832.402.6637Free Consultation
If a ceiling suddenly collapsed in your Texas apartment, you’ve got legal options. Armstrong Lee & Baker regularly represents Texas residents who were injured at older apartment complexes where landlords and property management companies failed to properly maintain their buildings.
In many cases, a ceiling collapse is not a freak accident. Water damage, recurring roof leaks, structural deterioration, and ignored maintenance requests often create dangerous conditions that property owners knew about, or should have known about, long before someone was hurt.
If you suffered injuries after a ceiling collapse, you may be entitled to compensation. Our attorneys can investigate what happened, determine who is responsible, and pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
The consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
More than 6 million people in Texas rent their homes and apartments. Renters expect that their landlord will provide them with a safe place to live. In Texas, renters have the right to demand that landlords repair any condition that affects the physical health and safety of their tenants.
Unfortunately, landlords do not always perform the needed maintenance or make the necessary repairs to keep a property safe. A property owner has a duty to use reasonable care to make sure that the property is safe for tenants and visitors. This duty includes the responsibility to regularly inspect, maintain, and repair the property.
Many of the cases we handle involve larger, older apartment communities where years of deferred maintenance have allowed small problems to turn into serious hazards.
Common causes of ceiling collapses include:
If you’ve been injured, don’t assume the collapse was simply an accident. Property owners and management companies may be legally responsible.
Many tenants aren’t sure whether they have grounds for a lawsuit after a ceiling collapse. In reality, if there were warning signs before the incident, there’s a good chance negligence was involved.
You may have a case if:
Even if you aren’t sure whether negligence occurred, it’s worth speaking with an attorney. Our team can investigate maintenance records, prior complaints, inspection reports, and other evidence to determine what happened.
If you were injured after reporting problems to your apartment complex, contact Armstrong Lee & Baker for a free case review. We regularly handle cases involving apartment complexes that ignored maintenance requests, delayed repairs, or failed to address long-standing structural issues.
“Every challenge is an opportunity for us to make a difference. Let’s work together to turn your personal injury journey into a successful path forward. ”
Scott Armstrong
Partner
We’ll fight for the compensation you deserve.
A ceiling collapse can cause severe and sometimes life-altering injuries. Even injuries that initially seem minor can become more serious over time. Seeking prompt medical attention also helps establish a clear connection between the collapse and your injuries.
Common injuries include:
Several parties may share responsibility for a ceiling collapse. Potentially liable parties include:
Depending on the circumstances, multiple parties may be responsible for failing to inspect, maintain, or repair dangerous conditions. In some cases, if the responsible party knew about the danger and consciously ignored it, punitive damages may also be available.
Most ceiling collapse cases involve premises liability. Premises liability means a property owner or manager can be held responsible when an unsafe condition on the property causes someone to get hurt.
Generally, an injured tenant must prove four elements:
A landlord may be responsible if they knew about warning signs like a sagging ceiling, water damage, or other structural problems. Even if they claim they didn’t know, they may still be liable if regular inspections would have revealed the issue before someone got hurt.
A collapsing ceiling creates an obvious danger to anyone inside the apartment. However, Texas courts may evaluate whether the risk was open and obvious based on the specific facts of the case.
Landlords must do more than apply temporary fixes.
For example, repeatedly patching a leaking roof while allowing water damage to continue building over time may not be considered reasonable maintenance. Property owners are expected to take meaningful steps to eliminate dangerous conditions before someone gets hurt.
Finally, your attorney must show that the ceiling collapse directly caused your injuries and damages. Because Texas premises liability cases are highly fact-specific, building a strong claim often requires extensive investigation and evidence gathering.
Texas law treats tenants and visitors differently.
Tenants generally receive greater legal protections because they have a direct relationship with the landlord through their lease agreement. Social guests may still have a claim, but they often must prove that the landlord had actual knowledge of the dangerous condition.
Trespassers receive even fewer legal protections under Texas law.
Because these cases can become complicated quickly, speaking with an experienced attorney is important if you were injured while visiting another person’s apartment.
A negligent activity case is different than one involving a premises defect. A premises defect involves a condition of the property created by negligence. On the other hand, negligent activity is concerned with an ongoing activity that causes an injury.
