Brian White | August 29, 2024 | Premises Liability
Sustaining a personal injury is always stressful, but it can become even more so if you were hurt in a public space such as Inks Lake State Park in Burnet, Texas. While you may know that you can file a legal claim against the responsible party for compensation, you might not understand your specific rights and options.
Since Texas personal injury law generally doesn’t limit your ability to file a lawsuit after an accident – no matter who the at-fault party was – you are likely entitled to monetary damages. An experienced attorney can guide you through the process; until then, read on for further information.
Premises Liability Law in Texas
Most likely, your case will fall under premises liability law, which is a subset of personal injury law. Property owners and managers, whether public or private, must keep their premises reasonably safe. The measures they must take depend on whether the visitor is considered a “licensee,” “invitee,” or “trespasser.”
Licensees are people who visit a premises to benefit the property owner in some way. A clear example is when you visit a store to buy a product. Property owners must take the highest precautions toward licensees, such as regularly inspecting the premises for hazards.
Invitees are those who visit a property for their own benefit. For example, if you visit a friend’s house for dinner, you are likely considered an invitee. Property owners don’t need to take quite the same steps for invitees, but they should still at least warn them of known hazards.
Trespassers are only owed a limited duty of care in certain circumstances only. For example, based on “attractive nuisance doctrine,” property owners might need to take steps to protect child trespassers – such as fencing off a pool.
What You Should Do After an Injury at Inks Lake State Park
Inks Lake State Park is managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. This is a government entity, so it’s possible your legal claim will have strict requirements and a very short filing timeline. However, you may be able to hold other parties liable as well, depending on the facts of your case.
Keep in mind the following so that you can protect your rights and interests after an accident:
- Report your accident and injuries to the park’s staff or other relevant authorities.
- Do not apologize about the accident, and do not accept blame, as doing so could hurt your claim.
- Collect evidence if you can, such as taking photos and videos of the accident scene and your injuries.
- Receive medical treatment as soon as you can. Medical records can serve as evidence for your claim.
From here, get in touch with an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as you can. As stated above, you might need to take legal action very quickly if you need to sue a government entity.
A Trusted Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help if You’re Injured in Inks Lake State Park
If you sustain an injury at Inks Lake State Park, there are two important things to know. One is that you may be able to file a legal claim for compensation, and two is that you may need to act fast.
Since most injury attorneys offer free consultations, it is likely in your best interest to reach out today if you can. From there, most lawyers in this field of law work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if they secure damages for you.
Contact a Houston Personal Injury Lawyer to Help You With Your Claim
For more information, contact the Houston personal injury law firm of Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers by calling (713) 500-5000.
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