Premises Liability Attorney in Amarillo, TX
Property Owners Have a Duty to Keep You Safe — When They Fail, We Step In
When you are injured on someone else’s property because the owner failed to maintain safe conditions, you may have a premises liability claim. As a premises liability attorney in Amarillo, TX, Stockard, Johnston, Brown, Netardus & Doyle represents individuals injured in slip and falls, falling object incidents, inadequate security situations, swimming pool accidents, and other premises liability events throughout the Texas Panhandle. We hold property owners accountable for the duty of care Texas law requires them to provide.
Premises Liability in Texas — How the Law Determines What a Property Owner Owes You
Texas premises liability law is built around the relationship between the injured person and the property owner at the time of the injury. The duty of care owed depends on the legal status of the visitor:
-
Invitee
a person invited onto the property for business purposes (customers, patients, tenants, restaurant guests) or for purposes for which the land is held open to the public. Property owners owe invitees the highest duty of care — to inspect for hazards, repair known dangers, and warn of conditions that cannot be immediately remedied. -
Licensee
a social guest or someone who enters with the owner's permission for their own purposes. Owners must warn licensees of known hazards they are unlikely to discover on their own, but have no duty to inspect for unknown hazards. -
Trespasser
someone who enters without permission. Owners generally owe trespassers only the duty not to willfully injure them, with additional protections for child trespassers under the attractive nuisance doctrine.
Most business-related premises liability claims involve invitees — the customers, clients, and visitors who enter commercial properties with the owner’s invitation. As a premises liability attorney in Amarillo, TX, we evaluate the visitor’s status, the nature of the hazard, and whether the property owner knew or should have known about it to build the strongest possible case for our clients.
Premises Liability Cases We Handle in Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle
-
Slip and fall accidents
wet floors, unmarked spills, icy walkways, uneven surfaces, loose mats, and other conditions that cause falls in commercial and residential properties -
Falling object incidents
merchandise falling from shelves in retail stores, falling signage, structural failures, and similar incidents -
Inadequate security
assaults, robberies, and other criminal acts that occur on properties where inadequate lighting, broken locks, missing security cameras, or lack of security personnel contributed to the harm -
Swimming pool and water feature accidents
drownings, near-drownings, and diving injuries in commercial and residential pools -
Stairway and elevator accidents
failures of handrails, escalators, elevators, and stairway conditions -
Parking lot accidents
poor lighting, ice and snow, potholes, and inadequate security in commercial parking areas -
Construction site injuries to non-workers
members of the public injured by construction hazards on adjacent or accessible properties -
Agricultural property hazards
injuries occurring on farms, ranches, and rural properties with unique hazards
What You Can Recover in a Texas Premises Liability Case
Medical Expenses
All costs of treating your injuries — emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment.
Lost Wages
Income lost during recovery and future earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work.
Pain and Suffering
Physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of quality of life resulting from your injuries.
Property Damage
Damage to personal property caused by the incident.
What Texas Law Requires Property Owners to Do
Holding Amarillo Property Owners Accountable for the Safety of Their Premises
Property owners and their insurers frequently deny premises liability claims by arguing they had no knowledge of the hazard, that the condition was obvious, or that the injured person was not paying attention. We counter these defenses with evidence — incident reports, maintenance logs, prior complaints, inspection records, and surveillance footage where available. We build the case that establishes what the owner knew, when they knew it, and what they failed to do about it. As a premises liability attorney in Amarillo, TX, we represent injury victims against commercial property owners, landlords, government entities, and private homeowners.
Premises Liability Questions — Answered
What should I do immediately after a slip and fall accident?
Report the incident to the property owner or manager immediately and make sure an incident report is created — ask for a copy. Photograph the hazard that caused your fall before it is cleaned up or repaired. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses. Seek medical attention even if your injuries seem minor. Do not sign anything or give a recorded statement to the property owner’s insurer before consulting an attorney.
How long do I have to file a premises liability claim in Texas?
Two years from the date of injury under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003.
How much does it cost to hire a premises liability attorney?
You pay nothing upfront. Premises liability cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, which means you owe no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you. The initial consultation is free, and we advance the costs of investigating the property, gathering evidence, and building your claim. Our fee is a percentage of the recovery, agreed to in writing before we start, so you can pursue your case without any financial risk.
What if I was partially at fault for my slip and fall — was I not watching where I was going?
Texas’s modified comparative fault rule allows you to recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault. The property owner’s insurer will almost certainly argue that you were not paying attention — we counter that argument with evidence of the hazard, the owner’s knowledge of it, and their failure to address it. Your own conduct is only one part of the analysis.
Injured on Someone Else's Property in Amarillo? Let's Talk.
Property owners have insurance for exactly these situations — and their insurers have attorneys working to minimize what they pay. You deserve representation that levels the playing field. Contact Stockard, Johnston, Brown, Netardus & Doyle for a free evaluation with a premises liability attorney in Amarillo who will fight for the full value of your claim.