Covington's Trusted Premises Liability Attorney
If you were hurt on someone else’s property, do not let an insurance company push you around. Call Flattmann Law today at (985) -590-6182 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation. You pay nothing unless we win.
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Relentless advocacy with the personal attention that your family deserves
When property owners fail to maintain their premises, insurance companies move quickly to shield them from liability. They often claim you "should have seen" the hazard or attempt to downplay the severity of your injuries. At Flattmann Law, we build solid, evidence-backed claims that dismantle those corporate defenses.
When you visit a store, apartment complex, or commercial business on the Northshore, you have every right to expect a safe environment. But when property owners ignore dangerous hazards - whether an uncleaned liquid spill, broken stairs, or inadequate security, the consequences can be catastrophic. Severe spinal injuries, fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and long-term disability can occur in a split second.
At Flattmann Law, we refuse to let negligent property owners or corporate insurance companies blame you for their carelessness. We step in immediately, hold responsible parties fully accountable, and fight relentlessly for the financial compensation you need to rebuild your life.
The Northshore is our home. For over 20 years, we’ve represented hardworking, honest people throughout St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington Parish, and the
surrounding communities. These are our neighbors, and we’re proud to stand beside them when they need us most.
A message from Flattmann Law: Holding careless property owners accountable
Property owners and businesses have a strict responsibility to keep their premises safe for the public. When they choose to ignore hazards, delay basic repairs, or cut corners on security, innocent people suffer life-changing injuries. Over the years, we have stood up to major retail chains, commercial landlords, and aggressive insurance companies across St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington Parishes.
We know how fast insurance adjusters try to turn the tables and blame victims after a bad fall or property accident. Our promise to you is simple: We will never let them intimidate or low-ball you.
Premises liability law holds property owners, commercial businesses, landlords, and government entities legally accountable when dangerous property conditions cause harm. However, securing fair compensation under Louisiana law requires swift investigation and precise legal strategy.
Common types of Premises Liability Claims we handle
- Merchant Slip, Trip, and Falls: Liquid spills, leaking commercial coolers, unlit hazards, or wet floors in grocery stores, shopping centers, and restaurants.
- Structural Defects & Maintenance Failures: Broken handrails, crumbling concrete walkways, rotting deck boards, uneven stairs, and torn flooring.
- Inadequate or Negligent Security: Assaults or violent crimes occurring at apartment buildings, parking garages, or commercial venues due to broken gates, lack of security personnel, or unlit parking lots.
- Dog Bites & Animal Attacks: Severe puncture wounds, facial scarring, and trauma caused by dangerous, unrestrained pets.
- Pool & Recreational Area Accidents: Unfenced swimming pools, defective pool gates, or missing warning signs leading to serious injury or near-drowning.
How Merchant Liability Works Under Louisiana Law (La. R.S. 9:2800.6)
In Louisiana, slip-and-fall claims against merchants (such as grocery stores, gas stations, or retail shops) are governed by Louisiana Revised Statute 9:2800.6. To win a merchant liability case, we must establish three legal factors:
- Unreasonable Risk of Harm: The property condition created a foreseeable and unreasonable risk of injury.
- Actual or Constructive Notice: The merchant either created the dangerous hazard, actually knew it existed (actual notice), or should have known about it because it existed for a long enough time (constructive notice).
- Failure to Exercise Reasonable Care: The merchant failed to exercise reasonable care to clean, repair, or warn visitors about the dangerous condition.
What compensation can you recover?
If a property owner's negligence caused your injuries, you should not carry the financial burden. We aggressively pursue full compensation for:
- Current and future medical bills (surgeries, ER visits, physical therapy, medications)
- Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
- Physical pain, suffering, and permanent impairment
- Emotional distress and loss of quality of life
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
In Louisiana, the legal deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit is called the prescriptive period. Under La. Civ. Code art. 3493.11, personal injury claims arising on or after July 1, 2024, are subject to a two-year prescriptive period from the date the injury occurred. (Injuries that occurred prior to July 1, 2024, remain under the previous one-year prescriptive period).
