Millions of people seek medical care every year after slipping and falling, and many of these accidents happen when someone is a patron of a restaurant. Although restaurants are not automatically responsible for slip and fall injuries, if they are responsible, you may be able to successfully pursue compensation for a variety of damages. Read on for an overview of how to sue a restaurant in a slip and fall case, and then contact a Texas personal injury attorney for help. 

Know the Law on Texas Slip and Fall Injury Cases

Whether you were badly injured, lightly injured, or even partly responsible for your injuries, you need to have a general understanding of the Texas laws that may apply in your case. To begin with, you can only seek compensation from a restaurant if you have 50 percent or less responsibility for your injuries. You will also need to file a case before the statute of limitations applies - two years from the date of the injury, or from the date you realized you were injured after the slip and fall. 

If you are within those guidelines, you will need to prove that the restaurant or property owner was negligent and, therefore, responsible for the conditions that caused you to slip and fall. You will also need to prove that the accident caused you real damages, such as an injury requiring medical care or valuable personal property (such as a watch or handbag) that was damaged. 

Texas oilfields are a crucial part of our nation’s infrastructure. The men and women who work these often dangerous jobs keep our cars driving, our heat on, and our packages delivered. But oilfield jobs are not without risks, and every so often the risks are so serious that victims of oilfield accidents are incapacitated or killed. For example, just a few months ago, a mother and father of young children were killed when they succumbed to fumes from a gas leak at a pump house while their children waited for them in a car. 

Tragedies like these affect extended families and communities, but for the immediate family members, the loss or handicap of the person who is often the family’s sole breadwinner has long-term implications for a family’s financial future. If you or a family member have been injured or killed in an oilfield accident, seek legal help before settling with the responsible party. 

Common Oilfield Accidents

While the circumstances surrounding every injury differ in certain respects, many injuries sustained by oilfield workers share similarities. Some of the most common injuries happen during the following situations: 

Being violently robbed is one of the most terrifying experiences that can happen to a person. The loss of property often pales in comparison to the fear, trauma, and physical injuries that a victim of robbery may experience in such an event. Following the event, lost sleep, flashbacks, and nausea are common, as are long recovery times from broken bones, lacerations, and even gunshot wounds.

If you have been seriously injured in a Texas robbery, you may feel like you are left to heal and recover alone. Fortunately, you may have options for taking legal action in a personal injury lawsuit.

Who is Responsible for an Injury During a Robbery?

While robberies that happen in a private home or on a city street may leave no one responsible but the perpetrator himself, you may be able to recover civil damages for personal injury in addition to the criminal punishments he will face.

Dog attacks in Texas can present serious dangers, especially to young children. Nearly five million people are bitten by dogs every year in America, and almost a million of those bites require immediate medical attention. Sometimes, the consequences of a dog bite can be devastating, requiring extensive reconstructive surgery, physical therapy, and more. If you have been personally injured by a neighbor’s dog, you may want to know if you can take action.

Texas Follows the One-Bite Rule

Texas law allows the owner of a dangerous animal to be held strictly liable for injuries caused by the animal if the animal was known to be dangerous. When animals attack people or act as if they want to attack people, owners must be hyper-vigilant about ensuring their animal does not have the opportunity to cause others harm. For dogs specifically, this often means the dog has already bitten or tried to bite someone and an owner must keep them leashed at all times.

However, even if a dog owner did not know their animal was dangerous, a victim may still be able to recover compensation if they can prove the dog’s owner was negligent. For example, people are often bitten by a neighbor’s dog when the dog is allowed to roam off-leash and leaves the owner’s property. In this case, the owner letting the dog roam could constitute negligence, especially when the dog attack was not provoked.

Winter can be a dangerous season for those whose line of work involves spending time outdoors or exposed to weather conditions. Even in Texas, winter weather can increase the danger faced by workers facing the elements. There are steps employers can take to help protect their employees from the dangers of cold or frozen weather, but some do not. Depending on the circumstances of your workplace injury, you may have a personal injury claim against your employer. If your employer is a non-subscriber and you do not have access to worker’s compensation coverage, filing a personal injury lawsuit with the aid of an experienced attorney may be the only way for you to receive financial compensation after an injury. 

What Types of Workplace Injuries Are Common During the Winter?

While those who work primarily outdoors are generally at the greatest risk for winter workplace injuries, others may be at risk as well. Those whose job causes them to drive around a lot may also be at an elevated level of risk. Common types of winter workplace injuries include: 

• Slip and fall - One of the most common types of workplace injuries even in good weather, workers are in even greater danger of slipping and falling during winter storms. These accidents can be quite serious, especially for older employees. 
• Frostbite - People working outside in freezing weather should have adequately protective clothing and opportunities to warm up. More serious cases of frostbite can even result in the loss of extremities, especially fingers and toes. Frostbite injuries sustained at work have the potential to be permanently disabling in these cases. 
• Car accidents - In severe weather, the roads can be extremely dangerous. Those whose line of work involves driving or riding around may be at heightened risk of getting hurt in a serious accident. 
• Heavy equipment - Operating heavy machinery in icy conditions can become extremely dangerous. When large equipment loses traction or any component fails due to extreme weather, very serious accidents can result. 
• Hypothermia - Hypothermia is a medical emergency that can cause permanent damage. Those who work for long periods outdoors in the winter must be adequately protected against the elements. If a worker shows signs of hypothermia, like confusion or sudden sleepiness, the response must be immediate. Too often, hypothermia becomes much worse because the situation is not appropriately addressed. 

While some winter work injuries are unavoidable, others can be prevented by a reasonably safety-conscious employer. If you got hurt at work this winter, a qualified attorney may be able to put you on the path to receiving compensation.