The difference is important because the negligent activity is easier to prove under Texas law. The negligent activity requires only that the injured person prove a duty to act reasonably and a breach of that duty that causes the injury.
A negligent activity may arise in a roof or ceiling collapse case. For example, if maintenance workers are working on a roof and during the course of repairs, the roof collapses, the ongoing activities of the workers may qualify as a negligent activity claim.
An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to identify the legal theories that will apply in your case.
If someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be entitled to recover compensation for both your financial losses and the impact the accident has had on your life.
Compensation may include:
Every case is different, and settlement values depend on factors such as the severity of your injuries, the length of your recovery, and the degree of negligence involved. The sooner an attorney can begin investigating your case, the better the opportunity to preserve evidence that may strengthen your claim.
At Armstrong Lee & Baker, we handle ceiling collapse cases on a contingency fee basis.
That means:
We believe injured Texans should have access to experienced legal representation without worrying about how they will afford an attorney while recovering from an injury. Your consultation is completely free, and there is no obligation to hire our firm after speaking with us.
If you were injured when a ceiling collapsed in your apartment, don’t assume it was an unavoidable accident. In many cases, these incidents occur because landlords, apartment complexes, or property management companies ignored warning signs for weeks, months, or even years.
Armstrong Lee & Baker has extensive experience investigating premises liability cases and holding negligent property owners accountable.
Contact us today for a free consultation. We’ll review what happened, explain your legal options, and help you determine whether you have a ceiling collapse injury case.
Joshua Lee believes in aggressive, tough advocacy and a client-centered approach to every case. Joshua draws from a wide body of experiences and a robust understanding of the law. Joshua graduated from the New York University School of Law in New York City, which is considered among the best law schools in the world. Our lawyers have 25+ years of combined experience.
Client Reviews
Google Review 
Josh Lee and the rest of the staff are all amazing. They kept me up to date and informed. I was treated like a priority every time I called, Josh even called me back on a Saturday, when the office was closed. They got me way more money than I thought even possible! I am more than satisfied and so grateful that I chose this firm. If you want a very personable, honest attorney who looks out for your best interest and gets results, call them!
Google Review I live roughly eight hours from Armstrong Lee & Baker and communication exceeded my expectations all my needs were met at every level Mr Adam and his wonderful team guided me step by step,I definitely recommend Mr Adam if ever you need a lawyer that will fight very hard for you.He was successful with my injury case got me what I deserve and more,I am forever grateful to Mr Adam and his wonderful team God bless you all
Google Review I couldn’t have asked for better representation. From day one, they took great care of me—not just as a client, but as a person. Throughout the entire injury case from my car accident, they kept me informed, made sure I felt supported, and handled every step with professionalism and confidence. At the end of the day, they got the job done. Grateful to have had them in my corner. Highly recommend.
Google Review Omg…Armstrong Lee & Baker are nothing short of amazing . From the very beginning of my initial call they where totally attentive. The entire team from Priyanka , Monique, Lydia, Eddie , and more are Par-Excellence. Priyanka & Monique , Brianna keep me in the loop on every level . Especially being my first time having to experience hiring an attorney I did not know what to expect. They all coached me play in and out on all procedures . Eddie kept me in the loop on all of my Dr. Appts. He also made sure I received all of my meds. DoorStep! The entire team are amazing ! As for me” Armstrong Lee & Baker are far beyond 5 stars … I give um a 10+”. Thank you Armstrong Lee & Baker.
Google Review I originally hired Jim antler and after a year of him stringing me along he declined my case said it wasn’t worth nothing. That’s when I called Adam at Armstrong Lee and Baker him and his associates took care of me like family got all the medical needs taken care of. Got me my next surgery Back on my feet and also got me awarded a check way bigger than what I was expecting. thank you Adam and your associates at Armstrong, Lee and Baker.
Google Review I cannot recommend Kelly Viktorin at Armstrong Lee & Baker highly enough. After being injured at work, I was incredibly discouraged as many attorneys wouldn’t take my case due to the complexities involved. From our very first consultation, Kelly and her team jumped right in, demonstrating a level of dedication and expertise that immediately put me at ease. Throughout the entire process, their communication was outstanding. I was consistently kept informed of any updates and felt like a priority. Kelly truly went above and beyond to fight for me, and I am so grateful for her hard work and commitment. If you’re facing a challenging work injury case, especially with a Texas non-subscriber, don’t hesitate to reach out to Kelly Viktorin. You’ll be in excellent hands.
