Galveston Premises Liability Lawyer

Injured on Someone Else's Property in Galveston?

Property owners in Texas must take reasonable steps to keep visitors safe. When they ignore a wet floor, a broken stair, or a dangerous pool, people get hurt. A Galveston premises liability lawyer at The Daspit Law Firm can help you hold the owner or business accountable and pursue payment for your medical bills, lost income, and pain.

Call (281) 748-2044 for a free consultation, 24 hours a day. We work on a contingency fee, so there is no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. We offer home and hospital visits and help clients in English and Spanish.

Common Premises Liability Cases in Galveston

Galveston Island welcomes millions of visitors, and its hotels, rentals, restaurants, and shops see heavy foot traffic year-round. Salt air, sand, rain, and storm damage add their own hazards. Cases we see include:

•      Slip and fall accidents on wet tile, spilled drinks, or sandy lobby floors

•      Trip and fall injuries from broken sidewalks, loose boards, and uneven parking lots

•      Stair and balcony collapses, including rotted railings at older beach properties

•      Swimming pool and hot tub injuries at hotels, condos, and apartment complexes

•      Falling merchandise in stores

•      Poor lighting in stairwells, garages, and walkways

•      Elevator and escalator injuries

•      Dog bites and animal attacks on someone else's property

These incidents can happen at beachfront hotels along Seawall Boulevard, short-term vacation rentals on the West End, shops on the Strand, cruise terminal parking areas, and apartment complexes across Galveston County. When the harm comes from a crime that better security could have prevented, see our Galveston negligent security page.

How Texas Premises Liability Law Works

Your Status as a Visitor Matters

Texas law sets the owner's duty based on why you were on the property.

•      Invitees, such as hotel guests, shoppers, and restaurant customers, are owed the highest duty. The owner must use reasonable care to make the property safe or warn of dangers it knew or reasonably should have known about.

•      Licensees, such as social guests, are generally owed a duty to be warned of, or protected from, dangers the owner actually knew about and the guest did not.

•      Trespassers are generally owed only a duty not to be injured through willful, wanton, or grossly negligent conduct. Special rules can apply to children.

What You Generally Need to Prove

For most invitee claims, Texas courts look at four elements:

•      The owner knew, or reasonably should have known, about the condition

•      The condition posed an unreasonable risk of harm

•      The owner did not use reasonable care to fix it or warn about it

•      That failure caused your injury

Proving the owner knew about a hazard often comes down to evidence such as surveillance video, inspection logs, prior complaints, and employee testimony. That evidence can disappear quickly, which is one reason to act early. Texas courts have also held that owners generally do not have to warn about dangers that are open and obvious, so how visible the hazard was can become a key issue.

Shared Fault

Owners and insurers often argue that the injured person should have been watching where they walked. Under Texas proportionate responsibility rules, you can still recover if you are not more than 50% at fault, though your award is reduced by your share.

Deadlines and Government Property

In most cases you have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. Claims against a city, county, or state agency are limited by the Texas Tort Claims Act, which generally requires written notice within six months and sometimes sooner under city charters.

Who Can Be Held Responsible

•      Property owners, including hotel and condo owners

•      Businesses that lease and operate the space

•      Property management companies

•      Short-term rental hosts and management companies

•      Contractors whose work left a hazard behind

In most cases, the claim is paid by a liability insurance policy, not out of an individual's pocket. If you were hurt while working on someone else's property, the rules change; see our Galveston work injury page.

Injuries and Compensation

A fall can cause hip and wrist fractures, back injuries, torn ligaments, and traumatic brain injuries, especially for older adults. Pool accidents can lead to drowning or near-drowning. Compensation may include medical care, lost wages, future earning capacity, pain and mental anguish, physical impairment, and disfigurement. For severe or permanent harm, see our catastrophic injury page. If a loved one died, the family may bring a Galveston wrongful death claim.

What to Do After an Injury on Someone's Property

•      Get medical care right away and tell the doctor how the injury happened

•      Report the incident to the manager or owner and ask for a copy of the incident report

•      Photograph the hazard, the area around it, and your shoes or clothing

•      Get names and phone numbers of witnesses

•      Ask in writing that surveillance video be preserved

•      Do not give a recorded statement to the property's insurer before talking to a lawyer

How The Daspit Law Firm Helps

Founding attorney John Daspit worked as an insurance defense lawyer before representing injured people. He knows the arguments property insurers use, such as "the danger was obvious" or "we had no idea it was there," and how to answer them with evidence. We act fast to request video and maintenance records, and we prepare every case for trial in Galveston County. Learn more about our full range of Galveston personal injury services and our work across the Galveston area.

Contact a Galveston Slip and Fall and Premises Liability Attorney

If you were hurt because a property owner did not keep things safe, call (281) 748-2044 any time or request a free consultation online. You owe no fee unless we win. This page is general information, not legal advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a premises liability claim in Texas?

In most cases, two years from the date of the injury. If the property belongs to a government entity, such as a city or county, you generally must give written notice within six months, and some city charters require notice sooner. Evidence like video can be erased within days, so it is best to act quickly.

Can I sue a hotel in Galveston if I slipped and fell?

Yes, if the hotel knew or should have known about the hazard and did not fix it or warn guests. Hotel guests are invitees under Texas law, so the hotel owes them reasonable care. Evidence such as incident reports, cleaning logs, and video often decides these cases.

What if the property owner says I was not paying attention?

That is a common defense. Texas lets you recover as long as you are not more than 50% at fault, with your award reduced by your share. Photos of the hazard, lighting, and lack of warning signs can show that the owner, not you, bears most of the responsibility.

What if I was hurt at a vacation rental?

Short-term rental guests usually have the same rights as other paying guests. The owner, host, or management company may be responsible for unsafe stairs, decks, pools, or wiring. Save your booking confirmation and messages with the host, and photograph the hazard before you check out.

How much does a premises liability lawyer cost?

At The Daspit Law Firm, there is no up-front cost. We work on a contingency fee, meaning our fee is a percentage of what we recover. If we do not recover money for you, you owe no attorney fee. Consultations are free and available 24/7 at (281) 748-2044.