Slip and fall in San Antonio: who is responsible and finding a slip and fall attorney

Last checked November 8, 2026

If you fell on private property in San Antonio, you generally have 2 years to sue.1 Falls on city property need written notice within 90 days after the injury.2 The city charter says the city is not liable for sidewalk defects, so sidewalk falls need quick advice.3

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Road map of San Antonio, where city code makes owners keep up the sidewalks next to their property
City charter: San Antonio is not liable for sidewalk defects. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Who is responsible if I slip and fall in San Antonio?

It depends on where you fell and why you were there. The table shows the basic sorting.

Where you fellWho to look atThe rule or deadline
Store, restaurant or apartmentThe owner or the business running itGenerally 2 years to sue1
City of San Antonio building or landThe cityWritten notice within 90 days,2 starting at the City Clerk4
City sidewalkUsually not the city, under the charter3Ask about the next-door owner too5
CPS Energy, SAWS or VIA propertyThat agency, not the city6Six months for most public bodies7
Land opened for recreationThe owner may owe much less care8Exceptions exist

If you were trespassing, the owner only had to avoid hurting you on purpose, recklessly or through gross negligence.9 So write down why you were there, such as shopping, visiting a tenant or making a delivery.

Can I sue San Antonio if I tripped on a broken sidewalk?

This is the most local trap in San Antonio injury law. The city charter says that in no event will the city be liable for a defect or obstruction connected with a sidewalk.3 Do not take the charter alone as the end of it. Ask a lawyer whether a later state law or the specific facts change the result, and do it before the 90-day mark.2

Meanwhile, city law points to someone else. The city says property owners are responsible for repairing and maintaining sidewalks next to their property.5 Once Public Works sends written notice of a dangerous defect, the owner has 30 days to fix it.10 The city also says owners must keep sidewalks free of hazards and obstructions, with a citation and fine of up to $500.11

That duty to repair does not by itself mean the owner must pay you. Courts often ask who controlled the spot and whether the owner created the danger. Find out whether the city already sent a repair notice before your fall. An open records request can help with that. You can report the spot through 311, which takes sidewalk requests,12 and keep the confirmation.

What do I do after falling in a San Antonio store?

  1. Tell the manager and ask for a written incident report. Get a copy or a photo of it.
  2. Photograph the floor from several angles before anyone cleans it. Include your shoes.
  3. Look up and note any cameras, and ask in writing that the video be saved.
  4. Get the names and numbers of anyone who saw it, including employees.
  5. See a doctor the same day if you can. University Hospital's records office is at 210-358-3532.13
  6. Do not give a recorded statement to the store's insurer until you know how bad the injury is.

Store cameras often record over old video. That is why the written request should happen within days, not weeks. The owner will usually try to show that nobody knew about the spill long enough to clean it up. Anything that shows how long it was there helps, such as a dried edge, cart tracks or an employee's comment.

How do I file a fall claim against the City of San Antonio?

Claims against the city must start at the City Clerk.4 Your written notice has to say when, where and how the injury happened, how serious it is and the amount of damages.14 It goes to the city manager or city clerk within 90 days after the injury.2 A General Liability Claims Adjuster should call within 5 to 7 days of filing.15 The Liability Division is at P.O. Box 839966, 210-207-7204.16

Even a timely claim has limits. For a dangerous condition on government property, the agency owes you less care than a store owes a customer, unless you paid to use the place.17 That usually means showing the agency actually knew about the danger.

What if they say I should have watched where I was going?

Expect that. In Texas, you get nothing if you are more than 50 percent at fault for your fall.18 Below that, your share cuts the amount. Phone use, shoes and lighting all come up. Save what you were wearing and do not post about the fall online.

Where is a slip and fall case filed in San Antonio?

Small claims up to $20,000 can go to a Bexar County justice court.19 Precinct 1, Place 1 is at 3505 Pleasanton Rd.20 Larger cases are usually filed with the District Clerk at Paul Elizondo Tower, 101 W. Nueva, Suite 217,2122 or in a County Court at Law through Civil Central Filing at 210-335-2231.23

We could not find official numbers for how many falls happen in San Antonio stores or on city sidewalks. If you hear a specific count, ask where it came from.

What should I ask a slip and fall lawyer in San Antonio?

  • Have you handled claims involving the city's sidewalk charter language?
  • Will you send a letter this week to save the video?
  • Who owned and who managed the place where I fell?
  • If a public agency is involved, what date is my notice due?