Google Review When I got injured my company didn’t have workers comp. They had something called non subscriber insurance.
I tried a dozen or more lawyers and no one would take my case.
I lost my house in Texas so right as I was moving back to where I was from, Florida, o call Armstrong and Lee. They said they could take my case. Shortly after I meet Adam Grable.
Adam took the case and unraveled it like a champ. It was a difficult case and that’s why other lawyers didn’t take.
Over the next year, Adam because a friend and a member of the family.
I found him brilliant and personable and when needed he found for me.
In the end, we took a settlement even though Adam told me he had a good shot at trial. He understood i wanted this behind me!
If you ever find yourself needed a lawyer trust me Adam Grable will be on your side!
View More Reviews on Google Maps.
In Texas, roof and ceiling collapse cases generally fall into one of two categories: premises liability and or negligent activity.
In Texas, premises liability means any action against a landlord (the property owner or another person who controls the property) for the recovery of damages for personal injury, death, or property damage caused by a defective condition of the property.
It depends on your relationship with the landlord. If you are a tenant or have a business relationship with the owner, you must show that the landlord knew or should have known about a dangerous condition, that condition posed an unreasonable risk, that the landlord unreasonably failed to reduce or eliminate the risk, and that the failure caused your injuries. Dangerous conditions can include things like damaged supporting beams, the buildup of debris and moisture, and the use of improper materials used for supporting structures.
If you are a visitor or social guest at the property, you must also show that the landlord actually knew about the dangerous condition and that you did not know about the condition.
Usually the responsible party will be the property owner. However, anyone who has control over the dangerous condition, such as a property management company, can be responsible for a premises defect.
A negligent activity case is one where some ongoing activity, like repair or construction work, causes an injury at the time the work is being performed. If the condition was created by negligence at some earlier point in time, the case is likely a premises liability case, not negligent activity.
A negligent activity case requires proof that the person performing the injury-causing activity had a duty to act reasonably and breached that duty causing your damages.
Under Texas law, you have two years to file a premises liability or negligent activity lawsuit from the date of the injury.
In Texas, the damages available in roof or ceiling collage cases can include payment for medical and pharmaceutical expenses, lost wages, physical impairment, pain, mental anguish, and disfigurement. The damages available to you will depend on the specific facts of your case.
No. If you feel that you or a loved one may have been harmed by a defective product, our team will review your case free of charge.
In personal injury and wrongful death cases, injured parties usually pay a “contingent” legal fee. Under a contingent fee arrangement, the client does not pay the attorney an hourly rate. Instead, the attorney’s fee is a defined percentage of the amount of money that is recovered in a lawsuit. That percentage can vary depending on the circumstances of the case.
Additionally, the law firm handling the case will usually pay all necessary out-of-pocket expenses. The law firm will have a right of reimbursement of expenses at the conclusion of the case. In a contingent fee arrangement with Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP, if there is no financial recovery in a lawsuit, there is no fee paid to the attorneys. This means the financial interests of the attorney and client are aligned.
Whether the case settles at the top or bottom of the amount found reasonable depends on many factors. We can discuss the specific details of your case to determine what can be a reasonable settlement.
Trusted Personal Injury Attorneys in Houston
Find out if you have a case or ask us a question
by filling out the form below or call us at 832-402-6637
Armstrong, Lee & Baker did an absolutely wonderful job with my case. The resolution of my case was above and beyond what I expected! Shruti, the associate who handled my case showed great professionalism and I could not be more satisfied with the outcome. Thank you all!...
Josh Lee has been the best lawyer. He fights hard for you and will not give up until you are paid what you deserve. We were very fortunate to find him and his team. Any questions or concerns he was available day and night to answer anything we needed!
I had a great experience with this law office. The team communicated effectively and provided clear timelines for my accident case. Their professionalism and transparency made the process smooth. I highly recommend!! Emma Coomes and Dennise were amazing !
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of lawyers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. Our lawyers have more than 20 years of legal experience as personal injury attorneys.
Call Us: 832-402-6637
watch our video 
Call
Message