Lafayette Slip and Fall Lawyer

Slip and Fall Attorney in Lafayette, LA

If you’ve been hurt due to a fall on someone else’s property, you may be entitled to compensation. A sudden slip and fall can leave you with painful injuries, expensive medical bills, and time away from work. If your accident happened due to a property owner’s negligence, you shouldn’t have to bear the costs alone. You need a Lafayette slip-and-fall lawyer.

With Chris Villemarette, Trial Lawyer, we’re ready to be the advocates you need and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Common Causes of Slip-and-Fall Accidents in Lafayette

Slip-and-fall accidents happen every day in Lafayette, often in places people least expect. Whether you are walking through a grocery store, entering a local restaurant, or navigating a poorly maintained sidewalk, hazardous conditions can cause sudden falls that result in serious injuries. Understanding the most common causes of these accidents can help victims determine if negligence played a role in their case. Some of these causes include:

• Wet or slippery floors: A spill in a retail store or slippery rain conditions can create dangerous surfaces that increase the risk of falls. Areas like the Acadiana Mall or Cajundome see a lot of foot traffic, making them common places for slip-and-fall incidents.
• Uneven sidewalks: Cracked or uneven pavement is another major cause of slip-and-fall accidents. Downtown Lafayette boasts older infrastructure, which can sometimes be hazardous to pedestrians, especially in areas that aren’t properly maintained.
• Poor lighting: Insufficient lighting in parking lots or walkways can make it difficult to spot hazards. If the lights at a local restaurant or gas station are out, you might trip on an object or surface that would otherwise be easy to see.
• Cluttered walkways: In many commercial establishments or even on private property, obstructions or improperly stored items can block walkways and lead to accidents. Common spots include aisles in stores or narrow walkways on residential properties.
• Weather-related hazards: Wet leaves or standing water from a recent storm can be especially dangerous. The unpredictable weather in Lafayette can create dangerous conditions for pedestrians.

Knowing what causes slip-and-fall accidents in Lafayette can make it easier to establish liability and pursue legal action. Property owners have a duty to keep their premises safe as per law, and when they fail to do so, injured individuals have the right to seek compensation. If a dangerous condition led to your fall, the office of Chris Villemarette can help.

What to Do After a Fall

Tell the property manager about the fall right away. Ask for a written report or fill out one if offered. This report can help later if a claim is filed.

• Write down the time and what caused the fall: This is important if no manager is around and no report can be filed.
• Do not leave the area without saying something: A delay in reporting can cause doubt later. A quick report helps show that the fall happened.
• Get checked by a doctor, even for minor pain: Some injuries take time to show up. A medical record can help link the injury to the fall.
• Keep copies of all records: Include any doctor’s notes or bills. These can be used to prove the injury and how it affects daily life.
• Photograph the place where the fall happened: Show the hazard. If the elements or a loose tile caused the fall, get a clear photo before someone cleans it up.
• Use a phone or ask someone nearby to take the photo: Pictures taken soon after the fall often carry more weight than ones taken days later.

If anyone saw the fall, ask for their name and contact number. A witness can back up what happened. Their statement may help prove that the hazard was there and caused the fall. If a friend or family member were nearby, they could also help describe the events after the fall. These details can support what the injured person says later.

The law asks whether the owner knew the danger was there. If they did not know, the law asks if they should have known. This can be shown with maintenance logs or past complaints. If the hazard had been there for a while, courts may have found that the owner should have fixed it.

Premises Liability Law in Louisiana

865 workers died from falls in 2022. In Louisiana, premises liability deals with who is responsible when someone gets hurt on someone else’s property. A slip and fall claim often falls on the owner. They must do what the law requires to keep the place safe.

The law expects a person who owns or controls a property to fix or warn about hazards they know about. If someone gets hurt because of one of those dangers, the owner may be held legally responsible. 144 fatal falls in 2022 were from the same level.

