Premises Liability Representation
Property owners owe visitors and patrons a legal duty of care, meaning they must make a reasonable effort to resolve or at least warn you about dangerous conditions on their properties. If you suffer your injuries due to a property owner’s failure to live up to this responsibility, you may be able to recover damages.
At Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, we rely on our strong Christian values and many years of experience to deliver unmatched personal injury representation to our clients. Our Baton Rouge premises liability lawyers have successfully secured billions of dollars in recovery for thousands of clients. We understand how to effectively navigate these cases and will aggressively protect your interests in and out of the courtroom. Whether your case involves a slip and fall or a dog bite, we will provide a personalized, attentive client experience that always puts you first. To that end, you will owe us nothing until there is money in your pocket.
If you think you may have a premises liability claim, contact us online or call (225) 999-1111 to schedule a free initial consultation.
What Is the Difference Between Personal Liability & Premises Liability?
When we talk about “personal liability,” we mean a person or entity’s actions – the things they choose to do or not do. For example, a driver chooses to not follow traffic rules, which may cause a car accident and trigger liability for any injuries they cause. Premises liability works a bit differently: It covers unsafe conditions on a property and whether the property owner did enough to address those conditions.
State law requires property owners to take prudent steps to protect patrons and visitors to their properties. In practice, this means they must try and stay aware of dangerous conditions or defects present on their properties and quickly work to address them when hazards do appear.
In a premises liability case, a property owner is only generally liable if:
- A hazard or defect was present on the property
- The property owner was aware of the hazard or reasonably should have been aware of the defect
- The property owner did not take any action to address, resolve, or warn visitors about the hazard
- A visitor was injured because of the hazard
- The victim was do nothing reckless or irresponsible at the time of the accident
Proving the property owner was aware or should have been aware of the hazard is often the most challenging part of winning a premises liability case. If there is no evidence that the property owner knew about the hazard, you will likely need to establish that the existence of the hazard was obvious and existed for a substantial amount of time. Our Baton Rouge premises liability attorney can listen to your story, conduct an investigation, and help you understand whether you have a strong claim.
Types of Premises Liability Cases We Handle
Premises liability law applies to a wide range of scenarios you may encounter when visiting another person or company’s property. We are familiar with how to strategically approach many case types and can walk you through your legal options after an injury.
Our team at Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys is prepared to assist you with claims involving:
- Slip and Falls. Someone tends to “slip and fall” because of a tripping hazard, slick surface, uneven flooring, or some other addressable defect. Spills at grocery stores and poorly maintained floors can both trigger liability if they are not cleaned up, fixed, or cordoned off after a considerable amount of time.
- Dog Bites. In Louisiana, an animal’s owner is liable for dog bite-related injuries if they knew or should have known that their pet had a history of violent behavior (meaning they have bitten someone before) and failed to take steps to prevent another attack.
- Negligent Security. A building or parking lot owner could be liable for an attack that occurs on their property if they knew the property had a history of crime yet failed to subsequently implement sufficient security measures, such as installing functioning locks or hiring a security guard.
Recovering Compensation in a Louisiana Premises Liability Lawsuit
You should speak to a legal professional as soon as possible after sustaining injuries on someone else’s property. In Louisiana, you only have one year from the date of the accident to file a premises liability lawsuit, and you cannot recover damages if you attempt to file later. Should a premises liability incident result in death, qualifying family members have an additional year from the date of their loved one’s passing to pursue a wrongful death case.
In a premises liability claim, you can potentially recover both monetary and non-monetary damages. The goal is to compensate you for the out-of-pocket expenses related to your injuries as well as the less quantifiable costs associated with your pain and suffering.
Our Baton Rouge premises liability lawyer will fight to recover full compensation for all losses, including:
- Medical bills
- Property damage
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Some premises liability claims will not require a trial and can be resolved through a monetary settlement. We will always work to get you the compensation you need as swiftly as possible, but our attorneys are always ready to go to court if the situation demands it. Either way, our priority is maximizing your recovery and putting you back on top.
Frequently Asked Questions about Premises Liability Claims in Louisiana
Can I Sue If I Was Injured While Trespassing in Louisiana?
It depends, but possibly. There are certain scenarios where property owners may still owe a trespasser a duty of care, particularly if the trespasser is a child. However, a trespasser will typically have a more challenging time prevailing in a premises liability claim, and, depending on the circumstances, they may be found partially liable for their injuries. For example, a dog owner may not necessarily be fully liable for injuries caused by a bite if the animal was properly secured in the owner’s yard and the victim was trespassing at the time of the attack. An attorney can help you determine liability and whether you can still recover damages if you suffered injuries while trespassing.
What Are Attractive Nuisances?
An attractive nuisance is a potentially dangerous feature of someone’s property that may compel a child to trespass and injure themselves. If a property owner was aware (or reasonably should have been aware) of the presence of an attractive nuisance but did nothing to eliminate it, prevent access, or limit the possibility of injury, they may be liable for any resulting harm, even if the child was trespassing.
Examples of attractive nuisances include:
- Swimming pools
- Fountains
- Dangerous dogs
- Wells
- Machines and large equipment
Contact Our Baton Rouge Premises Liability Lawyer Today
Get the experienced legal care and peace of mind you deserve. Call us at (225) 999-1111 or contact us online to schedule your consultation. With offices in Baton Rouge and Gonzales, we’re here to help you close to home.