PREMISES LIABILITY
PRACTICE AREAS
BOSSIER CITY PREMISES LIABILITY LAWYER
When you visit someone else’s property, you typically expect that it’s well cared for and free of any hazards that might cause you or loved ones harm. Unfortunately, property owners are human too, and they sometimes neglect their property or fail to address potential hazards which can cause those visiting serious injuries.
If you sustained injuries on someone else’s property, you could file a claim against the property owner to recover financial compensation. These personal injury lawsuits can be complicated, especially when multiple parties are involved. When filing a premises liability lawsuit, you need an experienced Bossier City personal injury attorney fighting for your rights.
Attorney Michael J. Vergis has represented countless clients in the Shreveport-Bossier City areas in many personal injury claims (as well as civil rights cases, criminal defense, family law, and more). To learn more about your legal options, schedule a free consultation today by calling (318) 698-3724.
Louisiana Premises Liability Law
Louisiana’s premises liability statute CC Art. 2322 states that property owners can be held liable for damages they knew about or should have known about and failed to recognize reasonable care.
Property owners are responsible for providing a safe environment for all visitors and employees. If they’re aware of any hazards on their property that can cause injuries to others, they have to repair those dangers and provide proper warnings. For example, if someone just mopped an aisle at a grocery store, they should place a caution sign over the area to warn others that it is wet and to use care.
Visitors Defined by Louisiana Law
The premises liability laws in Louisiana define three types of visitors that property owners owe a duty of care.
- Invitees: Someone with the owner’s implied or expressed permission to be on the property. This person’s presence is a mutual benefit for both the owner and the visitor. A grocery store customer is an example of an invitee.
- Licensees: A person that does not have permission from the owner to be on the property but can lawfully enter the property. A person using a gas station restroom without making a purchase is an example of a licensee.
- Trespassers: An individual that does not have permission to be on the property, yet they still visit the property unlawfully for their own purposes.
According to Louisiana law, owners owe the most duty of care to invitees, then licensees. They do not owe a duty of care to trespassers (unless they’re a minor).
Types of Premises Liability Cases
Premises liability accidents can happen anywhere, especially when the property owner is negligent. When properties have broken staircases, uneven flooring, and malfunctioning elevators, for example, they can all lead to severe injuries.
The most common types of premises liability cases include:
- Swimming pool accidents
- Amusement park accidents
- Parade accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites
- Elevator and escalator accidents
- Construction site accidents
- Fires
- Ice/snow accidents
Attorney Michael J. Vergis has experience handling all premises liability cases and will work diligently to recover maximum compensation for your injuries.
Common Premises Liability Injuries
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 800,000 individuals are hospitalized yearly due to injuries sustained by slip and fall accidents. Head injuries are the most common injuries one can suffer from following a premises liability accident.
When property owners do not take the correct measures to warn others of wet floors, loose handrails, or broken stairs, the results can be catastrophic. The most common premises liability injuries are:
- Head injuries
- Spinal injuries
- Back injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Facial fractures
After a slip and fall accident (or other premises liability accident), seeking medical treatment is critical since many injuries listed above may not show up immediately or be noticeable. Your healthcare provider will thoroughly examine and check for any internal injuries or ones that may appear later. Seeking medical treatment is also important if you plan to pursue a lawsuit against the property owner, as the medical records can show the extent of your injuries and that they were related to the accident that occurred on their property.
How To Prove Negligence in a Premises Liability Case
When taking legal action against a property owner or company, they will most likely deny responsibility, making the premise liability claims process much more challenging. Attorney Michael J. Vergis will work with you to prove negligence occurred, which led to your severe injuries.
Proving negligence is key to your personal injury case. In order to do this, your attorney will collect evidence to strengthen your claim and further prove that the property owners acted negligently. To prove negligence, the following circumstances must be true:
- The property was dangerous.
- The property owner knew the dangers and did nothing to protect others from injuries.
- The injuries sustained were caused by the hazards on the property and led to financial losses.
Types of Damages Available in Premises Liability Claims
Those involved in premises liability accidents can recover economic and non-economic damages from a successful personal injury claim. Attorney Michael J. Vergis has recovered the following damages for premises liability claims for Bossier City clients:
- Lost wages
- Medical expenses
- Physical therapy
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Loss of earning capacity
- Mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
- And more
When accidents result in another’s death, their loved ones may also be entitled to a wrongful death claim. Attorney Michael J. Vergis understands how difficult it can be to lose a loved one, especially when it’s due to another person’s negligence. To learn more about a wrongful death lawsuit, schedule a free consultation with the compassionate attorneys at our law firm today.
Why You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer for Your Premises Liability Case
Premises liability cases can be extremely challenging because property owners’ attorneys and insurance companies often fight tooth and nail to disprove any claims that their client is responsible for damages. This means premises liability lawyers must be prepared to put up a strong fight against even the strongest legal defenses. Bossier City attorney Michael J. Vergis knows what it takes to get the best results for his clients, even if it means taking the fight to court.
Another challenge that premises liability cases can present is when the owner of the property tries to place some of the blame on you. Under Louisiana’s pure comparative negligence rule, if the courts determine that you are partially liable for your injuries, your compensation will be reduced by a certain percentage. Property owners’ insurance companies will do whatever they can to share fault for your injuries, so hiring an experienced attorney who can fight back and aggressively advocate for your rights is crucial.
Fighting For You In and Out of Court
When you choose Bossier City’s top premises liability attorney to handle your case, you can trust that your rights will be protected. Attorney Michael J. Vergis will work with the property owner’s insurance company in an attempt at settlement negotiations. If our law firm believes that the settlement they’re offering isn’t enough, we’ll take the negotiations to court and fight for your right to fair compensation there. During this time, you can focus on recovering from the injuries sustained on the property while our legal team handles the insurance companies and negotiations.
Call Shreveport-Bossier City Personal Injury Attorney Michael J. Vergis Today
If you sustained injuries on someone else’s property in Shreveport-Bossier City, experienced attorney Michael J. Vergis will assess your case and determine if the property owner acted negligently and caused your injuries. Our law firm will also help you file your insurance claim and negotiate with the agencies on your behalf. If we are unable to reach a fair settlement, we will take your case to trial and fight aggressively to obtain appropriate compensation for your injuries.
Schedule a free consultation with Bossier City’s leading premises liability attorney, Michael J. Vergis, by calling (318) 698-3724 or completing our online intake form today.
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