Lafayette Premises Liability Attorney

Property owners in Louisiana have a legal responsibility to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors. When they fail to do so, serious injuries can occur. Premises liability claims arise when someone is hurt due to unsafe conditions on another person’s property, such as poor maintenance, hidden hazards, or lack of proper warnings.

Brandt & Sherman represents injured individuals in Lafayette and throughout Louisiana who were harmed because a property owner or occupier failed to act responsibly. These cases often involve businesses, apartment complexes, workplaces, and public spaces.

How Premises Liability Cases Work Under Louisiana Law

Premises liability claims focus on whether a property owner took reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm. To succeed in a claim, an injured person generally must show:

• A dangerous condition existed on the property
• The owner knew or should have known about the hazard
• Reasonable steps were not taken to fix or warn about the danger
• The unsafe condition caused the injury

These claims are different from roadway cases like car accidents or truck accidents, where fault is based on driving behavior rather than property maintenance.

Common Types of Premises Liability Accidents

Premises liability covers a wide range of accidents, including:

• Slips and falls on wet or uneven surfaces
• Inadequate lighting in stairwells or parking areas
• Falling objects or unsecured merchandise
• Unsafe staircases or handrails
• Hazardous conditions in workplaces or residential buildings

Many of these incidents involve circumstances similar to slip and fall accidents, which are one of the most common premises liability claims.

Who May Be Held Liable in a Premises Liability Case?

Liability depends on who owned, controlled, or maintained the property at the time of the accident. Responsible parties may include:

• Business owners
• Property management companies
• Landlords
• Employers

Some premises liability injuries occur on the job and may overlap with certain workplace injury claims, depending on the facts of the case.

Injuries Commonly Seen in Premises Liability Cases

Unsafe property conditions can cause serious and long-lasting injuries, including:

• Broken bones and fractures
  
  
• Head injuries and concussions
  
  
• Neck and back injuries
  
  
• Burns from hazardous substances or unsafe equipment
  
  

Severe incidents may result in injuries similar to those seen in serious burn injury cases, requiring extensive medical treatment and recovery.

Deadlines to File a Premises Liability Claim in Louisiana

Louisiana law sets strict deadlines for filing premises liability claims. In most cases, injured individuals have a limited time from the date of the accident to pursue compensation. Waiting too long can result in losing the right to bring a claim altogether.

Prompt legal guidance helps ensure evidence such as maintenance records, incident reports, and surveillance footage is preserved.

Defenses Commonly Raised by Property Owners

Property owners and insurers often argue that:

• The hazard was open and obvious
• They lacked notice of the dangerous condition
• The injured person was not paying attention
• The injuries were pre-existing

These defenses are common in contested injury claims, including high-risk cases like motorcycle accidents, and must be carefully addressed to protect your claim.

Premises liability injuries can have lasting physical and financial consequences. Property owners and insurance companies often attempt to minimize or deny responsibility. Brandt & Sherman helps injured individuals understand their rights and pursue fair compensation under Louisiana law.

Contact Brandt & Sherman today for a free consultation. Our Lafayette premises liability attorneys are ready to review your case and help you move forward.