You never expect to slip and fall on someone else’s property, and you certainly don’t plan to be injured when you go shopping, to a restaurant, or to visit a friend. But slip and fall accidents happen in an instant and can turn your life upside down.
Louisiana law requires property owners to keep their premises reasonably safe to prevent harm to visitors. The duty of care owed by a property owner depends on the visitor’s status when entering the property.
If you are injured in a Lafayette slip and fall accident caused by a property owner’s negligence, you have the right to seek compensation for your damages. At Anderson Blanda & Saltzman, our Lafayette premises liability lawyers have a proven record of success in slip and fall cases and are committed to helping you secure the maximum compensation for your injuries.
Call (337) 233-3366 or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation to discuss your Lafayette slip-and-fall claim.
Why Lafayette Slip and Fall Accident Clients Trust Anderson Blanda & Saltzman
- Our Lafayette slip-and-fall accident lawyers have over 100 years of combined experience protecting the rights of injury victims.
- We have a proven record of securing the maximum compensation for our clients, having recovered hundreds of millions in settlements and awards.
- We have the experience, skills, and resources to protect your rights and help you secure every dollar you are entitled to for your damages.
- We will handle your Lafayette slip and fall accident claim on a contingency-fee basis, covering all costs of pursuing your claim upfront. You will pay us nothing until we have recovered compensation on your behalf.
Leading Causes of Lafayette Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip-and-fall accidents can occur almost anywhere. However, certain conditions increase the likelihood of accidents. Some of the most frequent causes of Lafayette slip and fall accidents include:
- Wet or slippery floors.
- Uneven payment.
- Cracked sidewalks.
- Parking lot potholes.
- Poor lighting.
- Torn or loose carpeting.
- Debris and clutter in walkways.
- Broken or missing handrails.
- Defective or broken steps and stairs.
- Worn walking surfaces.
- Flooded areas.
Determining the cause of your slip and fall accident is essential to the success of your claim. Our Lafayette slip and fall accident lawyers will carefully investigate your accident, take fast action to help preserve and collect vital evidence before it is lost or destroyed, and work to uncover all contributing factors and potentially liable parties to build your most substantial claim.
Common Locations of Slip and Fall Accidents
Sip-and-fall hazards can be found in countless locations. Some of the most common places where slip-and-fall accidents occur include grocery stores, other retail stores, restaurants and bars, parking lots, and garages.
Other common locations for slip-and-fall accidents include hotels and motels, office buildings, apartment buildings, private homes, shopping malls, and entertainment venues.
We have successfully represented slip and fall victims who were injured at numerous locations throughout Lafayette and the surrounding areas. We understand how to investigate your claim and prove it so you can recover the full value of your damages.
Injuries Sustained in Lafayette Slip and Fall Accidents
Injuries from slip-and-fall accidents are often more severe than many people realize. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the leading cause of traumatic brain injury in older adults is slip and fall accidents.
Some of the most common injuries sustained in slip and fall accidents are broken bones and fractures, head injuries, spinal cord and back injuries, neck injuries, and shoulder and knee injuries. Other injuries caused by falls include soft tissue damage, cuts and lacerations, and complications resulting from initial injuries.
You must seek immediate medical attention after a slip and fall accident, even if you do not believe your injuries are severe. Some life-threatening injuries may not be immediately apparent. Having a medical evaluation right away can help protect your health and your right to seek compensation for your damages.
Proving Liability in a Lafayette Slip and Fall Accident Claim
To be successful in a Lafayette slip and fall accident claim, you must prove that the property owner was negligent. Under Louisiana Civil Code Articles 2315 and 2317.1, property owners have a duty to keep their premises in a reasonably safe condition.
To establish negligence, we must first prove that a dangerous condition existed on the property. Next, we must prove that the property owner knew or should have known about the hazardous condition. Then, we must prove that the property owner failed to take reasonable steps to fix the hazard or to warn visitors about it.
Additionally, we must prove that the dangerous condition caused your slip-and-fall accident and resulting injuries. Finally, we must show that you suffered actual damages as a result of the accident.
Further, Louisiana law recognizes different categories of visitors, and the duty of care owed by a property owner depends on the visitor’s category. The three categories are invitees, licensees, and trespassers.
Invitees include customers in a store, diners in a restaurant, and hotel guests. They are owed the highest duty of care. Licensees include social guests in someone’s home. They are owed a lesser duty of care than invitees. Trespassers are not authorized to enter the property.
Property owners must refrain from intentionally harming trespassers. An exception to the duty owed to trespassers exists if a child is attracted to something dangerous on a property.
Property owners may try to avoid liability by arguing that the hazard was open and obvious and the visitor should have seen it and avoided it. However, even obvious hazards may create liability if the property owner had reason to anticipate that visitors might not notice and avoid them.
