Marfa, Texas Premises Liability Accidents  

Marfa exists as a unique intersection of private investment and rugged desert terrain. While the town is known for its wide-open spaces, the reality for residents and visitors is that Presidio County can be a hazardous environment when property is not properly maintained. The legal responsibility of a property owner does not diminish because of a remote location. Whether it involves neglected commercial storefronts, hazardous industrial sites, or unsecured ranching equipment, owners have a strict duty to ensure their premises are safe for those who enter.

In a secluded area like the Trans-Pecos, the consequences of a property-related injury are amplified. A fall on a poorly maintained walkway or an encounter with an unmarked hazard can result in a medical crisis that is made worse by the distance to the nearest trauma center. When negligence occurs, the victim is often left to navigate a complicated recovery while property owners and their insurers attempt to minimize the severity of the incident.

At A2X Law, we believe that your right to a safe environment is not limited by geography. Our philosophy is built on a simple commitment: Anyone. Anytime. Anywhere. We are not a settlement mill that accepts the first low-value offer from an insurance carrier. We are a team of trial lawyers who are ready to mobilize to West Texas to preserve evidence, interview witnesses, and hold negligent owners accountable.

As Marfa continues to expand in 2026, the necessity for property safety and corporate responsibility has never been higher. If you have been injured due to a property owner’s failure to maintain their premises, you need a firm that is ready to fight for you in a courtroom, not just negotiate over a phone.

What is Premises Liability in Texas? 

Premises liability is a specific area of personal injury law that holds property owners, managers, and occupiers responsible for injuries caused by dangerous conditions on their land or inside their buildings. In Texas, these cases are not merely about whether an accident happened. They are concerned whether the owner was aware of the risk and did nothing about it. 
 
If you suffered an injury due to an incident occurring on the premises of a historic hotel with damaged sidewalks, while working on or visiting a ranch that is located in a remote area, or while visiting a boutique gallery where you slipped and fell, you may have a claim against the owner of the premises where the accident occurred. To establish a premises liability claim, you must prove that the property owner owed you a duty of care; that the property owner breached that duty; and that the property owner's breach caused your injuries. A2X Law is experienced in analyzing and applying Texas law to protect your legal rights. 

The Three Categories of Visitors: Why Your Status Matters 

In Texas, the duty a property owner owes you depends entirely on why you were on the premises. This is one of the most critical aspects of your case, and insurance companies will often try to downgrade your status to avoid paying. 

1. The Invitee 

Anyone who enters the property with the owner's knowledge and for both parties' advantage is considered an invitee. In Marfa, this typically refers to restaurant patrons, museum visitors, or hotel guests. The highest responsibility of care is owed by property owners to guests. They have to address known hazards, monitor for hidden dangers, and alert guests to any concerns that are not immediately apparent. 

2. The Licensee 

A licensee is someone who has permission to be on the property but is there for their own purposes or as a social guest. If you are visiting a friend’s house in Marfa for a dinner party, you are a licensee. The property owner does not have a duty to inspect for unknown problems, but they must warn you of any dangerous conditions they are already aware of. 

3. The Trespasser 

Anyone who accesses a property without authorization or legal right is considered a trespasser. Generally speaking, a property owner's only obligation is to avoid purposefully hurting a trespasser. The "attractive nuisance" approach, however, provides notable exceptions for children. A property owner may still be held accountable for harm if they have something that could entice a youngster, such as an unsafe swimming pool. 

Common Hazards in the Marfa Landscape 

In Marfa, you will not have to deal with the same types of liability issues you would in a larger city, such as Houston or Dallas. The combination of historical architecture, modern art, and a rugged ranch landscape also presents a different set of liability challenges. 

Historic Adobe and Structural Issues 

Historically, many of the buildings in Marfa are constructed of adobe, which requires significant upkeep due to their age. A property owner is also at risk if the property is maintained incorrectly, such as with sagging floors, crumbling walls, or poorly reinforced ceilings. If property owners do not keep historic properties properly maintained and in compliance with current building codes, and someone gets hurt or killed due to a structural failure of the property, the property owner may have to pay for certain types of injuries to the injured party. 

Art Installations and Public Spaces 

Often, the art installations in Marfa feature large-scale minimalist sculptures intended to be interactive. However, several of these installations (i.e., those that are poorly lit, have sharp edges, or are poorly constructed) may be classified as "attractive nuisances" or simply hazardous. A2X Law examines the safety requirements used by those promoting these installations in Marfa, focusing on public safety versus aesthetics. 

High Desert Environmental Hazards 

West Texas has a severe climate. Walkways may heave or crack due to abrupt temperature fluctuations. Paths may be washed away by flash floods, leaving slick mud or concealed sinkholes in their wake. Property owners must consider the environment and ensure their outdoor spaces remain navigable and safe for tourists who may not be accustomed to the local terrain. 

