New Orleans, with its vibrant culture and historic charm, draws visitors from around the world. But uneven sidewalks, worn cobblestone streets, and bustling tourist attractions can create hazardous conditions, leading to unexpected slip-and-fall accidents.
If you’ve been hurt in a slip-and-fall incident in NOLA, our experienced New Orleans slip-and-fall accident lawyers are here to help. We understand the unique challenges these cases present and are dedicated to fighting for your rights and securing the compensation you deserve.
Common Causes of Slip-and-Fall Accidents in New Orleans
New Orleans’ climate, historic architecture, and bustling tourist sites create many opportunities for slips and falls among residents and visitors alike. Understanding some of the common causes is crucial for both prevention and identifying liability if you’ve been hurt.
- Wet and Slippery Surfaces: New Orleans’ frequent rain and humidity make wet surfaces a common hazard on streets and around bars and restaurants.
- Historic Architecture: Charming, older buildings often have uneven floors and worn steps and rails that can pose slipping and tripping risks.
- Festival Hazards: Events like Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest create slip-and-fall risks due to crowds, debris, and setups with temporary decor or equipment.
- Public Transit Areas: Boarding and exiting streetcars and buses can be dangerous, especially in wet conditions.
- Poor Lighting: Dim lighting, especially in historic areas, can hide potential hazards.
Premises Liability in Slip-and-Fall Cases
From historic buildings to modern high-rises, New Orleans has every type of property imaginable. Premises liability involves holding all property owners, public or private, responsible for breaching their duty of care to maintain a safe space for visitors.
Understanding premises liability at both the local and state level is critical to a favorable outcome in slip-and-fall cases. Let’s explore how premises liability laws apply to various types of properties in the Big Easy:
- Commercial Properties: From Bourbon Street bars to Magazine Street boutiques, business owners have a duty to maintain safe conditions for patrons.
- Historic Properties: Owners of historic properties must balance preservation with safety.
- Public Spaces: Public parks, sidewalks, and government buildings must also be maintained and kept free of hazards, though these slip-and-fall claims can be more legally complex.
- Short-Term Rentals: With the rise of vacation rentals in New Orleans, it’s increasingly important that these property owners understand their liability for the safety of guests.
- Private Residences: Homeowners are responsible for keeping their property safe for guests by fixing any issues like broken steps, floors, or driveways, and making sure all areas are free of debris and slipping hazards.
Types of Injuries in Slip-and-Fall Accidents
The consequences of a slip-and-fall accident in New Orleans can range from minor scrapes and bruises to life-altering injuries.
Understanding the full extent of injuries is crucial not only for seeking appropriate medical care but also to account for the short and long-term impacts on your quality of life. Here are some of the common injuries we see every day:
- Cuts and Bruises: While these injuries can seem minor, they can lead to serious complications and infections if not properly and promptly treated.
- Fractures and Sprains: These are particularly common due to our city’s uneven walkways and historic architecture.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Even a seemingly minor fall can lead to serious head injuries like concussions and more serious TBIs.
- Back and Neck Injuries: Falls can cause serious back and neck injuries that can have a long-lasting impact on your life and mobility.
Compensation Available for Slip-and-Fall Victims
When you’ve been injured in a slip-and-fall accident, the physical, emotional, and financial impacts can be overwhelming. That’s why we fight for compensation that addresses all your losses. These damages might include:
- Medical Expenses: From emergency care and surgeries to long-term rehabilitation costs
- Lost Wages: Especially crucial in a city where many rely on tip-based income in the service and tourism industries
- Pain and Suffering: Compensating for the impact the injury has on your ability to enjoy your life in the manner you did before
- Future Costs: Including potential long-term care needs, vocational retraining, assistive devices, and home or vehicle modifications
What to Do After a Slip-And-Fall Accident
After a slip-and-fall, take the following steps immediately to protect your health and your case:
- Seek Medical Care: Get medical attention right away, even if your injuries seem minor.
- Document the Scene: Take photos of the conditions that caused the fall, noting the time, location, and anything at all that contributed to the accident.
- Collect Witness Information: Get contact information from anyone who witnessed the fall to support your claim later.
- File an Incident Report: Report the incident to the property owner or manager to create an official record of the event, and obtain a copy of the report.
- Contact a Lawyer ASAP: This ensures that evidence is preserved, witnesses are contacted, and your legal rights are protected from the start.
Proving Liability in a Slip-and-Fall Case
Successfully proving liability requires you to demonstrate that a property owner knew or should have known about a dangerous condition and failed to address it. Having an attorney with the right combination of legal and local knowledge is important to this process. You can count on our team to do the following:
- Gather Evidence: We know how to secure crucial evidence, from security footage from local businesses to maintenance records from historic properties.
- Provide Expert Witnesses: We consult with experts who understand the ins and outs of maintaining properties in New Orleans.
- Establish Negligence: We’ll put our expertise to work proving the property owner knew or should have known about the danger you experienced.
Why Choose Our Firm for Your Slip-and-Fall Case
Here’s what else you can count on from our team:
- Deep Local Knowledge: Our attorneys are part of the community and have close ties and connections to medical professionals, reconstruction experts, and others who can support your case in NOLA.
- Proven Results: We’ve secured significant settlements and verdicts for slip-and-fall victims throughout Louisiana.
- Personal Attention: We treat every client like we’d want our own family treated, providing the individual care and attention you deserve.
- No Upfront Costs: We work on a contingency basis, meaning you don’t pay unless we win your case.
Contact Our New Orleans Slip-And-Fall Accident Lawyers
Don’t let a slip-and-fall accident in the Crescent City become a bigger problem than it has to be. Contact our New Orleans slip-and-fall lawyers today for a free consultation, and let us help you get back on your feet.
