Premises Liability Attorneys Cottleville, MO | Personal Injury Lawyers | Halvorsen Klote

Cottleville, MO

Premises Liability Attorneys Cottleville, MO

Cottleville, MO Personal Injury Lawyers


Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Cottleville, MO Slip and Fall Attorneys

Premises liability attorneys in Cottleville, MO. Property managers in Cottleville, MO have an obligation to take reasonable measures to prevent injuries on the premises. Unfortunately, a lot of times they neglect that duty, and good people who did nothing wrong get hurt. If you or a loved one was injured on someone else's property, you need experienced Cottleville, MO premises liability attorneys to get you the full financial recovery you're entitled to. At Halvorsen Klote, our attorneys are committed to leveling the playing field between large corporations and insurance companies and injury victims 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 online for a free case review.

Premises Liability Attorneys Cottleville, MO | Slip and Fall Lawyers | Personal Injury Lawyer Near Cottleville

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.

Both states treat premises liability almost equally: A property owner has an obligation to warn against or repair a "dangerous condition" they either knew of or should have known of through reasonable prudence. If they don't, they are responsible for any injuries sustained as a result of the dangerous condition.

The states are different in one key way, and it concerns the duty of care property owners must give different types of visitors.

Types of Visitors in Cottleville, MO Premises Liability Cases

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

  1. Invitees — A business invitee is someone who is on the property to benefit themselves and/or the proprietor. This can be people dining at a restaurant or residents in an apartment complex. Invitees can also be considered people on property the public is allowed to be on, for example recreational areas or a library. Property owners can be held accountable for an invitee's injuries caused by dangers they knew about or should have known about.
  2. Licensees — A licensee is someone who is on the property with the owner's permission, but there is no express financial benefit to either of them. a party guest, but the law might apply to someone who came into a store just to ask for directions. In Illinois, there is no legal distinction between invitees and licensees. 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 premises illegally. Because of that, they do not have the same protections as the first two categories, meaning they can't sue the property owner for a financial recovery. There are a couple of exceptions:
    1. Pursuant to Illinois Premises Liability Act and Missouri Revised Statute §537.349, property owners are not immune from liability if they acted with "willful and wanton misconduct." Meaning, if the owner created or maintained a hazardous condition because they wanted to injure a trespasser, the trespasser may be able to sue the owner.
    2. Under the attractive nuisance doctrine, a child who is trespassing may be considered an invitee. An "attractive nuisance" is something that is likely to attract children. Examples could be swimming pools, ladders or construction projects. If a child is injured by or because of an attractive nuisance, the family of the child may still sue the property owner or manager for the child's injuries.

Proving Your Premises Liability Claim in Cottleville, MO

With all personal injury claims, you must demonstrate how the four elements of negligence are present in your case:

  1. Duty of care — Did the landowner owe you a duty of care to protect you from unreasonable dangers? The extent of a landowner's responsibility to keep you safe depends on whether you're a invitee, licensee or trespasser and your jurisdiction. 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 responsibility, property owners are considered to have breached their duty. That could mean not fixing a broken railing, or not putting a "wet floor" sign out.
  3. Causation — Did the hazardous condition directly cause your injuries? If you fell because somebody ran into you, it's likely not the property owner's fault. Likewise, if you didn't observe an obvious hazard because you weren't looking where you were going, you might not be able to make a claim.
  4. Damages — To have a valid claim, you need to have suffered harm. Usually, you need to show economic loss, such as lost wages and medical expenses, to get a financial recovery for emotional harm and pain and suffering. If you sustained a few bumps and scrapes, but didn't need medical attention or miss any time off work, you likely do not have enough to make a case.

Halvorsen Klote's Cottleville, MO premises liability attorneys have proven numerous premises liability claims. If you want to discuss your case, or have questions about filing a personal injury lawsuit, don't hesitate to speak to one of our attorneys at no charge at 866-382-4167.

Premises Liability Attorneys Cottleville, MO | Personal Injury Law Firm | Slip and Fall Lawyer Near Cottleville

Types of Premises Liability Accidents in Cottleville, MO

Slip and Falls

Falling is accounts for a third of all nonfatal preventable injuries. Slip and falls account for 12% of total falls that lead to emergency room visits, and are the primary cause of lost days from work.

Slip and falls can be caused by:

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

Inadequate Security

These cases often arise in apartment complexes, office buildings or hotels. The owners of these properties must guard against potential criminal activity that may reasonable occur. Examples of proper security could include a doorman or needing a keycard to enter the property. Typically, lawsuits for inadequate or negligent security occur after someone has been the victim of a crime. While the criminal justice system may secure a conviction of the offender, you'll usually need to file a civil lawsuit – with the help of premises liable attorneys – against a property owner to be compensated financially for your injuries and emotional anguish.

Swimming Pool and Amusement Park Accidents

Swimming pool accidents are most common in children. Drowning is the leading cause of death to children between one and four years old. Public swimming pools need to have lifeguards, and fences and lifejacket rules should also be in place to help protect children.

In 2016, an estimated 30,900 people went to the emergency room for injuries suffered at amusement parks. Negligence can include mechanical issues, operator error, collisions, ride ejections, electrician poor designs. Amusement park owners must ensure that the rides meet safety requirements. If they didn't and you ended up injured, our Cottleville, 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 Cottleville, 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 exits to missing or broken sprinkler systems.

Construction Accidents

Construction zones must be coned or roped off with sufficient warning signage. 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 make a claim against the construction company.

However you sustained your injuries, if you were injured on someone else's property or in a public space, call Halvorsen Klote's Cottleville, MO premises liability attorneys for the maximum financial recovery you are owed.

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

The value of your claim depends on the financial, physical and mental toll your accident caused. With experienced Cottleville, MO premises liability attorneys, you'll be compensated for:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost wages from time spent recovering
  • Lost earning potential if you can no longer work
  • Out-of-pocket expenses, such as transportation to and from medical appointments
  • Noneconomic damages like pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent impairment, scarring and loss of consortium

How much money you get in your premises liability settlement depends largely on the severity of your injuries, the impact they've had on your life and the skill and experience of your Cottleville, MO premises liability attorneys.

The Role of Your Cottleville, MO Premises Liability Attorneys

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

  • Investigate the accident and come up with a legal strategy to prove negligence
  • Obtain evidence, including maintenance reports, inspections, proof of any previously files complaints and/or surveillance footage
  • Interview witnesses, employees or others who may be familiar with the hazard
  • Be available whenever you need us to be and keep you up-to-date on the status of your claim
  • Handle all the legal aspects of your claim so you can focus on healing
  • Negotiate the best possible settlement for you
  • 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 Cottleville, MO include:

Premises Liability Attorneys Cottleville, MO | Slip and Fall Lawyers | Personal Injury Attorney Near Cottleville

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

The idea of having to fight back against a large corporation can be intimidating. But, if they or their policyholder caused you harm, you deserve full compensation. We've committed our careers to helping the average person get the same expert legal representation as the people who injured them. If you were injured on someone else's property in Cottleville, MO, call our premises liability attorneys today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a no-risk, no-obligation case evaluation.


Joel Halvorsen

Joel Halvorsen

Attorney at Law

Joel Halvorsen and his partner Greg Klote founded the Halvorsen Klote law firm on the principle that injured people and their families should have access to the same quality legal representation as large insurance companies.


Greg Klote

Greg Klote

Attorney at Law

Greg Klote is a partner and founder of Halvorsen Klote.

Greg has successfully fought for people who were injured through no fault of their own. He became a lawyer to help make a difference in the lives of those who have been wronged and treated unfairly.