Texas premises law sorts visitors into invitees, licensees, and trespassers. An invitee enters for the owner's benefit (a customer in a store) and is owed the highest duty — the owner must inspect for and warn of or fix dangerous conditions.
The Three Categories of Visitors
A licensee enters with permission for their own purposes (a social guest); the owner must warn of known hazards. A trespasser is generally owed only a duty not to injure them willfully, with narrow exceptions such as the attractive-nuisance doctrine for child trespassers.
Why Status Drives the Outcome
Property owners and their insurers often argue that an injured person was a licensee or trespasser to reduce the duty owed. Establishing invitee status — and that the owner knew or should have known of the hazard — is frequently the heart of the dispute.
Evidence of prior complaints, inspection logs, and how long a hazard existed can prove the owner's knowledge.
Get a Review of Your Premises Claim
If you were hurt on someone else's property in Texas, a free review can assess your status and the owner's duty under the facts of your case.
Have questions about your own situation? Get a free, confidential case review. You pay no fee unless you win. Call 973-566-5599.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed Texas attorney.