Houma Premises Liability Lawyer

Were you injured on another party’s property in Houma, Bayou Cane, Schriever, or anywhere in Terrebonne Parish? Whether the injury happened at a residential property, a commercial business, an apartment complex, or a public building, you may be entitled to compensation if the owner was negligent. From slip-and-fall accidents to dog bites, inadequate security claims, and swimming pool injuries, premises liability covers a broad range of legal claims under Louisiana law. Premises liability claims can be challenging — property owners and their insurance companies fight hard to deny responsibility. The Houma premises liability attorneys at Kopfler & Hermann have decades of experience successfully pursuing these claims. We investigate the scene, preserve evidence, document the property owner’s negligence, and build a compelling case to hold negligent owners accountable.

Do not give a statement to the insurance company until you speak with an experienced Houma personal injury lawyer. You could say something the insurance company will use against you. To schedule a free consultation with our Houma dangerous property accident lawyers, call (985) 851-3311 today.

What Is Premises Liability Under Louisiana Law?

Premises liability is the legal doctrine that holds property owners and occupiers responsible when someone is injured because of a dangerous condition on their property. Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2317.1 and Article 2322, an owner is responsible for damages caused by a defect in their property if they knew or should have known about the defect, the defect created an unreasonable risk of harm, and the damage could have been prevented by reasonable care. In practical terms, that means a Houma business or property owner has a duty to inspect their property, fix dangerous conditions, and warn visitors about hazards they cannot fix. When they fail to do these things and someone gets hurt, they can be held financially responsible.

Common Premises Liability Cases We Handle in Houma

Dangerous property conditions can exist almost anywhere — including homes, apartments, hotels, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, parking lots, oilfield service yards, and government buildings. The most common premises liability claims our Houma attorneys handle include:
  • Slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accidents — wet floors, uneven flooring, broken steps, ice or grease
  • Inadequate security — assaults that occur because a property owner failed to provide reasonable security in a known high-crime area
  • Poor lighting in parking lots, stairwells, and entryways that contributes to falls or attacks
  • Spills and tracked-in water that aren’t cleaned up or warned about
  • Falling merchandise from improperly stacked store shelves
  • Fire hazards — exposed wiring, blocked exits, missing smoke detectors
  • Building code violations
  • Improper construction techniques on commercial or residential properties
  • Stairwell design defects — missing handrails, uneven risers, broken steps
  • Swimming pool accidents, including drownings and slip-and-falls on pool decks
  • Unguarded open hazards — construction sites, ditches, holes, missing safety fencing
  • Dog attacks on private and commercial properties
  • Negligent maintenance of apartment complexes and rental properties
  • Hotel and resort injuries — including balcony falls, bathtub falls, and elevator failures
If your injury was caused by a property owner’s failure to keep their property safe, you may have a premises liability claim — even if you were technically a customer, a guest, a tenant, or a visitor.

Slip-and-Fall Cases — The Most Common Premises Liability Claim

Slip-and-fall accidents are the leading cause of premises liability lawsuits in Louisiana. Common locations include grocery stores (especially around produce, frozen food, and entryways during rain), restaurants, big-box retailers, gas station convenience stores, and parking lots. To win a slip-and-fall claim against a Houma business, our attorneys generally must prove:
  • A dangerous condition existed on the property (spilled liquid, uneven surface, ice, broken tile, etc.)
  • The property owner or employees created the condition, knew about it, or should have known about it
  • The owner failed to fix the condition or warn visitors about it
  • The dangerous condition caused your injury
  • You suffered actual damages — medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering
Louisiana’s Merchant Liability Statute (La. R.S. 9:2800.6) sets a high bar in slip-and-fall cases against merchants. You must prove the merchant either created the hazard or had actual or constructive notice of it before the fall. That’s why preserving evidence — incident reports, surveillance video, witness names, and the condition of the floor — is critical in the first 24-72 hours.

What to Do After a Premises Liability Injury in Houma

What you do in the hours and days after the accident makes or breaks the case. Take these steps if you are able:
  1. Get medical attention right away. Go to the ER or an urgent care, even if you think the injury is minor. Insurance companies use gaps in treatment to argue you weren’t really hurt.
  2. Report the incident. Tell the property owner, store manager, or apartment manager what happened — and ask for a copy of the incident report.
  3. Document the scene. Take photos and video of the exact spot where you fell, the condition that caused it, any warning signs (or absence of them), and your injuries. Photograph your shoes too.
  4. Get witness contact info. Anyone who saw the fall — names, phone numbers, what they observed.
  5. Save the shoes and clothes you were wearing. They can be evidence of the surface condition.
  6. Don’t give a recorded statement to the property owner’s insurance company before you speak with a lawyer.
  7. Call a Houma premises liability lawyer. Surveillance footage at most Louisiana businesses is overwritten within 7-30 days. Acting fast preserves it.

