While slip and fall accidents can happen in picture-perfect weather, they’re more likely to happen in bad weather conditions. Rain, wind, snow, hail, and ice can all create slip and fall hazards that, left untended, can cause serious accidents, injuries, or deaths.
In Texas, property owners assume a responsibility to keep invited guests and visitors safe. That duty of care doesn’t wane when it rains. Instead, owners have a greater responsibility to keep their premises in a safe condition.
Here’s how an experienced Round Rock slip and fall accident attorney can help you prove owner negligence if you’ve recently fallen on someone else’s property in bad weather conditions.
What Weather Conditions Might Contribute to Slip and Fall Accidents?
While Texas is in the south, it’s still touched by all four seasons and is known for its fair share of bad weather. Some of these seasonal weather conditions can create situations in which slips and falls are more likely to happen, especially when premises aren’t inspected regularly.
These include:
- Rain: Rain can make sidewalks, pavement, and floors slick and hard to stand on safely. As people track in water with their shoes, hard surfaces like tile, laminate, and hardwood can get slick and covered with puddles that increase the likelihood of falls.
- Wind: Wind during rainstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes can cause fallen trees and branches, damage road signs, scatter debris, and cause physical damage to structures and walkways, creating treacherous walking conditions.
- Snow: Snowstorms can lead to accumulations of snow that, left untreated, can either freeze and become slick or melt and create dangerous puddles. Snow can also obscure slip and fall hazards that might otherwise be obvious.
- Ice: When temperatures drop below freezing, accumulations of rainwater or snow can freeze and make walkways and pavement slick. Black ice, in particular, can be difficult to see and cause even the most sure-footed individuals to fall.
Property owners in Texas are expected to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition, no matter the weather. An experienced slip and fall accident lawyer understands these legal obligations and can help you hold negligent property owners accountable.
How Can I Prove Negligence in a Weather-Related Slip and Fall Accident Lawsuit?
The fact that it rained or snowed recently isn’t an excuse for allowing unsafe conditions on the property. It’s actually quite the opposite. Property owners need to be mindful of the weather and hazards that are likely to persist on their premises if it rains or is extremely windy. If you get hurt because a property owner doesn’t take this responsibility seriously, you can sue them in a premises liability lawsuit.
Depending on how and why you slipped and fell, you might need to demonstrate that the owner was negligent because they:
- Didn’t clear puddles, mop, or warn of slick surfaces caused by recent rain, snow, or ice
- Failed to salt their sidewalks and paths where visitors walk after an ice storm or snowstorm
- Neglected to clear fallen trees, debris, or other hazards that were spread by a tornado or windstorm
- Didn’t shovel or clear accumulated snow on walkways
- Failed to provide adequate warnings of slip hazards
Pointing out these errors can demonstrate that an owner breached the duty of care owed to you under Texas law and, in turn, is liable for the slip and fall accident in which you were injured. A slip and fall accident attorney can help gather evidence and expert testimony to prove these negligent failures.
Reach Out to a Round Rock Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer For Guidance
If the weather has contributed to a recent slip and fall accident on someone else’s property in Round Rock, TX, don’t hesitate to call the team at Dow Law Firm for help. Our premises liability attorneys can help you understand your rights and work to hold the property owner responsible for the full extent of your damages.
We offer free consultations, so call our experienced slip and fall accident lawyers in Round Rock at (512) 240-9951 or complete our contact form today.