Slip & Fall Accidents

New Orleans Slip and Fall Lawyer

Fight for Compensation with The Chopin Law Firm LLC

Slip and fall accidents may initially seem harmless. While a bump or a trip may result in minor bruising, some falls can produce serious injuries such as traumatic brain injury, paralysis, and more. According to National Safety Council, there were 42,114 fatalities resulting from falls at home and in the workplace in 2020. Slip and fall accidents fall under personal injury “premises liability” cases. The rules governing premises liability essentially state that the owner of a property, whether residential or commercial, has a duty to keep the area reasonably safe for anyone who would come onto the property.

If you have experienced a slip and fall accident because of unsafe premises, don’t hesitate to call the New Orleans personal injury attorneys from The Chopin Law Firm LLC. Our firm has more than 100 years of collective experience that we are able to put to work for each of our clients. We thoroughly investigate our clients’ needs and circumstances before crafting a case that is made to meet their goals.

What DO I DO After a Slip and Fall Accident in Louisiana?

When you slip and fall on someone else’s property, be it at a residence, grocery store, restaurant, or school, you may be left both trying to physically recover and navigate the process of how to get your bills paid. The good news is that premises liability laws exist to protect those injured on a business or residential property. However, you may not know what to do after a slip and fall accident. Our Louisiana premises liability attorneys have a few short tips that may help.

Louisiana’s Premises Liability Laws

Under Louisiana’s premises liability laws, property owners have a legal responsibility to ensure that their premises are “reasonably safe” for visitors and take steps to both mitigate potential hazards and warn guests of them. When negligent property owners fail to take these steps, slip and fall accidents and injuries can occur. It is important to know what to do if you are ever in this situation; the steps you take after being injured are crucial to your health, safety, and recovery.

Report the Accident

In order to receive compensation for injuries sustained in a slip and fall accident, you and your attorney must prove that the accident occurred and when. Reporting the accident is a critical part of the puzzle. Far too often, slip and fall accident victims simply skip over this step—and it can cause their whole case to fall apart.

Once the store or property owner is notified of the accident, they will investigate the claim on their own, gather evidence, and report it to their insurance company. Your report will create a paper trail that your attorney will need to prove that the accident caused your injuries.

Take Photos, Notes, and Witness Statements

Physical evidence and witness statements are key to successfully pursuing compensation for slip and fall injuries. If you are able to take photos after the accident, do so or have someone you trust to take them for you.

The more photos you have and the more variety, the better. Include wide and close-up angles from numerous directions, the exact location of where it happened, and factors that may have contributed to the fall. Conditions can change rapidly—for instance, if you slip and fall on a wet floor, the water may dry or be cleaned quickly—so do this as quickly as possible.

Additionally, you should try to get the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident or was present immediately before or after. If they allow you to, take recorded statements and write down notes of everything you remember happening.

Get Medical Treatment Immediately

Some people know immediately that they have been injured after a slip and fall or trip and fall accident. Other times, symptoms may not fully manifest until days or weeks after the accident. You may think that it’s just a little neck or back pain and it will go away shortly.

However, if your injury turns out to be anything that needs medical treatment, it can harm your case if you fail to get medical attention immediately. The insurance company may claim that there is no way to directly link your injuries to the slip and fall accident and attempt to deny your claim.

Injuries sustained from a slip & fall accident can be potentially life-threatening. Some examples include:

Common examples of potentially life-threatening slip and fall injuries include:

• Head and neck injury 
• Traumatic brain injury 
• Spinal cord injury 
• Broken bones 
• Sprains 
• Bruises 
• Wrongful death

Once you do see a doctor, always follow their recommendations and go to all follow-up appointments.

Slip and fall accidents can result in devastating injuries. If you were a victim of a slip and fall accident, contact a New Orleans accident lawyer to help you get the compensation you may be entitled to.

Do Not Give a Recorded Statement

Before accepting any sort of settlement offer or even speaking with the insurance company, it is imperative that you speak with an attorney first who can guide you through the process and put you first. Despite what you may think after speaking on the phone with the insurance adjuster, the insurance company is not your friend.

They will offer you as low as a settlement as they think you will take or even try to use your own statement against you. Arm yourself with the legal representation you need to ensure your rights are protected.

Contact an Attorney Who Will Put You First

You shouldn’t have to front the bills for your medical expenses and other damages because of a negligent property owner. When clients come to us for help, they don’t just get legal representation—they get a team of experienced legal advocates who are dedicated to putting them first. You are our first priority and you can rest assured knowing we will fight hard for your maximum financial recovery. If you’ve been involved in a slip and fall, there are no fees and no obligations to sit down with our legal team and discuss your options moving forward with our firm.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT Liability in Slip and Fall Accidents

Depending on the circumstances surrounding your case, you may be eligible to pursue compensation from the property owner or other liable party that may cover medical bills, lost wages, and more.

In order to prove slip and fall liability, the following needs to be established:

• That you were owed a duty of reasonable care from the property owner
• That the property owner failed to provide reasonable care
• That you were involved in an accident as a result of this failure
• That the accident resulted in physical harm to yourself

Many slip and fall accidents take place in grocery stores, restaurants, schools, train stations, and the like. Workers on industrial sites or maritime workers are also at a higher risk of slip, trip, and fall injuries. If you have been involved in a slip and fall, don’t hesitate to get legal help.

Call an Experienced New Orleans Slip and Fall Lawyer Today!

If you have been injured due to a slip and fall, call The Chopin Law Firm LLC. Our experienced New Orleans personal injury lawyer can passionately advocate for your rights and pursue just compensation on your behalf. All calls immediately go to an attorney, so that you get the legal advice you need when you need it. You are our priority from start to finish.