Louisiana’s Modified Comparative Negligence Law
Louisiana has recently moved from a pure comparative fault model to a modified comparative fault rule. Under the old rule, you could recover compensation for your damages even if you were partially at fault, no matter your allocation of fault.
Effective January 1, 2026, if you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you will be barred from recovering any compensation for your damages. If you are determined to be 50% or less at fault, you can recover compensation, but your percentage of fault will reduce it.
For example, if you are determined to be 40% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you could still recover $60,000 after your percentage of fault is deducted.
Now more than ever, insurance companies will work to shift as much fault as possible to you, hoping to avoid paying your claim or at least minimize the amount they must pay.
You need an experienced Lafayette slip and fall accident lawyer to protect your rights, build your strongest claim, and hold the at-fault parties and insurance companies accountable for treating you fairly and paying the full amount of compensation you are entitled to.
Compensation Recoverable in a Lafayette Slip and Fall Accident Claim
Compensation depends on numerous factors, including the strength of your case and the severity of your injuries. In a successful Lafayette slip and fall accident claim, you should be able to recover economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include current and future medical expenses, lost wages, and other financial losses and costs incurred due to your accident and injuries.
Non-economic damages are more challenging to prove but are often more devastating than economic damages. They include pain and suffering, mental and emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disability, and other intangible losses and costs.
Steps To Take After a Lafayette Slip and Fall Accident
The actions you take immediately after a slip and fall accident can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation. Here’s what you should do to protect your legal rights.
If you’re seriously injured and unable to move, call 911 immediately. Don’t try to get up if you’re in severe pain or feel dizzy. If your injuries allow you to do so, report the accident to the property owner, manager, or person in charge right away.
Make sure they document the incident in an official accident or incident report. Ask for a copy of this report before you leave the premises.
Take photographs of the hazard that caused your fall, including the exact location and any nearby warning signs or lack thereof. Capture multiple angles and include wide shots that show the context of the accident. If possible, take photos of your injuries and any torn clothing or damaged personal items.
Collect contact information from any witnesses who saw your fall. Their statements can be crucial evidence in your case. Get their names, phone numbers, and email addresses. Make note of the exact time, date, and location of your accident, as well as any relevant weather conditions or other factors.
Write down everything you remember about how the accident happened while it’s still fresh in your mind. Seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you think your injuries are minor.
Some injuries don’t show symptoms immediately, and delaying treatment can both harm your health and weaken your legal claim. Keep all medical records, bills, and receipts related to your injuries.
Do not provide a recorded statement to the property owner’s insurance company without first speaking with an attorney. Insurance adjusters may get you to say things that minimize the property owner’s liability or maximize your fault.
Contact an experienced Lafayette slip and fall lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your case and protect your rights.
Statute of Limitations in Lafayette Slip and Fall Cases
A statute of limitations is a law that sets a deadline for filing a claim to seek compensation for damages in a slip-and-fall case. If you miss your filing deadline, you will not be able to recover compensation.
The statute of limitations for most personal injury claims in Louisiana, including Lafayette slip-and-fall accident claims, is two years. That means you must typically file your claim within two years of your accident.
However, there are rare exceptions to the two-year deadline. You must consult an experienced Lafayette slip and fall accident lawyer promptly to determine your filing deadline.
How a Lafayette Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer Can Help You
Insurance companies are in business to make a profit. They will work very hard to avoid liability and to pay you as little as possible to settle your claim. You need an experienced Lafayette slip and fall accident lawyer to stand up to the insurance company and demand full and fair compensation for your damages.
An experienced Lafayette slip and fall accident lawyer can investigate your accident to identify causation and liability, take steps to preserve vital evidence, and work to build your strongest case.
They can help establish and accurately value all your current and future economic and non-economic damages so you know what a fair settlement of your claim would be.
They can work to negotiate a fair resolution of your case as quickly as possible, and if a fair settlement is not reached, they can take your case to trial to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Your chances of securing maximum compensation are much higher if an experienced Lafayette slip and fall accident lawyer represents you.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Anderson Blanda & Saltzman Lafayette Slip and Fall Lawyer
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident caused by a hazardous condition on someone else’s property, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your damages. However, insurance companies and property owners will fight to deny, delay, and devalue your claim.
They will attempt to shift as much blame for the accident to you. You need an experienced Lafayette slip and fall accident lawyer to protect your rights and help you obtain the justice and compensation you are entitled to.
At Anderson Blanda & Saltzman, our Lafayette injury lawyers have the experience, skills, and resources to build your strongest case and help you secure maximum compensation for your damages. Call (337) 233-3366 or complete the short form on our contact page and schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.