Questions

How long do I have to file a slip and fall claim in San Antonio?

Generally 2 years to sue.1 A fall on City of San Antonio property needs written notice within 90 days.2

Is San Antonio responsible for sidewalks?

The charter says the city is not liable for sidewalk defects,3 and the city says adjoining owners must maintain them.5

Can I sue a store if I fell in San Antonio?

Yes, if the store's carelessness caused the fall, unless you are more than 50 percent at fault.18

Who do I report a broken sidewalk to in San Antonio?

Use 311, which takes requests about sidewalks.12

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San Antonio

Slip and fall

Texas

Sources

  1. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a), checked 2026-11-08. “personal injury, forcible entry and detainer, and forcible detainer not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues.”
  2. San Antonio City Charter, Article XII, Sec. 150 (Municode), checked 2026-11-08. “notice in writing of such death, injury or destruction within ninety days after the injury has been sustained”
  3. San Antonio City Charter, Article XII, Sec. 150 (Municode), checked 2026-11-08. “in no event shall the city be liable in damages to any one on account of any defect in, obstruction, on or anything else in connection with any sidewalk in the city”
  4. City of San Antonio, Office of Risk Management FAQs, checked 2026-11-08. “All claims against the City must originate from the City Clerk”
  5. City of San Antonio, Sidewalk Rebate Program brochure, checked 2026-11-08. “property owners are responsible for repairing and maintaining any sidewalks adjoining their properties”
  6. City of San Antonio, Notice of Claim form, checked 2026-11-08. “No, you would need to file a claim with the corresponding entity.”
  7. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred”
  8. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 75.002(c), checked 2026-11-08. “If an owner, lessee, or occupant of real property other than agricultural land gives permission to another to enter the premises for recreation, the owner, lessee, or occupant, by giving the permission, does not: (1) assure that the premises are safe for that purpose; (2) owe to the person to whom permission is granted a greater degree of care than is owed to a trespasser on the premises;”
  9. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 75.007(b), checked 2026-11-08. “An owner, lessee, or occupant of land does not owe a duty of care to a trespasser on the land and is not liable for any injury to a trespasser on the land, except that an owner, lessee, or occupant owes a duty to refrain from injuring a trespasser wilfully, wantonly, or through gross negligence.”
  10. City of San Antonio, Sidewalk Rebate Program brochure (quoting Sec. 29-11), checked 2026-11-08. “within thirty (30) days from date of receipt of such notice”
  11. City of San Antonio, Property Owner's Responsibilities, checked 2026-11-08. “City Ordinances require sidewalks to be maintained by property owners as an extension of their front yards”
  12. City of San Antonio, 311 Mobile App, checked 2026-11-08. “Sidewalks - Streets/traffic”
  13. University Health, Medical Records, checked 2026-11-08. “For medical records, please call us at 210-358-3532”
  14. San Antonio City Charter, Article XII, Sec. 150 (Municode), checked 2026-11-08. “stating in such written notice when, where and how the death, injury or destruction occurred”
  15. City of San Antonio, Notice of Claim form, checked 2026-11-08. “You will receive a call from the General Liability Claims Adjuster within 5-7 days of filing a claim.”
  16. City of San Antonio, Notice of Claim form, checked 2026-11-08. “P.O. Box 839966 San Antonio, Texas 78283-3966 210-207-7204”
  17. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.022(a), checked 2026-11-08. “if a claim arises from a premise defect, the governmental unit owes to the claimant only the duty that a private person owes to a licensee on private property, unless the claimant pays for the use of the premises.”
  18. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001, checked 2026-11-08. “a claimant may not recover damages if his percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent.”
  19. Bexar County Justice of the Peace, Civil Cases, checked 2026-11-08. “The claim can be for no more than $20,000 excluding statutory interest and court costs”
  20. Bexar County Justice of the Peace Courts, checked 2026-11-08. “3505 Pleasanton Rd. San Antonio”
  21. Bexar County District Clerk, Administration, checked 2026-11-08. “accepts all new suits and subsequent filings for civil”
  22. Bexar County District Clerk, Administration, checked 2026-11-08. “Paul Elizondo Tower 101 W Nueva, Suite 217”
  23. Bexar County Courts at Law, checked 2026-11-08. “Civil Central Filing at 210-335-2231”

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