Slip and fall accidents caused by wet floors, spilled liquids, recently mopped surfaces, or other slippery conditions are among the most common premises liability claims in Louisiana. Property owners have a duty to clean up hazards promptly and warn visitors with appropriate signage. When they fail to do so and someone is injured, they can be held liable for the full extent of those injuries.

Cracked sidewalks, uneven flooring, raised thresholds, torn carpet, and other tripping hazards can cause serious injuries — particularly broken bones, head trauma, and spinal injuries. Property owners are responsible for identifying and repairing these hazards in a timely manner. Our attorneys document the dangerous condition and build a compelling case for full compensation.

Property owners — including hotels, apartment complexes, parking garages, bars, and shopping centers — have a duty to provide adequate security when they know or should know that criminal activity poses a risk to visitors. When inadequate lighting, broken locks, absent security personnel, or other security failures create conditions in which an assault, robbery, or other criminal act occurs, the property owner may be held liable for the resulting injuries. Our attorneys pursue full compensation from negligent property owners and their insurers.

Swimming pools present serious risks — particularly for children — when proper safety measures are not in place. Inadequate fencing, missing drain covers, slippery pool decks, absence of lifeguards, and defective pool equipment can all give rise to premises liability claims. Our attorneys represent victims of pool accidents at private residences, apartment complexes, hotels, and public facilities across Louisiana.

Broken or missing handrails, broken steps, uneven stair heights, poor lighting, and slippery staircase surfaces create serious fall risks and frequently violate building codes. When a property owner fails to maintain safe stairways and a visitor is injured as a result, our attorneys pursue full compensation for all resulting losses including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Elevator malfunctions, sudden drops, misleveling, and escalator entrapments or falls can cause serious injuries. Property owners and building managers are responsible for maintaining elevators and escalators in proper working condition and ensuring they pass required inspections. Our attorneys work with mechanical engineering experts to establish equipment failure and liability in these complex cases.

Items falling from shelves, improperly stored merchandise, ceiling tiles, and construction debris can cause serious head injuries, spinal trauma, and fractures. Retail stores, warehouses, and construction sites all have obligations to secure objects and ensure that items cannot fall onto visitors or passersby. Our attorneys investigate the circumstances of your injury to identify every responsible party.

Property owners who allow visitors to be exposed to hazardous substances — including asbestos, mold, carbon monoxide, lead paint, or toxic chemicals — may be held liable for the resulting health consequences. Our attorneys handle toxic exposure premises liability claims and work with environmental and medical experts to document the nature and extent of your exposure and its health effects.

Construction sites create serious hazards for both workers and members of the public — including falling debris, uneven surfaces, exposed wiring, and inadequate barriers. When a visitor, pedestrian, or bystander is injured due to a contractor’s or property owner’s failure to maintain adequate safety measures, our attorneys pursue claims against all responsible parties including the property owner, general contractor, and subcontractors.

Accidents on government-owned property — including public parks, courthouses, government buildings, and public sidewalks — involve special procedural rules and shorter notice deadlines than standard premises liability claims. Our attorneys are experienced in navigating the specific requirements for claims against government entities in Louisiana and ensure your claim is filed correctly and on time.

As of July 1, 2024, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Louisiana. If the accident occurred on government-owned property, special notice requirements may apply with much shorter deadlines. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights and preserve critical evidence.

To recover compensation in a Louisiana premises liability case, you generally need to show that the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition, that they failed to fix it or warn visitors in a reasonable time, and that this failure caused your injuries. Learn more about how fault is determined in Louisiana. Our attorneys investigate every aspect of your accident to build the strongest possible case.

The “open and obvious” defense is one of the most common arguments property owners and their insurers raise to avoid liability. Insurance companies are trained to use this argument to deny or minimize your claim. However, even an obvious hazard may give rise to liability if the property owner created the condition or if the circumstances made it unreasonable to expect the visitor to avoid it. Our attorneys push back hard against these tactics.

Louisiana follows pure comparative fault, meaning you can still recover compensation even if you were partly responsible — your total award is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. Property owners frequently try to exaggerate a visitor’s share of blame to reduce their own liability. Our attorneys fight back to protect your recovery.

Report the accident to the property owner or manager and ask for a written incident report. Take photos of the hazardous condition, your injuries, and the surrounding area before anything is cleaned up or changed. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses. Seek medical attention even if you feel okay — some injuries appear days later. Then contact Mansfield Melancon as soon as possible so we can begin preserving critical evidence.

Nothing upfront. Our premises liability lawyers work on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. There are no upfront costs, no hourly fees, and no out-of-pocket expenses. If we do not win your case, you owe us nothing.

Many premises liability claims settle within several months once liability is established and medical treatment is complete. Cases involving serious injuries, disputed liability, or government defendants may take longer. Learn more about the timeline of a personal injury case. We keep you informed throughout the process and never pressure you to accept a settlement before you are ready.

Yes. If your injuries prevented you from working, you may be entitled to recover both past lost wages and future loss of earning capacity. Learn more about how lost wages are calculated in Louisiana. Our attorneys work with economic experts to fully document and maximize your income-related damages.