Premises Liability Generations of Trusted Advocacy

Premises Liability Attorney in Terrebonne Parish

Over 100 Years of Combined Experience on Your Side

When a property owner’s negligence causes you harm, you deserve accountability and a team of attorneys who know Louisiana law inside and out. Waitz & Downer has represented injured individuals and families across South Louisiana since 1971, and premises liability claims are a core part of our personal injury practice. We serve clients throughout Terrebonne, Assumption, Lafourche, and St. Mary Parishes on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Find out where your claim stands before it’s too late. Call Waitz & Downer at (985) 331-7832 for a free, confidential consultation with no pressure and no obligation.

Types of Premises Liability Cases We Handle

Property owners across South Louisiana have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe. When they fail and someone is hurt, that person may seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. We handle the full range of premises liability claims, including those tied to this region’s unique industrial landscape.

Our Terrebonne Parish premises liability attorneys can help after an injury resulting from:

A slip-and-fall accident on a wet floor, broken steps, uneven pavement, or unmarked hazards in retail stores, restaurants, and public spaces
Negligent security where absent lighting, missing locks, or lack of security personnel contributed to an assault
Falling merchandise from improperly stacked shelves in retail stores, warehouses, and industrial supply yards
A dog bite or animal attack on private or commercial property
A swimming pool accident, including falls on pool decks and incidents tied to inadequate fencing

These and other premises liability incidents can arise in all types of settings, including but not limited to:

Private residences, such as a single-family home, a private backyard, or a multi-unit apartment complex
Retail stores, including grocery stores, big box stores, retail chains, and small, local businesses
Oilfields, including accidents on and around service yards, commercial docks, and energy facilities throughout Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes
Apartments and rental properties, including incidents resulting from deferred maintenance, broken stairs, or structural failures
Hotels and commercial properties, including elevator failures, balcony defects, and dangerous parking lot conditions

Why Terrebonne Parish Residents Choose Waitz & Downer

Founded in 1971 by Joseph L. Waitz, our firm has grown into a three-generation family practice with over 100 years of combined legal experience. That history matters in a premises liability case. Opposing insurers and defense counsel know our attorneys, know our record, and know we’re prepared to take a case to trial rather than accept an inadequate offer.

Hunt Downer Jr., former Louisiana Speaker of the House with more than 50 years of practice, leads the firm alongside a team with deep roots in the local community. Hon. Joseph Waitz Jr., Terrebonne Parish District Attorney since 1997, serves as of counsel. Gary Williams Jr. is the incoming president of the Terrebonne Parish Bar Association. Joseph Waitz III has achieved millions in judgments and settlements for injured South Louisiana clients. Our attorneys grew up here, practice here, and understand the local courts, defense counsel, and insurance adjusters who work these cases.

We selectively handle severe bodily injury and wrongful death cases, which means every client receives focused attention. The firm has earned Martindale and Client Reviewed ratings and Lawyers of Distinction recognition. Our approach is straightforward: we treat every client like family, pursue full compensation, and don’t stop at the first offer.

Louisiana Premises Liability Law: What You Need to Know

Under Louisiana Civil Code Articles 2317.1 and 2322, a property owner may be liable when they knew or should have known of a defect on their property, that defect created an unreasonable risk of harm, and the damage could have been prevented by reasonable care. Proving that liability requires establishing four elements: the owner owed a duty of care, breached that duty by allowing or creating a hazard, the breach directly caused the injury, and the injured person suffered measurable damages.

Slip & Fall Claims Against Commercial Businesses

Louisiana’s Merchant Liability Statute, La. R.S. 9:2800.6, governs slip-and-fall claims against commercial businesses. It requires proof that the merchant either created the hazard or had actual or constructive notice of it before the fall. Constructive notice means the condition existed long enough that a reasonable business should have discovered it, which makes evidence of how long the hazard was present a critical issue in retail slip-and-fall cases.

Comparative Fault & How Adjusters Use It

Louisiana follows a comparative fault rule under Civil Code Article 2323: an injured person can recover damages even when partially at fault, with the award reduced proportionally by their percentage of fault. Insurance adjusters routinely attempt to assign fault to the injured party to reduce their exposure. Documented evidence, including photographs, witness statements, and incident reports, directly counters that argument.