Not every accident leads to a valid claim. The law considers whether the hazard was open and obvious. If the danger was easy to see, a judge or jury might decide that the injured person should have avoided it. This can affect whether a claim goes forward. More than 8.5 million people were hospitalized for a fall in 2022.

How Louisiana Law Affects Claims

Every slip and fall case in Lafayette must follow the rules set out in Louisiana’s civil code. These rules decide who has legal responsibility. If a person slips and falls, a claim won’t succeed unless certain things can be proven.

The law requires proof of negligence. That means showing that someone acted in a careless way. In these claims, that usually means showing that the owner failed to fix a danger or warn about it.

The law is strict on time. Most people who get hurt have two years to file a claim. After that year passes, courts can dismiss the case. This seems like a long time, but medical care and insurance talks can delay action.

How a Lafayette Slip-and-Fall Lawyer Can Help

Victims of slip-and-fall accidents may be entitled to compensation for their injuries and related losses. Compensation can cover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future rehabilitation costs. However, the amount recovered depends on the severity of the injury and the level of negligence involved.

If you’ve been injured in a slip-and-fall accident, having an experienced attorney by your side can make a significant difference when it comes to the amount of compensation you are awarded.

Chris Villemarette can help strengthen your case by:

• Investigation and evidence collection: We can investigate the scene of the accident, gather evidence like surveillance footage, and interview witnesses to strengthen your case.
• Negotiation: Our attorneys are experienced negotiators and are ready to stand toe-to-toe with insurance companies to secure a fair settlement. We know how to handle adjusters and make sure they don’t try to settle for less than you deserve.
• Legal representation: If your case goes to court, we can represent you in the 19th Judicial District Court in Lafayette or any other Louisiana court and fight for the compensation you need to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
• Understanding Local Laws: Our knowledge of Lafayette’s unique legal landscape, including local courts, accident hotspots, and local ordinances, allows us to build a tailored strategy for your case.

Navigating a slip-and-fall claim can be overwhelming, especially while you are recovering from an injury, but a trial lawyer at the office of Chris Villemarette is here to help. With the right legal support, victims can focus on healing while ensuring their rights are protected.

FAQs

Q: Can I Still File a Slip-and-Fall Claim If I Was Partially at Fault for the Accident?

A: Yes. Louisiana follows a comparative fault rule, which means you can still recover compensation even if you were partially responsible for the fall. However, the compensation you are awarded can be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re 20% at fault, your total recovery amount is reduced by 20%. At Chris Villemarette, we can help minimize the impact of your fault percentage.

Q: What Should I Do If a Business Owner Denies Responsibility for My Slip and Fall?

A: If a business owner refuses to accept liability, gather as much evidence as possible, including photos of the hazard, witness statements, and medical records. Even if they deny fault, a legal claim may still be possible. At Chris Villemarette, we can help investigate the situation, determine negligence, and negotiate with the business or insurance company on your behalf.

Q: How Long Do I Have to File a Slip-and-Fall Claim in Louisiana?

A: In Louisiana, the deadline for filing a claim (also known as the statute of limitations) for slip-and-fall cases is two years after the accident occurred. This means you must file a claim within that timeframe or risk losing your right to seek compensation. Since gathering evidence and building a case takes time, you should consult with the personal injury lawyer at Chris Villemarette as quickly as possible. We can preserve the evidence and build a robust case on your behalf.

Q: What if My Slip-and-Fall Injury Worsens Over Time?

A: Some injuries, like soft tissue damage or concussions, may not show symptoms right away. If your condition worsens after the accident, medical documentation becomes key in proving the progression of your injuries. With Chris Villemarette, Trial Lawyer, we can help ensure that ongoing medical expenses and future care costs are included in your claim, even if symptoms appear later.

Contact a Lafayette Slip-and-Fall Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip-and-fall accident in Lafayette, you need the experience and compassion of Chris Villemarette. We understand the difficulties you’re facing, and we’re here to provide you with the guidance, support, and legal representation you need.
Don’t let stress or fear of the unknown take over. If negligence played a role in your injury, you have the right to seek compensation and justice.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation.