Here’s what changed:
- Plaintiffs must now provide direct evidence that the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard.
- Courts require clear documentation of the hazard's duration (i.e., how long it was present).
- A general unsafe condition is no longer enough—you must prove the exact hazard and its risk.
What Does This Mean for Your Case?
To succeed in a slip and fall claim, you must now prove all the following:- A dangerous condition existed.
- The property owner knew or reasonably should have known about it.
- The owner failed to fix or warn about the condition.
- The dangerous condition directly caused your injury.
This means timing matters more than ever. If the spill, crack, or hazard just occurred moments before your fall, the owner may not be held liable—unless you can prove they were aware of it.
Examples of How These Changes Affect Cases
✅ Strong Case (Post-2025)
- A grocery store employee walked past a spilled drink in Aisle 5 and ignored it.- You slipped and fell 15 minutes later.
- Surveillance footage confirms the employee saw it.
- The store is likely liable.
❌ Weak Case (Post-2025)
- You slipped on rainwater tracked in by other customers during a storm.- No one reported it, and no one saw it.
- The store had wet floor signs and did hourly inspections.
- The store may not be held liable.
Common Property Owner Defenses in 2025
Property owners and insurers are using new legal defenses under the updated rules:“We didn’t know about it.”
Without witnesses or records, this defense is now more effective.
“We had a safety protocol.”
Routine inspections, training logs, and warning signs bolster this argument.
“The danger was open and obvious.”
If a reasonable person could’ve seen the hazard, they may claim you're at fault.
What You Should Do After a Slip and Fall
Take photos immediately – Include the hazard, the area, and any warning signs (or lack thereof).Get witness information – Bystanders can make or break your case.
Report the fall – Tell the manager and request an incident report in writing.
Seek medical attention – A delay in treatment can hurt both your health and your claim.
Contact a personal injury lawyer – The earlier you involve legal counsel, the better your case will be preserved.
Why Slip and Fall Cases Are More Difficult in 2025
These lawsuits are no longer just about whether you were hurt. Now, they’re about:- How long the hazard existed.
- What the property owner knew.
- Whether the injury was truly caused by negligence—or bad luck.
Without strong evidence, your case could be dismissed before it ever reaches trial.
Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer in Corpus Christi, Texas
Slip and fall accidents can lead to serious injuries—fractures, head trauma, back injuries—and long-term complications. But under Texas’s revised legal framework, property owners are better protected, and victims must work harder to prove fault.Don’t let a lack of legal knowledge cost you the compensation you deserve.