You head over to a friend’s house for dinner, game night, or to help with a small project. Minutes later, you’re on the floor with a broken wrist, torn ligaments, or worse. Now you’re facing ER bills, time off work, and weeks of pain, and you’re wondering what your options are without destroying the friendship.
You are not alone. Falls are one of the most common causes of serious injuries in homes across the United States. National Safety Council data shows that in 2023, 32,000 deaths in the home were caused by falls, making falls the second leading cause of preventable injury-related deaths in home settings. The CDC also reports that each year millions of older adults go to the emergency room after a fall, and falls remain the leading cause of injury for people 65 and older.
In Texas, injuries are the leading cause of death for people ages 1–44, and falls are one of the top drivers of those injuries. When those injuries happen on someone else’s property, you may have a premises liability claim.
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Hidden Home Hazards That Lead to Serious Injuries
Many dangerous conditions inside homes look minor, until someone gets badly hurt. Common hazards we see in Texas cases include:
National injury data shows that home environments now account for more medically consulted injuries than workplaces, public places, and motor-vehicle crashes combined. Many of those injuries come from slips, trips, and falls, exactly the hazards that show up in ordinary Texas homes and apartments.
When Is a Texas Homeowner Legally Responsible?
Texas uses premises liability law to decide when a property owner is on the hook for injuries.
Your legal status as a visitor
On private property, Texas usually puts visitors into three categories:
If you’re at a friend’s home for social reasons, Texas law usually treats you as a licensee. For licensees, the homeowner:
Example:
In that situation, Texas law may say your friend breached their duty by not warning you of a known hidden danger.
By contrast, if the hazard is open and obvious, Texas courts often say the owner has no duty to warn because a reasonable guest would see and avoid it. The Texas Supreme Court has confirmed that, in most premises cases, a landowner’s duty is to make safe or warn of concealed dangers, not hazards that are clearly visible.
Duty of Care: What the Injured Guest Must Prove
To win a Texas premises liability case after a home injury, you generally must show:
This is where a Houston premises liability lawyer becomes critical. The property owner’s insurance company will almost always argue:
An experienced injury attorney gathers photos, witness statements, maintenance records, and expert opinions to prove each of these elements.
Texas Law: Deadlines and the 51% Rule
Two key Texas laws control home injury cases.
Two-year statute of limitations
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, you usually have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit, including premises liability claims.
Wait too long, and the court can bar your claim—even if liability is clear. This is one reason to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible, while evidence and memories are still fresh.
Comparative Negligence: The 51% Bar
Texas follows a modified comparative negligence system. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001, you cannot recover anything if you are more than 50% at fault for your own injury.
If you are 50% or less at fault, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. For example:
Insurance companies love to blame injured guests. A skilled Houston slip and fall lawyer pushes back with facts, evidence, and Texas case law that shows where the real fault lies.
Who Actually Pays? Understanding Homeowners Insurance
Most of the time, you are not literally “suing your friend.” Instead, you are making a claim against their:
These policies often include liability coverage for injuries to guests caused by unsafe conditions. That means:
Handled respectfully, a claim can protect your health and finances without destroying a relationship.
What To Do Right After You’re Hurt in Someone Else’s Home
If you slip, trip, or get hurt at a home in Houston, Pasadena, or anywhere in Texas, take these steps:
The Real Cost of a “Simple” Fall
A home fall often leads to:
Nationwide, older adult falls led to about 3 million ER visits and 1 million hospitalizations in a single year, with fall death rates among seniors climbing sharply between 2003 and 2023. These injuries carry massive medical costs, lost income, and long‑term care needs.
You deserve full compensation for:
How Joe I. Zaid & Associates Help After a Home Injury
When you are hurt at someone else’s home, you need a law firm that understands Texas premises liability and how to work with homeowners insurers.
Joe I. Zaid & Associates is a Houston‑area personal injury firm that focuses on helping injured people across Texas. Joe Zaid, the firm’s founder, is a seasoned personal injury attorney with a client-centered approach and a strong record of results. Since 2013, he has represented thousands of clients in personal injury and wrongful death cases and has recovered millions of dollars in settlements, including numerous seven‑figure recoveries for individuals.
Before starting his firm, Joe spent almost a decade working for one of the world’s largest insurance companies. That insider experience helps him anticipate insurer tactics, value claims accurately, and push for every dollar you deserve.
He has been nominated by H‑Texas Magazine as one of Houston’s Top Lawyers and recognized as a Top 40 under 40 Trial Lawyer, and he is an active member of the Houston Trial Lawyers Association and Texas Trial Lawyers Association.
In the middle of your case, you can count on clear communication, hands-on support, and a team that understands how stressful it feels to be hurt and out of work.
Office: (346) 756-9243
4701 Preston Ave, Pasadena, TX 77505
Your Next Step After a Home Injury in Texas
If you were injured at a friend’s or family member’s house in Houston, Pasadena, or anywhere in Texas:
Instead, talk with a Houston slip and fall lawyer who understands Texas premises liability, comparative negligence, and how homeowners insurance really works.
Joe I. Zaid & Associates offers free consultations and works on a contingency fee basis, you pay nothing unless we win. When you call, we will review what happened, explain your options, and give you a straightforward plan for moving forward.
Your recovery, your financial stability, and your future matter. Reach out today so we can start protecting your rights while you focus on healing.
