What to Do If You’re Injured on Someone Else’s Property

Posted September 30, 2025 | Personal Injury Blog

Fielding Law is proud to serve Mesquite, Heath, Richardson and the greater Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex with responsive, experienced personal injury representation that puts your recovery first. Slip-and-fall accidents, unsafe stairwells, and poorly maintained properties can all lead to serious injuries. When you’re hurt on someone else’s property, you may not know what steps to take—or whether you even have a case.

Here’s what you need to know about Texas premises liability law, your rights as an injured visitor, and the steps that can protect both your health and your financial recovery.

Understanding Premises Liability in Texas

Premises liability is the legal principle that holds property owners responsible when unsafe conditions on their property cause injury. In Texas, owners and managers must keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors. This applies to:

• Grocery stores and shopping centers.
• Apartment complexes and rental properties.
• Private residences.
• Hotels, restaurants, and public venues.

When an owner fails to correct hazards—or warn visitors about them—they may be held liable for resulting injuries.

CTA: Injured on someone else’s property? Don’t wait—call Fielding Law in Mesquite today for your free consultation.

Common Hazards That Lead to Injuries

Everyday hazards can quickly become life-changing accidents. Some of the most common conditions in Texas premises liability cases include:

• Wet floors: Unmopped spills in grocery stores.
• Poor lighting: Dim stairwells in apartment buildings.
• Broken stairs or railings: Unsafe walkways in rental complexes.
• Uneven pavement: Cracks in sidewalks or parking lots.
• Lack of security: Assaults in poorly monitored public areas.

These hazards are preventable with reasonable inspection and maintenance. When they’re ignored, visitors suffer the consequences.

Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately

Your health comes first. Even if your injuries seem minor, see a doctor or visit a local ER such as Baylor University Medical Center or Parkland Hospital in Dallas. Medical records not only protect your health but also create essential documentation for your case.

Failing to seek care can give insurers an excuse to argue your injuries “weren’t serious.”

Step 2: Report the Accident

Notify the property owner, manager, or employee right away. Ask that an incident report be created and request a copy. For example, if you slip on water in a Mesquite grocery store, the store should log the event.

This record is crucial to proving that the accident happened where—and how—you say it did.

Step 3: Gather Evidence at the Scene

If you’re physically able, collect evidence immediately:

• Photos and videos of the hazard.
• Witness names and contact information.

• Time and date of the accident.
• Surrounding conditions (was there a warning sign? was lighting adequate?).

The sooner you secure evidence, the less chance the property owner has to fix the hazard and deny its existence.

Step 4: Understand Texas Law on Duty of Care

Texas law divides visitors into categories, and your rights depend on your legal status:

• Invitees: Customers in stores, hotel guests, or tenants. Owners owe the highest duty of care to invitees.
• Licensees: Social guests or visitors allowed on the property. Owners must warn them of known dangers.
• Trespassers: Property owners owe minimal duty, except in certain cases involving children (the “attractive nuisance” doctrine).

If you were a paying customer or tenant, you likely qualify as an invitee—giving you stronger legal protection.

Step 5: Avoid Common Mistakes

Victims often hurt their own cases by:

• Delaying medical treatment.

• Failing to report the incident.

• Posting about the accident on social media.

• Accepting quick settlements from insurers.

Insurance companies move fast to limit payouts. Don’t sign or agree to anything until you’ve spoken with Fielding Law.

CTA: Don’t guess what your case is worth—talk to Fielding Law today.

Step 6: How Compensation Works in Texas Premises Liability Cases

If you were injured due to unsafe property conditions, you may be entitled to recover damages such as:

• Medical expenses: Emergency treatment, rehabilitation, long-term care.
• Lost income: Time missed from work or reduced future earning ability.
• Pain and suffering: Physical pain and emotional trauma.
• Wrongful death damages: For families of victims killed by unsafe conditions.

The exact amount depends on the severity of your injuries and the circumstances of your case.

Local Examples in the DFW Metroplex

Premises liability accidents can happen anywhere:

• Slip-and-fall at a Mesquite Walmart due to an unmarked spill.
• Trip-and-fall on cracked pavement outside a Dallas shopping center.
• Broken stair railing in an East Dallas apartment complex.

• Assault in a poorly lit parking lot near downtown Fort Worth.

Each of these scenarios could support a premises liability claim under Texas law.

Why Choose Fielding Law

At Fielding Law, your case isn’t just paperwork—it’s your health, your future, and your financial security. We bring:

• Local knowledge: Experience with Dallas County courts and Metroplex juries.
• Aggressive advocacy: Fighting insurers who try to deny or minimize your claim.
• Proven results: Recovering compensation for Texans injured in preventable accidents.
• Client-first focus: Keeping your needs at the center of every strategy.

When results matter most, Texans trust Fielding Law.

Key Takeaways

• Texas law holds property owners accountable for unsafe conditions.
• Steps after an injury: get medical help, report the accident, gather evidence.
• Your rights depend on whether you were an invitee, licensee, or trespasser.
• Compensation may include medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
• Fielding Law is ready to fight for your recovery in Mesquite and beyond.

Call to Action

Accidents change lives. But you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. Call Fielding Law in Mesquite today to schedule your free consultation—and take the first step toward justice.