Anderson Injury Lawyers | May 30, 2024 | Premises Liability
The Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden is a 66-acre botanical garden in Dallas, TX. The Arboretum was once a part of the estate known as Rancho Encinal. The Arboretum opened in 1984 and currently has 19 named gardens.
The Arboretum is a spectacularly beautiful place to visit, and it hosts numerous public events throughout the year. Many people choose the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden to host private events and weddings.
However, what happens if you are injured at the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden? Knowing what to do after an accident or injury protects your right to seek compensation for a personal injury claim.
Accidents and Injuries at the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden
Generally, most people who visit arboretums and gardens do not experience any adverse events. However, accidents happen. Slip and fall accidents are among the most common accidents people experience when visiting gardens and arboretums. Visitors may also be injured because of utility vehicles and equipment used to maintain the gardens.
Common injuries visitors to the Arboretum may experience include:
- Scrapes and lacerations
- Broken bones and fractures
- Spinal cord and back injuries
- Nerve damage and soft tissue injuries
- Concussion injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Neck injuries
Injuries may seem minor but could worsen in the days and weeks following an accident. All injuries and accidents while visiting attractions should be taken seriously.
Steps to take if You’re Injured at the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden
If you fall at the Arboretum or sustain other injuries, your steps after your injury could help or hurt a personal injury claim.
Things to do immediately following an injury at a public attraction include:
- Report the accident and injury to the facility immediately
- Ask bystanders and witnesses for their names and telephone numbers
- Take photographs of the hazard that caused your accident and injury
- Seek immediate medical treatment and follow up with your doctors if your symptoms worsen
It is also wise to seek legal advice from a Dallas personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after your injury. Claims against the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden and other public attractions are complicated cases because they often involve a government entity.
Who Is Liable for an Injury at the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden?
The Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden is owned by the City of Dallas. It is operated by a non-profit organization, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Society, Inc. Therefore, the City of Dallas could be liable for damages as the owner of the Arboretum.
However, other parties could also share liability for a claim. For example, a maintenance company, another visitor, or another third party could be liable if their negligence contributed to the cause of your injury.
Suing the City of Dallas for Damages Caused by an Accident at the Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
Government entities are protected from being sued by sovereign immunity. It is a legal principle that requires the government to give its consent before you can sue it. Texas has granted limited consent to sue the government in the Texas Tort Claims Act. You can sue a government entity in Texas for accidents caused by motorized vehicles or the condition or use of personal property or real estate.
The rules for suing the City of Dallas differ from the rules for a personal injury claim against a person or corporation. For example, damages are limited in a government tort claim.
You can recover economic and non-economic damages such as:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Medical bills
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Disabilities and impairments
- Lost wages
- Rehabilitative therapies
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Diminished quality of life
- Reduced earning capacity
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Even though you can recover damages for a claim against the government, the damages are limited. The Texas Tort Claims Act limits compensation to $250,000 per person and $500,000 per accident. If you sue a unit of local government instead of a municipality, the limits are $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident.
Your Time to File a Claim for Accidents at The Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden Is Limited
You should contact a Dallas personal injury lawyer immediately. Claims against the government have shorter filing deadlines and statutes of limitations. You have just 180 days from the accident date to file a written claim with the City of Dallas.
Filing a timely notice of claim preserves your right to file a lawsuit if the City denies your claim. Therefore, call a Dallas personal injury attorney as soon as possible for help filing a claim after an accident or injury at The Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Texas
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth or Dallas and need legal help, contact our personal injury lawyers at Anderson Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. We proudly serve Tarrant County, Dallas County, and throughout Texas.
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office
408 W Eighth St Suite 202, Dallas, TX 75208
(214) 327-8000
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office (Secondary)
6301 Gaston Ave suite 610, Dallas, TX 75214
(469) 457-4711
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office
1310 W El Paso St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 294-1900
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office (Secondary)
6618 Fossil Bluff Dr # 108, Fort Worth, TX 76137
(817) 631-4113
