liable for your damages.
Common premises liability claims in Austin include:
- Slip and Falls from wet floors, food spills, or leaking AC units
- Trip and Falls over uneven pavement, broken stairs, or unseen obstacles
- Negligent Security (e.g., poor lighting, broken locks, no security) leading to an assault
- Dog Bites and animal attacks
- Apartment Complex Injuries from broken railings, unsafe sidewalks, or pool accidents
- Falling Objects in retail stores
Critical Legal Hurdles in Your Claim
Insurance companies will try to deny your claim based on complex Texas laws. Our job is to overcome these hurdles.
- Your Visitor Status: Your rights depend on why you were on the property.
- Invitee: (e.g., a customer in a store, a guest at a restaurant). Owners owe you the highest duty of care. They must fix known dangers and inspect for unknown dangers.
- Licensee: (e.g., a social guest at a friend's house). Owners must warn you of or fix known dangers.
- Trespasser: Owners generally only owe a duty not to intentionally harm you (with exceptions for children).
- The Owner's Knowledge: We must prove the property owner knew, or should have known, about the dangerous condition and failed to fix it or warn you.
- Comparative Fault: The insurance company will try to blame you. Texas follows a "modified comparative fault" rule (or 51% bar). This means you can still recover compensation as long as you are not found to be 51% or more at fault for your own injury. Our job is to prove the owner was the one who was negligent.
Our Process: How We Fight for You
Our process begins with a free case evaluation and strategy session where we will listen to your story, review the evidence, and give you an honest, clear assessment of your case and your legal options. From there, we launch an immediate investigation to preserve critical evidence before it disappears, which includes sending legal notices for surveillance video, photographing the hazardous condition, and interviewing witnesses.
While we build your case, our team works closely with you and your doctors to calculate the full value of your claim, including all current and future medical bills, lost wages, and the full extent of your pain and suffering. Finally, we move to aggressive negotiation and litigation, sending a powerful demand package to the insurance company. We negotiate from a position of strength, and if they refuse to pay what your case is worth, our trial lawyers will file a lawsuit and take them to court.
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$180k Car Accident
Full Policy Limits Recovered for Injured Child - Our firm recently represented a young girl who suffered significant injuries when a reckless, uninsured driver slammed into her head-on. The at-fault driver carried no insurance, but we refused to let that leave our client without justice.
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$2.5M Personal Injury
Williamson County Live PD Raid: Our firm represented a family in a civil rights and personal injury case after Williamson County deputies staged a raid on their home for the reality show Live PD. The raid caused serious psychological and emotional injuries, leaving the family traumatized by an event that never should have happened.
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$75k Rear-End Collision
At our firm, we are proud to fight for clients who are injured through no fault of their own. In this case, our client was hit from behind when another driver recklessly smashed into her vehicle. She was left with painful injuries and faced mounting medical bills, missed work, and the stress that comes with being hurt in a crash.
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$810k Wrongful Death
Our client experienced every parent’s worst nightmare when an intruder entered the family’s home and attacked their young child. Hearing the struggle in the bedroom, the parent rushed in to fight off the attacker, but the child had already suffered catastrophic injuries. Despite being rushed to the hospital, the child later passed away.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who can file a premises liability claim in Texas?
Anyone who is injured on another's property due to the owner's negligence may have a claim. Your rights primarily depend on your status as an invitee or licensee at the time of the injury.
What should I do after a slip and fall?
- Report the incident to the manager or property owner immediately and make sure they file an incident report (get a copy).
- Take photos and videos of the hazard that caused your fall.
- Get contact information for any witnesses.
- Seek medical attention immediately, even if you feel okay.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the insurance company. Call an attorney first.
How does Texas law affect premises liability cases in Austin?
Texas law requires you to prove the property owner knew or should have known about the danger. Our comparative fault rule also means insurance companies will work hard to shift as much blame as possible onto you to reduce or eliminate their payout.
How long do I have to file a claim after an injury?
In Texas, the Statute of Limitations for most premises liability claims is two years from the date of the injury. If you wait longer, you will lose your right to file a claim forever. It is critical to act quickly.
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