Premises Liability Attorneys Chesterfield, MO

Chesterfield, MO Personal Injury Law Firm

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Call 866-382-4167 for a No-risk, No-obligation Consultation | Chesterfield, MO Slip and Fall Law Firm

Premises liability attorneys in Chesterfield, MO. Property owners in Chesterfield, MO have an obligation to ensure their property is reasonably safe for patrons. But too often, they fail in that responsibility, and innocent people who did nothing wrong get hurt. When that happens, you need dedicated Chesterfield, MO premises liability attorneys to fight for your rights. At Halvorsen Klote, our attorneys are devoted to leveling the playing field between large corporations and insurance companies and everyday people every day. We fight for the injured in both Missouri and Illinois, and fight hard to see our clients get the justice and recognition they deserve. Speak to our premises liability attorneys today 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a complimentary case evaluation.

What Are the Premises Liability Laws in Missouri and Illinois?

Missouri Revised Statute §537.348 and the Illinois Premises Liability Act stipulate the premises liability laws in each state.

The laws in each state tend to be comparable in regards to property ownership and management: A property owner has a responsibility to inform people of or fix a "dangerous condition" they either knew of or should have been aware of through reasonable prudence. If they neglect that responsibility, they can be held accountable for any injuries suffered because of the poorly maintained property.

The states are different in one very important way, related to the duty of care owed to different kinds of visitors.

Types of Visitors in Chesterfield, MO Premises Liability Cases

The law distinguishes between three types of visitors in premises liability claims:

1. Invitees — A business invitee is someone who is visiting the premises to benefit themselves and/or the proprietor. This can include people dining at a restaurant or residents in an apartment complex. A public invitee is someone on property that the public can access, for example recreational areas or a library. Those in control of the property can be held accountable for an invitee's injuries caused by hazards they knew about or should have known about.
2. Licensees — A licensee is someone who is on the property with the owner's consent, but for personal, non-business reasons. This can mean a family member staying at your house, but the law might apply to someone who came into a store just to ask for directions. In Illinois, licensees have the same legal protections as invitees. In Missouri, property owners can only be held accountable for hazards they had express knowledge of; the "should have known" doctrine doesn't apply when a licensee is injured.
3. Trespassers — Trespassers are on the property without consent of the property owner. Because of that, they do not have the same rights as invitees and licensees, meaning they can't sue the property owner for a financial recovery. There are a couple of exceptions:
   1. Under the Illinois Premises Liability Act and Missouri Revised Statute §537.349, a landowner can still owe compensation for a trespasser's injuries if the landowner acted with "willful and wanton misconduct." Meaning, if the owner created or maintained a hazardous condition because they wanted trespassers to get hurt, the trespasser may be able to sue the owner.
   2. Under the attractive nuisance doctrine, property owners may be liable if a child gets hurt while trespassing. An "attractive nuisance" is something that is likely to attract children. Examples could be swimming pools, trampolines or construction projects. If a child is injured by or because of an attractive nuisance, the family of the child may still make a claim against the property owner or manager for the child's injuries.

Do I Have a Premises Liability Claim in Chesterfield, MO?

In any personal injury case, you must prove the following four elements in order to win a claim for negligence:

1. Duty of care — Did the property owner or manager have an obligation to prevent unreasonable risks of injury? The extent of a landowner's duty of care depends on whether you're a invitee, licensee or trespasser and what state you're in. Typically, anybody who is allowed to be on the property is owed a duty of care.
2. Breach of duty — If they fail in their duty, property owners are considered to have breached their duty. That could mean not fixing a broken staircase, or not roping off a area of the property that has a dangerous condition.
3. Causation — Did the hazardous condition cause or contribute to your injuries? If you fell because somebody ran into you, you may not be able to show that the property owner was negligent. Likewise, if you didn't see warning signs because you were looking at your phone, you might not have a valid claim.
4. Damages — In order to make a claim, you have to show that you suffered injuries, loss and other expenses. Usually, you need to show financial harm, such as lost wages and medical bills, to get compensation for how the injury affected you physically and emotionally. If you sustained a minor cut, but had no expenses due to your injury, you likely do not have enough to make a case.

Halvorsen Klote's Chesterfield, MO premises liability attorneys have taken on, proven and won these types of cases before. If you want to see if you have a case, or have questions about filing a personal injury lawsuit, call one of our attorneys at no charge at 866-382-4167.

