Covington Personal Injury Blog

There is more handheld technology available to consumers than ever, and many consumers have taken to using handheld devices in their car while driving. Sometimes, it seems impossible to drive down the road without seeing another driver texting, taking selfies or talking on a cell phone. Distracted driving is incredibly dangerous, but that does not stop many drivers from doing it anyway.

Distracted driving is prevalent throughout the country, and Louisiana is no exception. In fact, new data show that Louisiana has one of the highest rates of distracted driving in the entire United States.

You are probably familiar with the holiday movie about the child whose family leaves him behind when they go on vacation, and he fends off burglars with homemade weapons and booby traps. While the movie may make for delightful viewing, in reality, the tricks the child plays on the would-be robbers could likely kill them. Still, as you watch the movie, you may feel the boy has justification.

While you may not have a problem with bumbling bandits breaking into your house, you might have the occasional trespasser on your property. Perhaps your yard is a perfect shortcut for kids walking home from school, or you live in a Louisiana neighborhood where people don't respect property lines. In any case, if a trespasser becomes injured on your property, how liable are you for their injuries?

Let's say that you are dealing with the aftermath of a car accident. The immediate aftermath of a car accident can be disorienting and frightening. You get out of your car and check yourself for injuries; everything seems fine, and you barely feel any pain. After exchanging information with the other driver, you decide not to call an ambulance or go to the hospital. There does not seem to be any physical damage, so you get back in your car and drive away.

Several weeks later, though, you start experiencing some strange symptoms. Your head hurts, you get dizzy frequently, and your neck is stiff. The car accident was such a long time ago that it couldn't possibly be responsible for these symptoms, could it?

As a homeowner, you are largely responsible for the safety of other people when they are on your property. Depending on the circumstances, if someone on your premises is injured, you may be held liable if they file a lawsuit.

However, your level of responsibility can vary widely according to the situation. Homeowners are liable for many of the injuries that may occur on their premises, but not necessarily all of them. A homeowner’s liability is largely determined by whether the injured party is an invitee, a licensee or a trespasser.