How Louisiana’s Comparative Fault Rule Affects Your Case

Louisiana follows a pure comparative fault system. That means even if you were partially at fault for your own injury — say, you didn’t notice a hazard you arguably should have seen — you can still recover damages. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, but it isn’t barred entirely. So if a jury values your case at $100,000 and finds you 20% responsible for not paying attention, you still recover $80,000. Property owners and insurance companies routinely try to assign as much fault as possible to the injured person — that’s why having an experienced Houma premises liability attorney pushing back is so important.

Statute of Limitations: Don’t Wait

You generally have one year from the date of injury to file a premises liability lawsuit in Louisiana under Civil Code Article 3492. This is one of the strictest deadlines in the country. Miss it, and your claim is permanently barred — no matter how strong the evidence. For claims against governmental entities (city of Houma, Terrebonne Parish, school boards), the rules are even tighter and require formal notice of the claim within a much shorter window. Don’t risk it. Call us as soon as you are physically able.

What Damages Can You Recover?

Louisiana law allows premises liability victims to recover several categories of compensation:
  • Medical expenses — past and future — including ER visits, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medications, and assistive devices
  • Lost wages and lost earning capacity if your injury keeps you out of work temporarily or permanently
  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish and emotional distress
  • Loss of enjoyment of life — your inability to enjoy hobbies, activities, and relationships you enjoyed before the injury
  • Disability and disfigurement — including scarring
  • Loss of consortium for spouses
In cases where the property owner’s conduct was particularly egregious — like ignoring repeated complaints about a dangerous condition — punitive-style damages may be available in limited circumstances.

Why Choose Kopfler & Hermann for Your Houma Premises Liability Case?

We’ve represented Louisiana premises liability victims for decades — across Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, and the surrounding parishes. Insurance adjusters know which firms are willing to take a case to trial and which firms will fold for pennies on the dollar. We have the courtroom record to make sure your case is treated seriously from the first phone call. When you hire us, you get:
  • Free consultation — in our Houma office at 306 Grinage St, by phone, or at your home or hospital if you can’t travel
  • No fee unless we win — contingency fee representation, with all case costs advanced
  • Direct attorney access — you talk to a lawyer, not a screening service
  • Aggressive investigation — preserving surveillance footage, securing witness statements, hiring experts
  • Local knowledge — we know the judges, defense lawyers, and adjusters in the Bayou Region

“They walked us through every single step. We didn’t have to worry about anything but getting better.” — see more case results and client reviews from clients across south Louisiana.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a premises liability case worth in Louisiana?

Every case is different. Value depends on the severity of the injury, the strength of the liability evidence, the property owner’s insurance coverage, and how the case is presented. Minor soft-tissue injuries may resolve for a few thousand dollars; cases involving surgery, permanent disability, or wrongful death can be worth hundreds of thousands or more. We give you an honest, realistic value range during your free consultation.

Do I need to hire a lawyer for a slip-and-fall case?

You don’t have to — but the cases where someone tries to handle it alone usually end with a lowball offer or a denied claim. Premises liability is one of the most defense-friendly areas of Louisiana law, especially after the Merchant Liability Statute. A lawyer levels the playing field.

What if I was partly at fault for my fall?

You can still recover under Louisiana’s pure comparative fault rule, just with your award reduced by your percentage of fault. Don’t assume you have no case just because the insurance adjuster told you it was your fault — they tell that to almost everyone.

How long will my premises liability case take?

Most cases settle in 6-18 months. Cases that go to trial can take 2-3 years. The honest answer depends on the complexity of the injuries, the cooperation of the insurance company, and whether suit needs to be filed.

How much does it cost to hire a Houma premises liability lawyer?

Nothing up front. We handle premises liability cases on contingency — we advance all case costs, and our fee comes out of the recovery. If we don’t win, you don’t owe us a fee.

Parishes & Cities We Serve from Our Houma Office

Our premises liability lawyers represent injured clients across the Bayou Region and southeast Louisiana:

Consulting With a Houma Premises Liability Lawyer

In order to hold a negligent property owner or business responsible for the injuries they have caused — and recover financial compensation for those injuries — seek the counsel of a Houma premises liability lawyer today. Our dangerous property attorneys will walk you through the claims process and tell you exactly what to expect at each step.

Call Our Houma Personal Injury Attorneys 24/7

If you or someone you love was injured on someone else’s property in Houma, Terrebonne Parish, or anywhere in south Louisiana, call Kopfler & Hermann, Attorneys at Law right now. Our office is at 306 Grinage St in Houma, and we’re available 24/7. Call (985) 851-3311 for your free, confidential consultation. No fee unless we win.

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