Slip and Fall at a Corpus Christi Beach Rental: Can You Sue a Property Owner in Texas?

When you slip and fall at a beach rental in Corpus Christi, it may or may not be the property owner’s fault. The law typically requires that the property owner be negligent in their property maintenance to consider them liable for damages. Consulting with a lawyer is the best way to review your accident and consider your legal options.

If you’ve suffered an injury because of a slip and fall at a vacation rental, call the Corpus Christi slip and fall lawyers at Carabin Shaw. We offer our services on a contingency-fee basis, so you can file an injury claim without financial risk; you owe us nothing unless your case is won. Carabin Shaw’s client reviews reveal our commitment to quality and professional legal representation. Contact us today to schedule your free case review.

If you trip on your own shoelace and cause an Airbnb slip and fall, the property owner isn’t likely to be liable for your damages. The law requires that the property owner knew about or should have known about the condition that caused your fall. If they had a duty to correct the condition, then the law may deem them liable for damages under the legal notion of premises liability. Unless the property’s condition caused your shoe to become untied, you wouldn't have a vacation rental injury claim in Texas.

However, if you slipped and fell because of a broken banister on a staircase or a lifting floorboard, this is likely the homeowner's responsibility. When a property owner doesn’t fix something that they reasonably should have known about, the law considers it negligence. You may have a suitable reason to file a personal injury claim in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Corpus Christi’s Mustang and Padre Islands are notorious hotspots for party-going beachgoers, and short-term rentals frequently get neighborhood complaints about things like noise and litter. The city has tried to limit disruptions for residents by requiring permits for short-term rental operators, making them easier for code enforcement to monitor. While breaking this regulation will result in a fine, it doesn’t really change the premises liability for short-term rental injury accidents.

As far as slip and fall accidents are concerned, a property owner does not necessarily have to violate any code, regulation, or law to be liable for injuries a victim sustains. They are expected to use “reasonable care” in regard to their property’s condition. Your lawyer must prove that if they had exercised reasonable care, you wouldn’t have any of the damages you claim.

Some victims of beach rental slip and falls might be reluctant to pursue damages because they were drinking at the time of the accident. Drinking only prevents you from filing a winning claim if drinking was over 50% of the reason why you suffered harm. The act of drinking does not eliminate the property owner’s duty to exercise reasonable care and maintain safe property conditions.

Speaking to an attorney is the best way to find out if you have a justified cause for an injury claim. They can review your case and determine whether they think the property owner is completely at fault or if you share in some of the fault. The Texas proportionate responsibility doctrine states that you can contribute up to 50% of the fault in an accident before the law will not allow you to recoup damages. The legal team at Carabin Shaw can help you get the compensation you deserve.

Accidents happen, and slipping and falling at a beach rental might be an accident for which the law will not hold anyone liable for damages. However, when slip-and-fall injuries result from negligence, victims deserve compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. A settlement should cover all your damages, so you can financially recover from injuries that you didn’t cause.

Call the legal team at Carabin Shaw toll-free at 1-800-862-1260. We have English- and Spanish-speaking staff available 24/7 to speak to you and schedule a free consultation.

For more information:

• Texas Public Radion
• City of Corpus Christi
• Cornell Law School