Critical Warning: While you generally have two years to file a lawsuit in court for recent claims, the practical time to preserve key evidence is often just days. Store security camera systems routinely overwrite video footage within 7 to 30 days. Calling Flattmann Law immediately allows us to send a legal Spoliation Letter to demand property owners preserve crucial surveillance video before it is deleted.
When commercial businesses and insurance companies attempt to dismiss your injury, you need an aggressive legal team that fights back.
No gimmicks, no shouting, no billboards, just honest, experienced legal help when you need it most. And there's no pressure. At Flattmann Law, our consultations are 100% free - no cost, no obligation, and nothing to lose by just reaching out. Get your free case review with us today!
We represent hardworking, honest people who call the Northshore home. We know these roads because we drive them. We know these courts because we’ve practiced in them for
decades.
Recent premises liability cases entrusted to us
Winning and keeping your trust means everything to us. We help our clients go through some of the most challenging times in their lives.
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Schedule a free, confidential consultation with Flattmann Law today.
When you hire us, rest assured that an attorney handles your case. Your
file won’t be handed over to a junior attorney or secretary. Communication is a cornerstone of our firm.
Frequently asked questions about premises liability accidents
Answers to our most frequently asked questions. Have more questions? Give us a call, leave us a message here or head over to our personal injury legal library!
Slip and fall accidents are considered a type of premises liability claim. If your injury was caused by the property owner's failure to maintain reasonably safe conditions, you may be able to seek compensation for expenses related to the incident.
Protect Your Rights With These Five Steps
1. Report the Injury
As soon as you fall, you should report the injury to the property owner. If you are injured in a store, restaurant, or another public establishment, report the incident to the manager on duty. Request a written copy of the report for your own records.
2. Seek Medical Attention
You might be tempted to dismiss a bit of soreness or stiffness as a minor inconvenience, but it is important to seek medical attention after a slip and fall accident. Minor symptoms can turn into something more serious. For example, a backache might be a sign of a herniated disc.
3. Keep Detailed Records and Photographs
Documentation is vital in a slip and fall claim. Write down your account of the incident in as much detail as you can remember while it is still fresh in your mind, including the names of any witnesses who can corroborate your statement. Take photographs of the accident scene if you are able to. Keep your shoes and clothing from the accident in a safe spot in case these items are requested as evidence. Gather copies of medical bills and documentation of other expenses related to the accident.
4. Avoid Speculation
After an accident that may result in a premises liability claim, it is important to avoid speculation as to who is at fault. Don't talk to friends and family about the incident or make social media posts about the incident. Stay calm and limit your communication to a brief report filed with the property owner or manager.
5. Call an Attorney
A slip and fall accident may entitle you to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. However, insurance companies are typically in no hurry to pay a claim. Protect your rights by contacting an experienced personal injury attorney who can advocate for your interests throughout the settlement process.
Contact us today or call us at (985) 590-6182 for a free and confidential consultation from our office located in Covington and serving all areas of the Northshore including St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington Parish (Covington, Mandeville, Madisonville, Slidell, Hammond) and the New Orleans metro!
A fall at a grocery store can result in significant injuries. However, in Louisiana, whether the owner of the store is liable depends on many factors. This is the law of premises liability.
First, you must prove that the reason you fell was due to an unsafe condition. Typically, the test is whether a reasonable person would think that the condition constituted a hazard.
Second, you must prove that the store had actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition. In other words, you must prove that the store or its employees created the unsafe condition or should have known that the unsafe condition existed, even if someone else (ie. another customer) created it.
Finally, the store and its insurance company may try to blame the injured person for not noticing the unsafe condition in the first place, or for being preoccupied at the time they were hurt.
We have handled many premises liability cases, including cases against grocery stores, big-box stores, and restaurants, just to name a few. It is important in these cases to contact a premises liability lawyer as soon as possible so that they can make efforts to preserve important evidence.
More on premises liability accidents from our personal injury legal library
Our legal library is full of articles on a variety of topics related to personal injury claims in Louisiana. Learn about how accidents happen, what to do when you are a victim, and how an attorney can help you fight for the compensation you may deserve.