How Can a Lawyer Help Me with My Premises Liability Case?
A lawyer from our firm can help you with your premises liability case in a variety of ways, starting with figuring out who is responsible for the accident. We can manage your claim against the property owner or lessee, seeking compensation for the damages you suffered.
While you could try to manage your Lafayette, LA, injury case on your own, there are many benefits of working with a law firm that handles these cases all the time. We have resources and familiarity with the law that we can put to work for you at no upfront cost. Meanwhile, you can take the time you save to focus on treatment and healing from your injuries.
Understanding the Services a Personal Injury Law Firm Provides
A few examples of the services provided by our personal injury law firm in a premises liability case include:
- Discussing the situation with you to figure out exactly what happened
- Gathering evidence to prove that the property owner is responsible for your accident
- Reviewing insurance policies to see if there is available coverage
- Making sure that insurance companies play by the rules and pay you on time
- Figuring out which parties to name as defendants in your lawsuit
- Appearing in court on your behalf
- Helping you prepare for any depositions or court appearances and attending them with you
- Responding to any calls and emails regarding the case
- Answering questions you have about the legal process as the case proceeds
- Preparing for trial, if necessary
- Locating witnesses who can support your claim
- Negotiating a settlement when possible
Your legal team will also figure out how much time you have to file a lawsuit. Per CC Art. 3492, you generally have two years from the date of the injury to begin a lawsuit in a Louisiana civil court.
Damages Available in a Lafayette Premises Liability Case
If you were hurt in a premises liability accident, you can pursue a broad range of damages. When you pay something or lose out on income because of the accident or your injuries, the responsible party could owe you for that expense.
A few common types of damages in a premises liability case include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Diminished quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
You will need evidence to support your claim and the value you put on it. Save copies of receipts, medical bills, invoices, and paystubs. They may be key evidence to show your injury-related costs and losses. Your attorney can help you identify and gather additional documentation.
Proving You Have a Right to Seek Damages from a Property Owner
To receive compensation in a premises liability case, you will need to prove that the other party is at fault for your injuries. This requires showing:
- The liable party had a duty to protect you from foreseeable hazards.
- They knew about or should have known about a hazard on the property.
- An accident occurred because they failed to address the hazard.
- You suffered injuries and financial harm because of the hazard.
These align with the factors that are always necessary to prove negligence in a personal injury case. In general, these include:
- The other party owed you a duty to take or avoid certain actions for safety reasons.
- The other party failed to act according to this duty.
- Their actions or inaction caused an accident.
- You were injured as a direct and foreseeable result of the other party’s failure to protect you.
Other Key Facts of a Premises Liability Case
The level of care that a property owner owes you may change depending on why you visited the property. Typically, if you visit the location for a business reason, such as grocery shopping, the property owner owes you a high duty of care. This includes performing routine inspections to ensure the property is safe and warning you about any potential hazards.
A property owner who invites you over for a social reason, such as a friend or family member, also owes you a duty of care. However, if you were on the property illegally, they may not have any obligation to protect you from injuries.
Working with a lawyer familiar with these laws can help you figure out which duty of care applies to your situation and what you need to prove to receive compensation. Our team is prepared to investigate your case and use this information to support your right to financial recovery.
What if There Are Multiple Liable Parties?
Because of the nature of premises liability claims, there could be multiple people or entities that owe you compensation. If you were injured at a business or on another commercial property, you may be able to bring a case against one or more of the following parties:
- The building owner or renter
- The building or property manager
- Any maintenance or groundskeeper crews that work on the property
- Businesses that use the property
Having multiple defendants in your case can make the situation far more complicated. The more parties there are who may be liable, the more likely they are to point fingers at others for the incident. Our team can work to ensure that the focus remains on your right to financial recovery.
We Handle Premises Liability Cases Based on Contingency
Our personal injury firm provides free consultations so you can learn more about your legal case and their services. We also represent clients and pursue damages for them based on contingency. This means you do not have to pay a retainer or any other upfront fees.
Our attorneys get their fees as a percentage of the settlement or another payout they recover for our clients. If we do not recover money for you, our team will not receive any payment.
Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Now for a Free Consultation
To learn more about how a lawyer can help you with your premises liability case in Lafayette, contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers. Knowing our legal team is taking care of your case can bring you a great deal of peace and comfort. This can be particularly helpful if you are recovering from serious injuries or adjusting to the fact that you now live with permanent disabilities.
We are waiting to hear from you, so dial (337) 777-7777 now for a complimentary consultation with a team member.