Types of Premises Liability Accidents We Handle 

While many people think of "slip and fall" incidents when they hear the term "premises liability," the field is much broader. Our trial lawyers handle a wide variety of claims in the Trans-Pecos region. 

Slip, Trip, and Fall Incidents 

These are the most frequent premises liability cases. They often occur due to: 

• Spilled liquids in a grocery store or restaurant. 
• Uneven rugs or loose carpeting in a hotel lobby. 
• Poorly maintained parking lots with large potholes or cracks. 
• Inadequate lighting in stairwells or hallways. 

Negligent Security 

As of 2026, there has been an increased level of liability for property owners when security measures, such as locks, adequate lighting, or security personnel, are not provided to the general public, resulting in a guest sustaining an injury from an assault by another person or theft. 

Animal Attacks and Dog Bites 

Marfa has many dogs and several ranches with working dogs. In Texas, the law generally follows a "one-bite rule", which allows for the property owner to be liable for damages only if there was actual knowledge that the dog was dangerous or that the property owner was negligent in controlling the animal. This mostly applies to ranches with livestock that may get onto public rights-of-way, or to ranches with guard dogs that are not properly secured. 

Proving Knowledge: The Key to Your Claim 

In Texas, it is necessary for us to prove that the owner of the property had “actual” or “constructive” notice of a hazard to successfully present a claim under the theory of premises liability. 

• Actual Knowledge: Actual notice means that the owner or an employee was aware of the hazard's existence. For example, if someone had complained about a loose railing in the art gallery, or if an employee had seen a spill but continued through the facility without attending to it, the owner would have actual knowledge of the danger. 
• Constructive Knowledge: This is more common. It means the hazard existed for so long that the owner should have discovered it through reasonable inspection. 

Finding this proof is our specialty at A2X Law. To ascertain the duration of a hazard, we use forensic specialists, maintenance logs, and interviews with former workers. We look for the truth rather than simply accepting the owner's word. 

The "Open and Obvious" Defense: A Common Trap 

One of the most frequent tactics used by insurance companies in Texas is the "Open and Obvious" defense. They will argue that the danger was so clear that you should have seen it and avoided it yourself. Your claim may be completely barred if they can persuade a jury that you were primarily at fault for failing to see where you were going. 

In this case, having a trial lawyer is essential. We can disprove this assertion by showing that there were distractions, dim lighting, or other factors that made the hazard hard to see or impossible to avoid. We aim to maintain responsibility for the property owner who first permitted the hazard. 

The Logistics of Injury in a Remote Location 

The financial and physical consequences of an injury are greater in Marfa than in a city. Serious injuries frequently necessitate a medical flight to El Paso or Midland because Marfa lacks a Level 1 trauma hospital. 

The price of a single "Flight for Life" can reach tens of thousands of dollars. These expenses can bankrupt a family when combined with ER visits and ongoing rehabilitation. We at A2X Law ensure that all these costs are included in your claim. We collaborate with regional providers to fully document the scope of your care, given the unique medical environment in West Texas. 

Damages: What You Can Recover 

In a premises liability lawsuit, we seek compensation for the full impact the injury has had on your life. This includes: 

• Medical Expenses: Past, present, and future costs for treatment, surgery, and therapy. 
• Lost Wages: Money you lost because you couldn't work while recovering. 
• Lost Earning Capacity: If your injury prevents you from returning to your career or performing the same level of work. 
• Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical agony and mental anguish caused by the accident. 
• Disfigurement and Physical Impairment: For permanent changes to your body or your ability to move. 

The A2X Trial Advantage 

Most personal injury firms are afraid of the courtroom. They want to settle as many cases as possible for as little work as possible. That is not how we operate. 

At A2X Law, we prepare every case for trial. This aggressive stance actually makes a settlement more likely, because the insurance companies know that if they don't offer a fair amount, they will have to face us in front of a jury in Presidio County. We have the resources to hire accident reconstructionists, engineers, and medical experts to prove exactly why you deserve justice. 

Our "Anyone. Anytime. Anywhere." motto isn't just a catchphrase. It is a promise to the people of Marfa that we will not let their remote location be an excuse for corporate negligence. We provide big city legal power with a commitment to the West Texas community. 

The Statute of Limitations in Texas 

On average, Texas residents have two years from the time an accident occurs to file a premises liability claim. Although two years may seem like ample time, in reality, the minute an accident occurs, evidence becomes less reliable; for example, surveillance video is taped over, witnesses relocate, and property owners try to remedy or erase any hazardous conditions they may have caused. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we can begin to preserve all of the evidence needed to support your case. 

Contact an A2X Marfa Premises Liability Attorney Today 

If you have been hurt because a property owner was careless, don't let them tell you it was your fault. You deserve a legal team that is as tough and resilient as the West Texas landscape. At A2X Law, we are ready to stand up to the insurance companies and the big property owners to get you the compensation you need to heal. 

We take on all the risk so you can focus on getting your life back together. Whether you are a local resident or a visitor who was injured while enjoying everything Marfa has to offer, we are here for you.