Types of Premises Liability Cases in Chesterfield, MO

Slip and Falls

Falling is by far the most common nonfatal preventable injury. Slip and falls are responsible for over one million emergency room visits a year, and are the number one reason people need to lose days from work.

Slip and falls can be caused by:

• Wet or oily floors
• Broken staircases, handrails or floors
• Ice or snow
• Loose wiring
• Uneven flooring, rugs or carpeting

Inadequate Security

These cases often arise in apartment buildings, offices or hotels. The owners of these properties must take reasonable steps to ensure that dangerous people don't have access to the building, or certain areas of it. Examples of this could include a doorman or requiring a keycard to enter the premises. Typically, inadequate security claims occur after someone being injured due to a violent crime. While the police and criminal courts are responsible for convicting the offender, you'll usually need to file a civil lawsuit – with the assistance of premises liable attorneys – against a property owner in order to get justice in the form of financial compensation.

Swimming Pool and Amusement Park Accidents

Swimming pool accidents usually happen to children. Drowning is the leading cause of death to children under the age of five. Public swimming pools need to have lifeguards, and barriers and lifejacket rules should also be in place to help protect children.

In 2016, an estimated 30,900 people sought emergency medical attention for injuries suffered at amusement parks. Negligence can include mechanical issues, operator error, collisions, ride ejections, electrician structural issues. Amusement park owners must ensure that the rides are properly designed, maintained, inspected and repaired. If they didn't and you ended up injured, our Chesterfield, MO premises liability attorneys will hold them accountable.

Fire and Smoke Injuries

There are strict laws for smoke detectors and fire exits in public, private and business properties. Fires can cause terrible injuries and lifelong scarring, and even the inhalation of smoke can create substantial health risks. If a property owner did not adhere to local fire codes, your Chesterfield, MO premises liability lawyers at Halvorsen Klote can hold them liable for any injuries you sustain. Liability can occur because of a variety of factors, from blocked doors or escape routes to leaving debris around heating units.

Construction Accidents

Construction companies have an obligation to keep their construction zones safe. If you were hurt in a construction site accident in a slip and fall, car accident or by falling debris because the site was dangerous, you can hold the construction company accountable for premises liability.

However you sustained your injuries, if you were injured because a property owner or manager was negligent, call Halvorsen Klote's Chesterfield, MO premises liability attorneys for the maximum compensation you are owed.

What Compensation Can I Recover For My Chesterfield, MO Premises Liability Injuries?

The value of your claim depends on the economic, physical and mental toll your injuries cause. With talented Chesterfield, MO premises liability attorneys, you cans secure compensation:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages from time spent recovering
• Lost earning capacity if you can no longer make a living as you used to, or have to work less hours
• Out-of-pocket expenses, such as transportation to and from medical appointments
• Noneconomic damages like pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement and loss of consortium

How much your premises liability claim is worth depends mostly on the severity of your injuries, how they have affected your life and the skill and experience of your Chesterfield, MO premises liability attorneys.

The Role of Your Chesterfield, MO Premises Liability Attorneys

Given the complex nature of litigation and premises liability laws, having a qualified lawyer on your side is crucial. When you hire us, our premises liability attorneys will:

• Investigate the circumstances surrounding your injuries and develop a legal strategy that gets you the best possible results
• Acquire evidence, including maintenance reports, inspections, previous complaints filed and/or video footage
• Take depositions from witnesses, employees or others who may be familiar with the dangerous condition
• Answer the phone when you call and keep you up-to-date on the status of your claim
• Handle all documentation and litigation so you can focus on healing
• Negotiate a settlement on your behalf
• Represent you in court if we cannot secure fair compensation in negotiations

Our compassionate and experienced attorneys will be by your side every step of the way, and will not stop until you get the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Other injury cases we take on in Chesterfield, MO include:

• Fatal Car Accident Lawyer
• Auto Accident Attorney
• Bike Wreck Lawyer
• What to Do After a Car Accident
• Automobile Injury Attorney
• Motorcycle Accidents Attorney
• Lawyer for Bicycle Accident
• Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
• Injury Claim Lawyer

Call Halvorsen Klote's Chesterfield, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Today

The notion of going up against a large corporation can be daunting to many. But, if you were injured because of someone else's negligence, you deserve full compensation. We've committed our careers to helping the average person get the same expert legal representation as powerful corporations and insurance companies. If you were injured on someone else's property in Chesterfield, MO, call our premises liability attorneys today at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a complimentary consultation.

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