Metairie Slip & Fall Lawyer
Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common causes of non-fatal injuries. Anytime you slip or trip and fall, you run the risk of a broken bone, dislocated hip, traumatic brain injury, and many other injuries. And while most slip and falls are not life-threatening, they can lead to fatal injuries in certain cases.
Slip and fall accidents are often the result of negligence by a property owner. If you have been injured in an accident while lawfully on someone else’s premises you may be entitled to recover compensation for your injuries and related losses. A qualified Metairie slip & fall lawyer can review your case and advise you of your options. Palazzo Law Firm has successfully represented many accident victims in seeking compensation from property owners and their insurance company following what should have been a preventable slip and fall injury.
When Is a Property Owner Liable for a Slip and Fall in Louisiana?
Does this mean if you are injured in a slip and fall while at the store, the property owner is always required to pay for your medical bills? No. Under Louisiana law, you have to prove the property owner was negligent in some way. This typically involves showing there was some hazard on the premises that created an “unreasonable foreseeable risk of harm” to members of the public.
Critically, you also need to prove the owner had “actual or constructive knowledge” of the hazard. Actual knowledge means just that–the owner knew there was a problem and took no corrective action. Constructive knowledge can be a bit trickier to prove, as it refers to whether the owner could have discovered the problem through the exercise of due diligence. For example, a retail supermarket should have a policy of regularly inspecting its aisles to ensure there are no puddles of liquid on the floor that could cause a customer to slip and fall.
And even when you can prove a property owner’s negligence, their insurance company may still resist paying for your injuries. The insurer may try to claim your own recklessness contributed to the accident. Or they can argue your injuries were exaggerated or the result of some other intervening cause. Remember, the insurer is there to protect its own financial interests, not yours, so you must be prepared to fully document and defend your slip and fall claim.
Contact The Palazzo Law Firm Today
Indeed, pursuing compensation for slip and fall accidents is often more complicated than victims initially realize. It is often necessary to conduct an extensive preliminary investigation before pursuing settlement talks with an insurer or filing a lawsuit. This requires a good deal of time and experience in handling such cases.
Our Metairie slip and fall lawyer can help. If you have been injured while shopping at the store or visiting a similar public building, we can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf–and if necessary, file a lawsuit to recover the damages you are entitled to under the law. So if you have been injured in a slip and fall and need legal advice on what steps to take next, contact Palazzo Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation.
