Rhome Slip and Fall Attorney

Get a Free Case Review

SERIOUS ATTORNEYS FOR SERIOUS INJURIES

Practice Areas

FREE CONSULTATION
five-stars-BBGgold

Chandler Ross is the best hands down! You can not go wrong with these attorneys!

— Tracy P.

A slip and fall accident can happen in seconds, but the consequences can last for years. Whether you slipped on a wet floor at a Rhome grocery store, tripped on a broken sidewalk near Highway 287, or fell on poorly lit stairs at a local business, Texas law gives you the right to hold the responsible party accountable. At Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, we help injured people in Rhome and across Denton County understand their rights and pursue the compensation they deserve.

Table of Contents

What Texas Law Says About Slip and Fall Claims in Rhome

Slip and fall claims in Texas fall under premises liability law, a category of negligence law that holds property owners responsible for unsafe conditions on their property. To bring a valid claim, you must prove four things: the property condition posed an unreasonable risk of harm, the owner knew or should have known about it, the owner failed to use ordinary care to fix or warn about the danger, and that failure caused your injury.

Texas law also classifies visitors into three categories, and your classification directly affects your rights. Invitees are people who enter a property for the owner’s business benefit, such as customers at a Rhome retail store or shoppers near the FM 2952 corridor. Property owners owe invitees the highest duty of care, which includes a duty to inspect the property, fix known hazards, and warn of dangers they should have discovered through reasonable inspection. Licensees, such as social guests, receive a lower level of protection. Trespassers receive the least protection under the law.

One of the most contested issues in these cases is notice. Texas courts recognize two types. Actual knowledge means the owner or an employee directly knew about the hazard before your fall. Constructive knowledge means the hazard existed long enough that the owner should have found it through routine inspections. Both types can support a claim, but both require solid evidence to prove.

The statute of limitations for slip and fall claims in Texas is set by Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, which gives injured people two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. Miss that deadline and you lose your right to recover compensation entirely. If your fall happened on government-owned property, such as a public sidewalk or a city-maintained area near Rhome City Hall, the Texas Tort Claims Act applies different rules, including a written notice requirement within six months of the incident. These shorter timelines make acting quickly critical.

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Rhome, Texas

Slip and fall accidents do not happen randomly. They happen because someone failed to maintain a safe property. In Rhome and the surrounding areas of Wise County, common causes include wet or slippery floors in local businesses, uneven pavement in parking lots along Business 287, broken or missing handrails on stairways, torn or loose carpeting in commercial buildings, and poor lighting in storage areas or entryways.

According to data compiled from CDC reports, wet or slippery floors account for roughly 55 percent of all slip and fall incidents across residential and commercial properties. That means more than half of all falls are tied directly to a preventable surface hazard that a responsible property owner could have addressed.

Outdoor hazards are also a serious concern in North Texas. Cracked sidewalks, uneven parking lot surfaces, and poorly maintained walkways near local businesses create real risks for customers and visitors. When a property owner ignores these conditions, they put every person who walks through their doors in danger.

Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries across all age groups, accounting for nearly 800,000 TBI cases annually according to CDC data. Hip fractures, spinal injuries, broken wrists, and torn ligaments are also common outcomes. These are not minor inconveniences. They are life-altering injuries that can result in surgeries, extended rehabilitation, and permanent disability. If you suffered a serious injury like a traumatic brain injury after a fall on someone else’s property, the stakes are high and the right legal representation matters.

Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys has seen firsthand how devastating these injuries can be for Rhome families. A fall that takes seconds can mean months of recovery, lost income, and mounting medical bills. You should not have to bear those costs alone when someone else’s negligence caused your injury.

How Texas Proportionate Responsibility Rules Affect Your Slip and Fall Case

Texas follows a proportionate responsibility system under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 33. This system assigns a percentage of fault to every party involved in an accident, including the injured person. Your ability to recover compensation depends directly on that percentage.

Under CPRC Section 33.001, the 51 percent bar rule applies. If you are found to be 51 percent or more at fault for your own fall, you recover nothing. If your fault is 50 percent or less, you can still recover damages, but your award is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. For example, if a jury awards you $100,000 but finds you 20 percent at fault for not watching where you were walking, you would receive $80,000.

Property owners and their insurance companies frequently argue that the injured person was fully or partially responsible for the fall. Common defenses include claims that the hazard was “open and obvious,” that the injured person was distracted, or that the person was wearing improper footwear. These arguments are designed to reduce or eliminate the owner’s liability. An experienced attorney can challenge these defenses with evidence such as surveillance footage, inspection records, witness statements, and expert testimony.