The Deadline to File a Premises Liability Claim

For incidents occurring on or after July 1, 2024, Louisiana’s prescriptive period is two years from the date of injury under La. Civ. Code Art. 3493.1, enacted by Act 423 of 2024. Incidents before July 1, 2024 followed a one-year prescriptive period. Claims against governmental entities may require formal notice within a shorter window. Missing the applicable deadline may prevent recovery, regardless of how strong the underlying claim may be.

This firm is exceedingly generous to its clients and the community at large.
“Excellent law firm. Attorney Hunt Downer is a very down to earth guy who likes to keep it simple.”

- Joseph G.
I would recommend them to anyone needing a personal injury attorney.
“Waitz and Downer has handled legal affairs for my family for years. My daughter was involved in a head on collision with a drunk driver. The insurance company did not want to pay for my daughter to purchase a new car, hers was totaled. Waitz and Downer handled the matter very professionally and things were settled very quickly.”

- Lie Ann M.
Mary W. Riviere and her team are outstanding!
“Mary is sharp, professional, and friendly. She strives to meets the needs of her clients, and she truly invest in them and their cases. She is easily assessable, and she is exceptionally honest and trustworthy. She is an excellent attorney, and I highly recommend her!
”

- Dana P.

Steps to Take After a Premises Injury

The actions you take in the hours and days following an injury on someone else’s property can directly affect your ability to recover compensation. Here’s what to do:

Seek medical attention promptly. Even if the injury seems minor, gaps in treatment are used by insurance companies to dispute severity.
Report the incident. Notify the property owner, store manager, or building manager and request a copy of any incident report.
Document the scene. Photograph the hazard, the location, any warning signs or their absence, and your visible injuries.
Collect witness information. Get names and contact details from anyone who saw what happened.
Preserve your clothing and footwear. They may serve as evidence of surface conditions or the circumstances of a fall.
Don’t give a recorded statement to the property owner’s insurance company before speaking with a premises liability attorney.
Contact an attorney quickly. Surveillance footage at most Louisiana businesses is overwritten within days to weeks.

Why Acting Quickly Can Preserve Your Claim

Surveillance footage is among the most valuable evidence in a premises liability case, and it disappears fast. Most commercial properties in South Louisiana overwrite recordings within days to weeks. A defective floor surface, broken step, or missing handrail may also be repaired shortly after an incident, before anyone documents the original condition. An attorney can issue preservation demand letters to property owners and insurers to help prevent destruction of surveillance footage, incident reports, and maintenance records. Waiting allows that evidence to disappear, and without it, a valid claim becomes harder to prove.

Over Five Decades of Legal Practice Protecting Families for Generations

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Strength with Heart

Big-firm results, small-town heart—we treat every client like one of our own.
We Stand Firm

From oilfields to open waters, we fight for the injured and the families left behind.
One Shared Mission
Three generations strong, our family’s legacy is protecting yours when tragedy strikes.
Rooted in the Gulf Coast

Born from the region we serve, we stand with our neighbors through every storm and every fight for justice.

Talk to a Premises Liability Lawyer in Terrebonne Parish at No Cost

If you were injured on someone else’s property, don’t wait to find out where your claim stands. Waitz & Downer offers free, confidential consultations with no pressure and no obligation. We can explain your rights clearly from the very first call.

We handle premises liability cases on a contingency fee basis; that means you don't owe anything unless we recover compensation for you. With more than five decades spent serving the people of South Louisiana and a team that treats every client like family, we bring the experience and commitment your case deserves.

Call our Terrebonne Parish premises liability attorneys today at (985) 331-7832 to schedule your free consultation.

Serving Premises Liability Clients Across South Louisiana

We serve clients throughout Houma and Terrebonne Parish, as well as Assumption, Lafourche, and St. Mary parishes. Premises liability injuries occur across all of these areas, from commercial retail and hospitality properties to oilfield service facilities, residential rental properties, and industrial sites along the Gulf Coast. Wherever your injury occurred in South Louisiana, we can help you understand your options.

fighting for the injured

With Generations of Strength

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