A slip and fall accident could occur anywhere, from a supermarket or restaurant to a hotel elevator or apartment staircase. In any setting, such an incident may result in serious injuries, leading to significant physical pain, mental anguish, and potentially long-term disability.
If you or a loved one slipped and fell due to hazardous conditions on a property, a Lake Charles slip and fall accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can represent you. Our team can identify the liable party and hold them legally accountable via an insurance claim or lawsuit. Each case is unique, and our dedicated personal injury attorney is ready to work hard on your behalf, providing personalized legal assistance and representation.
Common Causes of Falling Accidents in Lake Charles
Under premises liability law, a property owner may be found liable for a slip and fall accident after creating, failing to fix, or failing to provide warnings of a hazardous condition. As a result, guests or visitors who enter the property and are not aware of existing dangers are at risk of suffering major injuries from an unexpected tumble.
These hazardous conditions are common causes of slip and fall accidents for which a property owner might be found responsible:
- Oily or greasy floors
- Wet floors
- Spilled liquid
- Potholes
- Loose floorboards or carpet
- Fallen objects or debris
- Broken stairs
- Uneven walkways and surfaces
Common Injuries That May Occur in a Lake Charles Slip and Fall Case
Lake Charles, LA, offers a thriving cultural center that attracts many residents and tourists every year. Whether you were visiting the famed Mardi Gras museum or one of the many large casinos the city has to offer, accidents do happen, and injuries can occur. Common injuries from a slip and fall include:
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Brain injuries
- Fractures
- Sprains
- Cuts and bruises
- Soft tissue injuries
The treatment required for recovery varies based on the severity and type of injury. Still, in most cases, the cost of medical treatment following a slip and fall injury can be surprisingly high. This is where our slip and fall accident lawyer serving Lake Charles can help. Our team wants to pursue the compensation you need to move forward.
The Importance of Seeking Medical Treatment After a Slip and Fall
If you suffered a fall on private or commercial property, it is best to seek immediate medical care. It may also be beneficial for you or a family member to take photographs of the scene, including the cause of the slip and fall. For example, this could be a liquid or object involved in the accident, an uneven walkway, or an icy staircase leading into the property.
Both of these actions help create important evidence to demonstrate the damages suffered and liability on the part of a property owner or manager – such evidence is crucial to any ensuing civil action. Our firm’s slip and fall lawyer can assist by gathering your medical records and bills stemming from the accident in Lake Charles.
Filing a Slip and Fall Claim in Lake Charles
As mentioned above, documentation regarding the incident, injury, and related losses is usually vital to the success of a slip and fall claim. An investigation is typically necessary to identify the property owner, learn how long the dangerous condition existed and what knowledge of it the owner had, and find out if other similar incidents occurred in the past.
When a property owner fails to maintain a safe environment, your Lake Charles trip and fall attorney may be able to hold them responsible for their negligent actions. Through a successful settlement negotiation or favorable court ruling, you could recover both economic and non-economic damages due to the accident.
Economic Damages
Economic damages refer to damages that are quantifiable through copies of bills and receipts you have kept following your accident-related injury. Some of the recoverable damages you could receive include:
- Medical expenses, including ambulance transport, hospital stays, imaging tests, surgeries, rehabilitation, assistive medical devices
- Loss of earnings due to the time taken off work to recover from the injury
- Reduced earning capacity if you had to take a lower-paying position due to your injury or you were forced to stop working altogether
- Property damage if a valued item was destroyed in the slip and fall (e.g., a watch or bracelet)
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are non-monetary damages or losses you suffered as a result of the accident, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Scarring and/or permanent disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of companionship
If you lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, we extend our deepest condolences. You may be entitled to file a wrongful death action for different types of damages. These can include medical expenses prior to their death, funeral and burial costs, and loss of their income and companionship. Our slip and fall accident team will let you know if your case qualifies.
Do Not Delay in Your Quest for Justice in a Slip and Fall Case
Louisiana sets a statutory deadline for filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit in civil court:
- Personal injury: You have one year to file from the date the injury occurred per CC Art. 3492.
- Wrongful death: You have one year to file from the date of the decedent’s death per CC Art. 2315.2.
If you miss the filing deadline, you could lose your chance to seek compensation forever. However, our legal team can ensure your case gets filed in the proper court on time if you choose us to represent you.
What Our Past Clients Have to Say About Our Firm
Our team is committed to our clients and to winning their cases. Here are just a few of the 5-star Google reviews our past clients have posted about our firm:
- “Curtious and punctual always polite and professional always returns calls and takes time to answer any and all questions the whole staff including the receptionists are this way!” – Todd Uren
- “Scott Higgins and especially his paralegal Kathy have kept in touch with me through out my ordeal! Kathy has gone beyond her job to check on me before my surgery and after to make sure I was ok and reassured me that everything was being taken care of and for me not to worry. I highly recommend Mr. Higgins. He has his game plan all planned out when he handles your case!! He’s very laidback but gets the job done!!” – Sherry Darcey
Every case is different, and our legal team will fight to get the best possible outcome in your unique slip and fall accident case.
Contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Today
Slipping, tripping, and falling accidents may cause injuries ranging from minor aches to severe long-term disabilities. When property owners fail to maintain their property and appropriately warn others about potential dangers, they could be held liable in court.
If a property owner’s negligence caused you to sustain injuries in a slip and fall accident, you deserve to have an ally working tirelessly to protect your legal interests. Call to speak with a team member today for free. A slip and fall lawyer from our firm can start working on your Lake Charles case right away.
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