Under the same proportionate responsibility framework, more than one party can share fault. A property manager, a commercial tenant, or a third-party maintenance contractor could all bear responsibility depending on who controlled the dangerous condition. Identifying every liable party is a critical part of building the strongest possible claim, and it is something the team at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys takes seriously for every client.

What Damages Can You Recover After a Slip and Fall in Rhome?

Texas law allows injured people to recover both economic and non-economic damages in a valid premises liability claim. Economic damages cover your actual financial losses. These include past and future medical expenses, lost wages from time missed at work, reduced earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work long-term, and costs for rehabilitation, physical therapy, or home modifications.

Non-economic damages address the human cost of your injury. These include physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement. If your fall left you unable to coach your child’s Little League team at Rhome Community Park, participate in community events, or simply live your daily life without pain, those losses have real value under Texas law.

In cases involving egregious conduct, exemplary damages may also be available. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 41 governs exemplary damages and sets the standards for when they apply. These are not awarded in every case, and the burden of proof is higher, requiring clear and convincing evidence of fraud, malice, or gross negligence on the part of the property owner.

The average hospital cost of a single slip and fall accident exceeds $30,000 according to CDC data. When you factor in follow-up care, lost income, and long-term rehabilitation, the total financial impact can be far greater. Roughly 22 percent of slip and fall injuries result in workers missing more than a month of work, which compounds the financial strain on injured families. Pursuing full compensation is not about greed. It is about making sure you are not left paying for someone else’s negligence out of your own pocket.

Past results in personal injury cases vary based on the specific facts, injuries, and applicable law involved in each matter. No outcome can be guaranteed, and prior results do not predict future results.

Steps to Take After a Slip and Fall Accident in Rhome

What you do immediately after a fall can make or break your claim. The steps you take in the hours and days following your accident directly affect your ability to prove liability and recover compensation.

First, report the incident to the property owner or manager before you leave. Ask for a written incident report and keep a copy. Second, photograph the hazard that caused your fall, the surrounding area, any warning signs (or the absence of them), and your injuries. Do this before the condition is cleaned up or repaired. Third, get the names and contact information of any witnesses who saw the fall or the hazardous condition.

Seek medical attention right away, even if you feel your injuries are minor. Some serious injuries, including concussions and spinal damage, do not produce full symptoms immediately. A medical record created close in time to the accident is also important evidence. Gaps in treatment can be used by defense attorneys to argue your injuries were not serious or were caused by something else.

Preserve any clothing or footwear you were wearing at the time of the fall. Do not post about the accident on social media. Insurance companies routinely monitor social media accounts after claims are filed, and even innocent posts can be taken out of context.

Contact a Rhome slip and fall attorney as soon as possible. Evidence disappears fast. Surveillance footage is often overwritten within days. Witnesses forget details. The sooner an attorney can investigate your claim, the stronger your case will be. The personal injury lawyers at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys are ready to help you from the very first call. Reach out today at (940) 800-2500 for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we recover compensation for you.

FAQs About Rhome Slip and Fall Claims

How long do I have to file a slip and fall lawsuit in Texas?

Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, you generally have two years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit. If your fall happened on government-owned property, the Texas Tort Claims Act requires written notice within six months of the incident, which is a much shorter window. Missing either deadline typically ends your right to recover compensation, so contacting an attorney promptly is essential.

What if I was partially at fault for my fall in Rhome?

Texas uses a proportionate responsibility system under CPRC Chapter 33. You can still recover damages as long as your percentage of fault is 50 percent or less. Your total award is reduced by your share of fault. If you are found 51 percent or more at fault, you cannot recover anything. Property owners and their insurers often try to shift blame onto injured people, which is exactly why having an attorney to fight those arguments matters.

Can I sue if I fell on a business property near Highway 287 in Rhome?

Yes. Businesses that invite customers onto their property owe those customers the highest duty of care under Texas premises liability law. That duty includes inspecting the property, fixing known hazards, and warning customers of dangers the business knew or should have known about. If a business failed to meet that duty and you were injured as a result, you have the right to pursue a claim against that business, the property owner, or both.

What evidence is most important in a Rhome slip and fall case?

The most valuable evidence includes surveillance footage from the property, incident reports, photographs of the hazard and your injuries, witness statements, maintenance or inspection logs, and your medical records. Surveillance footage is especially important because it can show how long a dangerous condition existed before your fall, which goes directly to the issue of constructive knowledge. Evidence can disappear quickly, so acting fast to preserve it is critical.

Does Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys handle slip and fall cases on contingency?

Yes. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys handles slip and fall cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. There are no upfront costs to get started. If you or someone you love was injured in a slip and fall accident in Rhome or anywhere in Denton County, call us at (940) 800-2500 to discuss your case in a free consultation. The attorneys responsible for this content are located in Denton, Texas and are licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.

More Resources for Rhome, TX