Premises Liability Attorneys in Louisiana
Injured on Someone Else's Property?
Property owners—whether they own a grocery store, an apartment complex, or a private home—have a legal obligation under local, state, and federal laws to keep their property safe.
When a property owner fails to maintain safety standards and you are injured as a result, they can be held financially responsible. At the Berniard Law Firm, we help victims prove that their injury was not just an “accident,” but the result of negligence.
Proving Your Case: What We Must Show
Premises liability cases can appear straightforward, but they are often legally complex. To win a money judgment against a property owner, we must prove four key elements:
- Unsafe Condition: The owner created a dangerous condition or failed to maintain the property.
- Knowledge: The owner knew or should have known about the hazard.
- Failure to Act: The owner failed to fix the issue or adequately warn visitors (e.g., placing a “Wet Floor” sign).
- Causation: You suffered a personal injury directly because of that specific hazard.
Example: If you slip in a grocery store, we investigate to prove that employees failed to monitor the aisles for spills. If you fall into a hole on a private property, we prove that the owner failed to warn you of the danger.
Common Premises Liability Cases We Handle
We handle claims arising from a wide variety of dangerous conditions, including:
- Slip and Fall Accidents: Wet floors, defective sidewalks, icy walkways, and uneven pavement.
- Negligent Security: Inadequate lighting or security leading to assault or injury in apartment complexes and parking lots.
- Structural Defects: Elevator/escalator malfunctions, staircase accidents, defective handrails, and building code violations.
- Fire & Electric: Improper fire alarms, defective wiring, and burns/electric shocks.
- Recreational Accidents: Swimming pool drownings, amusement park injuries, and carnival ride accidents.
- Toxic Exposure: Exposure to lead, mold, or hazardous chemicals due to water leaks or flooding.
- Falling Objects: Merchandise falling from high shelves or debris from improper demolition.
Why "Visitor Status" Matters
Not all visitors are treated the same under the law. One of the factors that complicates these cases is the status of the visitor. Property owners owe different duties of care depending on why you were on the land:
- Invitees: People invited for business (e.g., shoppers). Owners owe them the highest duty of care.
- Licensees: Social guests. Owners must warn them of known dangers.
- Trespassers: People not authorized to be there. Owners generally owe them the lowest duty of care (though there are exceptions for children).
Because these distinctions can make or break your case, you need the advice of an experienced attorney to classify your claim correctly.
Compensation for Your Injuries
Common injuries in these cases range from broken bones and spinal cord injuries to severe burns and wrongful death. We fight to recover damages for:
- Medical bills (past and future)
- Lost wages and disability
- Emotional distress
- Physical pain and suffering
Contact Us for a Free Consultation
If you believe you were injured due to a property owner’s negligence, do not wait. Evidence like surveillance video and maintenance logs can disappear quickly.
Call the Berniard Law Firm today at (504) 521-6000.