Baton Rouge Premises Liability Lawyer

Baton Rouge Premises Liability Attorney

State law requires that property owners keep reasonably safe grounds. When you are on the property of a public or private location, you have certain expectations of safety and hazard warnings.

If you were hurt on someone else’s property as a result of hazardous conditions, you deserve compensation. A Baton Rouge premises liability lawyer can help. You shouldn’t have to bear the financial burden of your injuries or the economic fallout resulting from missed work.

You also shouldn’t have to navigate the legal system alone. At Dufour Law Firm, our attorneys go to bat for you. The members of our legal team share a commitment to providing aggressive, yet compassionate, representation to injury victims from all walks of life. From our office in Baton Rouge, we represent clients and their loved ones throughout the surrounding five parishes.

Representing Our Community in Baton Rouge

It is often difficult to know what to do after being injured on the premises of a grocery store, hotel, restaurant, retail store, or other location in Baton Rouge, LA. Depending on the injury you sustained, you may be battling significant pain, recovery time, and medical bills.

Therefore, seeking out compassionate legal care from Dufour Law Firm can be immensely helpful. Our attorneys can guide and support you as you recover, and you can feel confident that we will fight for the compensation you deserve.

The team at Dufour Law Firm has over 40 years of collective experience in various areas of law, including personal injury and premises liability law. We are dedicated to defending those who have been injured by negligent companies and property owners. Our team builds your claim, fights for a fair settlement, and is able to provide aggressive legal representation in court when it’s necessary.

Is Premises Liability the Same as Negligence?

Negligence is an important aspect of a premises liability claim, but it is not the same thing. If a property owner acts negligently in the maintenance and safety of their premises, this is an essential element of proving that they are at fault for the victim’s injuries.

Although different types of premises liability claims may have different requirements, most must meet the following requirements:

1. The property was dangerous and contained a hazard when the victim was legally on the premises.
2. The property owner or an employee created the hazardous condition, knew the property was dangerous, or should have known it was dangerous and did nothing to repair the hazard or warn of danger.
3. The victim suffered an injury or other losses because of the hazard.

There must be proof of each of these elements. A Baton Rouge premises liability lawyer can help you investigate the incident and potentially find evidence that supports these elements.

Understanding Premises Liability In Baton Rouge, LA

Premises liability is a subset of personal injury law that involves negligence on the part of the property owner or manager. In some cases, such as dog bites, proving negligence isn’t even necessary because an owner is held strictly liable whether or not an individual is on the owner’s property. Different types of claims may require proof of different forms of negligence.

We can advise you of the legal standards involved in your unique case. Here are some common examples of premises liability cases on both public and private property:

• Slip and falls involving tripping hazards, wet or slippery floors, uneven walkways and other dangerous conditions
• Falls involving stairs, improper or missing guardrails or other hazards
• Recreational accidents involving swimming pools, trampolines, playgrounds, swingsets and the like
• Fires involvingmalfunctioning alarms or sprinkler systems, improper wiring, fire code violations or other hazards
• Violent crimes stemming from negligent security, which might involve inadequate lighting, absence of security guards, broken windows or locks, or other security hazards
• Animal attacks such as dog bites, which often involve seeking compensation through the homeowners insurance of the animal owner
• Unsafe or tainted food served to you at a restaurant

At Dufour Law Firm, we handle all of these premises liability claims and more.

Do I Need a Premises Liability Lawyer?

An attorney is not required to file for a civil claim like premises liability. However, a claim may be more likely to be successful and bring you more compensation when you work with an attorney. They can determine if you are eligible to file a claim, calculate the damages available, and negotiate for you while you recover.

Common Injuries in Premises Liability Claims

Slip and falls are one of the most common premise liability accidents, in which a hazard such as slippery floors, uneven ground, or dim lighting causes an individual to slip and fall, sometimes from a height. Although this can cause minor injuries, it can also cause catastrophic and life-altering injuries, including:

• Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions
• Head and facial injuries, including injuries to eyes and teeth
• Broken or fractured bones, especially hips, legs, ribs, and hands
• Internal organ damage
• Neck, spine, and spinal cord injuries, including full or partial paralysis

There are many other types of premises liability accidents, which can result in many types of serious injuries, including:

• Lacerations and punctures
• Infection or developmental illness
• Electrocution
• Burns
• Near-drowning injuries
• Crushing injuries

Some injuries can take months to recover from. Others can catastrophically injure an individual and prevent them from working or functioning on a daily basis. The value of a settlement should accurately compensate a victim for their tangible and intangible losses after an accident and hold a property owner accountable for their negligence.

What Compensation Could I Earn in a Premises Liability Claim?

If a property owner is found at fault for your injuries, they are legally and financially responsible for the costs of any damages you suffered from that accident. These include both economic damages, which are losses with clear financial values, and noneconomic damages, which are losses that are emotional or intangible in nature.

The damages you secure in a settlement should be directly related to your losses in the accident and may include:

• Current and future medical bills for surgeries, hospital stays, transportation, medication, physical therapy, medical devices, and any other costs
• Lost wages from recovery time or doctor’s appointments
• Lost earning capacity if the injury prevents you from returning to work or permanently disables you
• Property damage
• The cost of any at-home or transportation services needed due to your injury
• Pain and suffering, and other noneconomic damages such as loss of enjoyment of life
• Wrongful death damages for surviving family members

An attorney is helpful when calculating the true value of a claim. Many injured individuals underestimate their claim’s value by failing to account for future mediacal complications, lost earning potential in their lifetime, and noneconomic damages.

Premises Liability Claim Resources:

• What Are The Elements Of A Premises Liability Claim?
• Do You Have A Valid Premises Liability Claim?

An experienced attorney who has managed premise liability claims like yours before should have the knowledge and resources necessary to determine the current and future impact of the injuries you sustained.

What Is the Statute of Limitations on a Premises Liability Claim in Baton Rouge?

Premises liability claims have a statute of limitations of one year from the date the injury occurred. In most cases, if a civil claim is not filed within that time, you lose the right to earn compensation.

However, there are some exceptions. If the injury occurred when you were under the age of 18, there may be minor extensions. If you did not discover your injury at the time it was inflicted but at a later date, the statute of limitations may begin from the day you knew or should have known that you were injured and it was connected to the premises accident.

If you are unsure whether the statute of limitations on your claim has expired, talk with an attorney. It’s important to discuss a potential case with an attorney as soon as possible so that they have time to investigate and build your claim before the statute of limitations expires.

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At our firm, you can find the caring, effective legal guidance you deserve. You won’t be alone or lost in the shuffle. And we make your fight into our fight. Reach out to us online or by phone at 225-304-0054 to arrange a free consultation.