Austin slip-and-fall cases — also called premises liability cases — happen when a property owner fails to keep their premises reasonably safe and someone gets hurt. The most common cases we see locally involve grocery stores (especially HEB locations across the metro), big-box retailers, restaurants, hotels, apartment complexes, and parking lots.
The Longhorn Law Firm handles slip-and-fall cases throughout Austin — including at HEB, Walmart, Target, Lowe's, and other retailers, restaurants, hotels, apartment complexes, and parking lots. See our full overview of slip and fall cases →
Austin context.
Major Roadways
I-35 (running through central Austin), MoPac (Loop 1), US-183, the SH-130 tollway, and Bee Cave Road.
Local Courts
Travis County Civil District Courts at the Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse (1000 Guadalupe St.) and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division.
Trauma Care
Dell Seton Medical Center (Level I trauma), St. David's Medical Center, and the Ascension Seton hospital system.
Why It Matters Here
Austin's freeways were built for a much smaller city and are now notoriously congested. I-35 in particular ranks among the most accident-prone stretches in Texas, and the rapid growth across Travis and Williamson Counties has put added pressure on every major road.
What you have to prove.
Premises liability is more demanding than many people assume. To win, we have to show:
- The property owner created the hazardous condition, knew about it, or should have known about it through reasonable inspection
- The owner failed to fix it or warn about it in a reasonable time
- That failure caused your injury
- You suffered damages
The biggest battleground is usually the second element — "actual or constructive notice." Stores routinely argue that the spill "just happened" and they had no time to address it. We defeat that defense with inspection logs, sweep records, prior incident reports, surveillance footage, and the testimony of employees and witnesses.
Common Austin fall scenarios.
- Wet floors at grocery stores — spills, leaking refrigeration cases, mopped floors without warning signs
- Produce-aisle falls — grapes, water, ice
- Parking lot hazards — cracked pavement, potholes, missing wheel stops, poor lighting
- Stairs and ramps — broken handrails, code-violating step heights, slippery surfaces
- Hotel falls — pool decks, bathtub falls, lobby and walkway hazards
- Apartment complex falls — broken stairs, dim hallways, ice or water
Do: Report the fall to the manager and ask for a written incident report. Photograph the hazard, your injuries, and the area. Get witness contact info. Save the shoes and clothes you were wearing. Get medical care.
Don't: Sign anything the store gives you. Don't give a recorded statement. Don't accept a quick "we'll cover your bills" offer in exchange for a release.
Common injuries.
- Hip and pelvis fractures (especially in older adults)
- Wrist and forearm fractures (from trying to catch yourself)
- Knee injuries, including ACL and meniscus tears
- Back and spinal injuries — including herniated discs
- Head injuries and concussions
- Shoulder injuries
Insurance companies routinely call victims within hours, sounding friendly, asking for a "quick recorded statement," and floating a fast lowball offer before the victim has seen a doctor. Don't give a recorded statement. Don't accept an offer. Read our full guide on insurance company tactics before you say anything.
Texas deadlines.
Two years from the date of the fall to file (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003). Cases against governmental entities require notice within much shorter windows — sometimes as little as six months. Texas applies modified comparative fault: you can still recover if you were 50% or less at fault. More on comparative fault →