Louisiana Slip & Fall Accidents Lawyers

Understanding Your Rights After Serious Slip & Fall Accidents

Slip-and-fall accidents are some of the most common injuries caused by property owner negligence. Typically, slip-and-fall cases feature owners who leave unmarked hazards on a property frequented by visitors, guests, or residents. For example, as property owner who fails to mitigate (or mark) walkway hazards may be found responsible for slip-and-fall accidents under premises liability law, requiring them to cover a victim's medical costs, lost wages, and other damages. 

Slip-and-fall accidents can lead to serious injuries like:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Hip or shoulder fractures
• Back or neck injuries

If you or a loved one were injured in a slip-and-fall incident caused by unmarked hazards, speak with an experienced Louisiana slip and fall accident attorney at Clayton, Frugé & Ward. Our team can explain your legal options and what you stand to gain by standing up for yourself in court.

Contact the slip-and-fall injury lawyers of Clayton, Frugé & Ward today for a free case review: (225) 209-9943.

How to Prove Liability in a Slip & Fall Case

The law makes property owners and managers responsible for keeping their property free from dangerous risks, particularly if their property receives frequent visits from guests, residents, or customers. However, even a private home can violate premises liability law if the property owner knows or should have known their property's condition would endanger someone else. Whether the property is residential or commercial, property owners face the same legal standard. 

To establish liability in a slip-and-fall case, you need proof that:

• You were injured by hazardous conditions on someone else's property.
• You were injured by the hazard while showing “reasonable care” for your safety. 
• The owner, property manager, or staff knew or should have known about the hazard and/or should have known the hazard would risk the safety of someone on the premises. 
• You have suffered measurable losses and harm as a direct result of your injuries. 

Your attorney's tactical approach will depend on the circumstances of your case. For instance, one set of circumstances could force your lawyer to convince the court that the defendant should have known about a given hazard or that someone would be on their property. Another set of circumstances might require your case to prove that you were exhibiting reasonable care for your safety. 

“Reasonable Care” & Slip-&-Fall Accidents

Requiring plaintiffs to prove they were showing reasonable care for their safety is the law's way of saying that your injuries have to be caused by the hazard, not your behavior. Reasonable care is a common legal standard that boils down to this: would most people have done the same thing you did in the same situation? 

For instance, if you were injured at a big box store by slipping on a puddle or trying to retrieve a heavy item off the top shelf, the court would likely find those to be reasonable actions. If someone was injured while climbing on top of shelves and leaping from display to display, they'd be less likely to recover anything. 

However, these cases are rarely open-and-shut. A skilled trial lawyer can strengthen a case with investigation and preparation; for instance, if there's evidence that the defendant knew their property was dangerous and failed to act, your chance of success goes up. 

The only way to know for sure is to call a lawyer. 

Work with Our Louisiana Slip & Fall Accident Attorneys

It is the duty of business owners, managers, or store personnel to maintain safety regulations and prevent trip hazards. If they fail to have a well-lit hallway, dry walkways, or unobscured paths, they can be held liable for a slip and fall accident. If you have sustained injuries in a slip and fall accident because of the property owner’s negligence, you are entitled to seek compensation. Contact our Louisiana slip and fall accident lawyers today for a free case review. 

Contact our Louisiana slip & fall lawyers today for a free case review: (225) 209-9943!