Dangerous Parking Lot Drain Caused Serious Fall Outside Major Retailer
A woman shopping at a major retailer in Kenner never expected a routine trip through a parking lot to end with facial fractures, damaged teeth, and federal litigation.
Our client was walking through the retailer’s parking lot when she encountered a dangerous drainage area with a substantial raised lip surrounding the drain.
As she walked through the lot, her foot caught the uneven surface, causing her to trip violently and fall forward onto the pavement.
Parking lot defects are often overlooked until someone suffers a serious injury. Raised drains, broken pavement, uneven surfaces, and deteriorated asphalt can create dangerous conditions for customers simply trying to enter or leave a store safely.
Falls caused by unsafe parking lots often involve complex legal issues. A Louisiana premises liability lawyer can investigate whether a property owner knew or should have known about a dangerous condition, preserve critical evidence before it disappears, and pursue compensation for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
The Fall Caused Facial Fractures and Dental Injuries
The impact from the fall caused substantial injuries to our client’s face and mouth.
She suffered:
- Facial fractures
- Significant bruising
- Cracked teeth requiring dental treatment
Although surgery was not ultimately required for the facial fractures, she still experienced painful recovery symptoms and required pain management medication while healing.
She also underwent treatment with her dentist to address the damage to her teeth caused by the fall.
Facial injuries can be especially traumatic because they affect appearance, confidence, eating, speaking, and everyday comfort all at once. Even when surgery is avoided, recovery can still involve substantial pain and emotional distress.
The Retailer Resurfaced the Parking Lot After Receiving Preservation Notice
One of the most important issues in the case involved the preservation of evidence.
Shortly after the incident, our office formally placed the retailer on notice and demanded the preservation of all evidence related to the dangerous parking lot condition.
Despite receiving that notice, the store proceeded with resurfacing the parking lot shortly after the fall occurred.
Premises liability cases often depend heavily on preserving the condition of the property exactly as it existed at the time of the incident. Once repairs or alterations occur, critical evidence may disappear permanently.
The resurfacing of the lot became an important issue during litigation because it raised serious questions about the preservation of evidence and the condition of the parking area at the time of our client’s fall.
Litigation Moved Into Federal Court in New Orleans
After filing suit, the case was removed to federal court in New Orleans.
Large corporate retailers often defend premises liability cases aggressively, especially when significant injuries and long-term damages are involved. These companies frequently argue that customers were not paying attention or claim that parking lot conditions were open and obvious.
Our legal team continued developing the case through litigation, including taking and defending depositions related to the parking lot condition, the injuries, and the retailer’s handling of evidence after the incident.
Confidential Six-Figure Settlement Reached After Deposition
Following the deposition of our client and continued litigation efforts, the case ultimately resolved through a confidential six-figure settlement.
The recovery provided compensation for the injuries, dental treatment, pain, and disruption caused by the dangerous parking lot condition.
Why Acting Quickly After a Kenner Trip-and-Fall Accident Matters
A Kenner personal injury lawyer experienced in premises liability can immediately investigate the dangerous condition, preserve evidence, and determine whether the property owner failed to maintain reasonably safe premises and help you understand your legal options and pursue compensation.
Trip-and-fall cases are often far more complicated than people realize. Property owners and large retailers frequently move quickly to repair, alter, or change dangerous conditions after someone gets hurt.
This case highlights why immediate investigation and preservation efforts matter. By acting quickly and pursuing litigation aggressively, we were able to continue building the case even after the parking lot condition was altered.
It also serves as a reminder that falls involving uneven pavement and drainage defects can lead to very serious injuries, especially when the victim strikes the ground face-first on concrete or asphalt.
