When you enter public property, such as a business, government building, or a park, you have the right to expect a safe experience. Unfortunately, some property owners, including businesses, may not take the necessary steps to keep visitors safe from harm.
That negligence can result in severe injuries, many of which can have long-term consequences for your finances and physical and emotional well-being. A Katy public property injury lawyer could help you learn more about your right to compensation. Call KGS Law Group today to speak with a seasoned premises liability attorney.
Determining the Right to Compensation After a Public Property Injury
In order to determine whether an individual has the right to compensation after an injury on public property, a Katy lawyer will look at several key factors, including the following:
Negligence
An experienced personal injury attorney will start with a comprehensive look at what type of negligence led to the accident, such as:
- Failure to take care of needed maintenance
- Lack of warning signs about potential hazards
- Ignoring a spill or other hazard
- Lack of maintenance in parking lots
- Inadequate lighting
- Leaving tripping hazards, including cluttered walkways, wires, or cords
Public property owners, including government entities, bear a duty of care to everyone who visits their premises. A duty of care establishes that the property owner has an obligation to prevent injury to those visitors. When the property owner fails to do so, it constitutes negligence.
Causation
To establish causation, a lawyer will examine how negligence led to the injured individual’s accident and resulting injuries. For example, a facility that does not repair the handrail on the stairs, causing it to break and lead to a fall, caused injuries by ignoring the needed maintenance on a vital part of the building.
Damages
To file a premises liability claim, the injured individual must show that they suffered damages due to the incident. Typically, that means showing the extent of their injuries through evidence like medical documentation.
Recovering Compensation Following Injuries on Public Property
Establishing damages from a public property injury is essential to recovering compensation for losses. Damages in these types of claims typically include the following:
- The cost of medical treatment for the injuries sustained in the accident
- Any income losses if the injured person could not work after their accident
- The injured party’s pain and suffering, including emotional distress
A dedicated and well-versed lawyer in Katy will review the full extent of the damages the injured party suffered in an accident on public property and what they should include in their claim. In many cases, simply reviewing those damages can help injured individuals realize the full extent of their losses, allowing them to better shape their claims.
Reach out to a Public Property Injury Lawyer in Katy Today
If you suffered injuries in an accident on public property, you may have limited time to proceed with a claim. In Texas, the statute of limitations allows injured individuals two years to pursue compensation for their losses. That includes claims against a government entity.
Do not let the clock count down and miss out on the compensation you deserve for those injuries. Reach out to a Katy public property injury lawyer at The Law Firm of Kinard, Garcia, and Saldana to discuss your legal options for fair compensation.