Winter weather in North Texas can be unpredictable. While Frisco may not experience heavy snowfall often, freezing rain, overnight freezes, and black ice are common during the colder months. Sidewalks, parking lots, entryways, and stairwells can quickly become hazardous—even when conditions appear safe at first glance.
If you slip and fall on ice and suffer an injury, the steps you take immediately afterward can protect both your health and your legal rights. Understanding how Texas law applies to slip and fall accidents is critical, especially when the injury occurs on someone else’s property.
Prioritize Your Safety and Seek Medical Attention
Your health should always come first. If you are injured in a fall, seek medical care as soon as possible—even if the injury seems minor. Slip and fall injuries often involve head trauma, back injuries, fractures, or soft tissue damage that may not be immediately apparent.
Prompt medical treatment not only protects your well-being but also creates documentation that may later support a personal injury claim. Delaying care can make injuries worse and may give insurance companies a reason to question the seriousness of your condition.
Document the Scene Before Conditions Change
Icy conditions are temporary by nature. Ice melts, salt gets applied, and hazards disappear quickly. If you are physically able—or if someone with you can help—try to document the scene immediately after the fall.
Helpful documentation may include:
- Photos or videos of the icy surface
- Images showing the lack of warning signs or barriers
- The surrounding area, including lighting and drainage issues
- The shoes you were wearing at the time of the fall
If there were witnesses, collect their names and contact information. Third-party statements can be extremely valuable in slip and fall cases.
Report the Incident to the Property Owner or Manager
If the fall occurred at a business, apartment complex, or other commercial property, notify management right away and request that an incident report be completed. Be factual when describing what happened, and avoid speculating about fault or minimizing your injuries.
For falls on private property, documenting when and how the owner was notified can still be important. Regardless of where the fall occurred, avoid giving recorded statements to insurance companies without first speaking to a lawyer.
Understanding Premises Liability in Texas
Slip and fall cases involving ice fall under Texas premises liability law. Property owners and occupiers have a legal duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition or to warn visitors of known dangers.
However, liability is not automatic. To pursue compensation, it must generally be shown that:
- The property owner knew or should have known about the icy condition
- They failed to take reasonable steps to address it or warn visitors
- That failure directly caused your injuries
In icy conditions, timing matters. Courts will often consider how long the ice was present, whether weather conditions made treatment feasible, and whether reasonable precautions—such as salting, sanding, or posting warnings—were taken.
Where You Fell and Why You Were There Matters
Texas law evaluates slip and fall claims based in part on your relationship to the property owner at the time of the accident.
- Invitees (such as customers at a business) are owed the highest duty of care. Business owners must actively inspect for hazards and address dangerous conditions.
- Licensees (such as social guests) are owed a duty to be warned of known dangers.
- Trespassers are owed very limited protection under the law.
Where the fall occurred—such as a commercial parking lot, apartment walkway, or private driveway—can significantly affect whether a claim is viable. These distinctions make slip and fall cases more legally complex than they often appear.
Can the Property Owner Argue You “Assumed the Risk”?
Property owners and insurers frequently argue that icy conditions are “obvious” and that injured individuals should have avoided them. While this argument may arise, it does not automatically bar recovery.
Texas courts examine factors such as:
- Whether the ice was visible or concealed
- Lighting conditions at the time of the fall
- Whether the area appeared to be treated or maintained
- Whether the injured person had a reasonable alternative route
Each case is fact-specific. Just because ice was present does not mean the property owner is free from responsibility.
How Our Firm Can Help
At Reynolds & Reynolds, we know how stressful it can be to choose the right attorney when you’re already dealing with a slip and fall case. That’s why our team takes a personalized, hands-on approach to every case. Our firm works closely with injured clients in Frisco and surrounding areas to evaluate their claims, gather evidence, and identify all potentially liable parties.
We handle the legal process from start to finish—communicating with insurance companies, consulting with medical professionals, and building strong cases designed to pursue full and fair compensation. Our goal is to reduce your stress while protecting your rights every step of the way.
Let’s Discuss Your Case
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident caused by icy conditions, you do not have to navigate the legal process alone. The path forward becomes clearer when you have the right legal team standing beside you. We’re here to answer your questions, help you understand your options, and guide you toward the best possible outcome.
Contact the professionals at Reynolds & Reynolds. Our attorneys can be reached here or call (972) 684-5011 to speak with someone today. Follow us on Facebook for updates and legal tips, and contact Reynolds & Reynolds to discuss your case.