Personal Injury
Personal Injury in Texas: It's Not Just Car Accidents.
Personal Injury in Texas: It's Not Just Car Accidents.
"Do I Even Have a Case?"
That's the question most people are quietly asking when they call us.
Maybe you were bitten by a neighbor's dog and didn't want to make things awkward. Maybe a product you bought malfunctioned and hurt you, but you figured, what are the odds anyone believes me? Maybe you slipped and fell somewhere and you're embarrassed to even bring it up.
Here's the honest truth: if you were injured because of someone else's negligence — their carelessness, their failure to act, their defective product — you likely have more legal options than you realize. And the only way to know for sure is to have a real conversation with an attorney who will give you a straight answer.
That's what we do at McKinnon Law.
Personal Injury Is a Broader Category Than Most People Think
When most people hear "personal injury attorney," they picture car accidents. And yes, we handle those — a lot of them. But personal injury law covers a much wider range of situations. If you've been hurt, and someone else is responsible, that's where we come in.
Here's a look at the full picture.
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This is the most common type of personal injury claim in Texas — and for good reason. Our highways are some of the busiest in the country. Whether it's a rear-end collision on I-10, a distracted driver running a red light, or an 18-wheeler that crossed lanes on I-45, accident victims deal with the same painful reality: mounting medical bills, missed work, a damaged vehicle, and an insurance company that is not on their side.
Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts. They may call you quickly, sound helpful, and make an offer that feels reasonable — especially when you're stressed and in pain. But that first offer is almost never in your best interest.
Before you sign anything or give a recorded statement, talk to an attorney.
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Property owners in Texas have a legal responsibility to keep their spaces reasonably safe. When they don't — when a wet floor goes unmarked, a broken step goes unrepaired, or a parking lot stays dangerously unlit — and someone gets hurt because of it, that's not just bad luck. That's negligence.
Slip and fall cases are often dismissed by people who feel embarrassed or assume nothing can be done. But these accidents cause serious, sometimes life-altering injuries: broken bones, head trauma, spinal injuries. If it happened on someone else's property and they knew — or should have known — about the hazard, you have every right to explore your options.
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Texas follows what's known as the "one bite rule," but that doesn't mean a dog gets a free pass every time. If a dog's owner knew the animal had shown aggression before, or was otherwise negligent in restraining or controlling it, they can be held liable for injuries.
Dog bites are more serious than people give them credit for. Beyond the physical injury — which can be significant — there's the infection risk, the emotional trauma, and in some cases, lasting scarring. Children are especially vulnerable, and attacks on kids can have long-term psychological effects.
If you or your child was attacked by someone else's animal, don't let embarrassment or social pressure stop you from finding out what your rights are.
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This one surprises people. You bought something — a tool, a piece of equipment, a children's product, a vehicle part — and it failed in a way it never should have. You got hurt. And now you're wondering if it was somehow your fault for using it wrong.
It might not be.
Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers have a legal obligation to ensure their products are safe for normal use. When a product is defectively designed, improperly manufactured, or sold without adequate safety warnings, and someone gets hurt — that's a product liability claim. These cases can be complex, but they're worth taking seriously.
If a product hurt you or someone in your family, hold onto it. Document everything. And call an attorney before you throw anything away.
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Texas is one of the few states where employers are not required to carry workers' compensation insurance. That means if you're injured on the job and your employer isn't covered, you may need to pursue a personal injury claim to recover your losses.
Even when workers' comp is in play, it doesn't always tell the full story. If a third party — a contractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner — contributed to your injury, you may have additional claims beyond what workers' comp covers.
Workplace injuries are often treated as just "part of the job." They're not. Your safety matters, and so does your recovery.
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Premises liability is the broader legal category that covers slip and fall accidents — but it goes further. It includes situations like:
Injuries at someone's home due to an unsafe condition
Accidents at a business, hotel, or entertainment venue
Swimming pool accidents
Inadequate security that leads to an assault or robbery
If you were legally on someone else's property and you were hurt because the owner failed to maintain safe conditions, that falls under premises liability. Texas law takes these cases seriously, and so do we.
Not Sure If You Have a Case?
Tell us what happened — we'll give you an honest answer, no strings attached. Give us a call (832) 810-3664 or fill out the form below.