Premises Liability Attorneys Dardenne Prairie, MO
Dardenne Prairie, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Complimentary Case Review | Dardenne Prairie, MO Slip and Fall Attorneys
Premises liability attorneys in Dardenne Prairie, MO. Anyone who is in control of a property in Dardenne Prairie, MO has an obligation to take reasonable steps to prevent injuries on the premises. Unfortunately, a lot of times they fail in that responsibility, and good people who did nothing wrong get hurt. When that happens, you need experienced Dardenne Prairie, MO premises liability attorneys to fight for your rights. At Halvorsen Klote, our attorneys are devoted to offering injury victims the same standard of legal representation as large corporations and insurance companies. We take cases in both Missouri and Illinois, and fight hard so our clients can finally get a sense of justice and recognition. Call our premises liability attorneys today 866-382-4167 or fill out our online form for a complimentary consultation.
What Are the Premises Liability Laws in Missouri and Illinois?
Missouri Revised Statute §537.348 and the Illinois Premises Liability Act dictate the premises liability laws in each state.
The laws in each state are largely similar: A property owner has an obligation to warn against or fix a "dangerous condition" they either knew of or should have known of through reasonable care. If they don't, they are responsible for any injuries sustained because of the dangerous condition.
The states do differ in one very important way, and it concerns the duty of care property owners must give different categories of visitors.
Types of Visitors in Dardenne Prairie, MO Premises Liability Cases
The law distinguishes between three classes of visitors in premises liability claims:
- Invitees — A business invitee is someone whose presence on the property benefits the property owner or manager. This can include a customer in a retail store or someone shopping in a grocery store. Invitees can also be considered people on property the public is allowed to be on, such as a park or a library. Property owners can be held accountable for an invitee's injuries caused by hazards they knew about or should have known about.
- Licensees — A licensee is someone who is on the property with the owner's consent, but the owner doesn't get any express benefit from their presence. These can be social guests, but the law might apply to someone who stopped into a restaurant just to use the restroom. In Illinois, licensees have the same rights as invitees. In Missouri, property owners can only be held accountable for dangers they had express knowledge of; the "should have known" standard doesn't apply when a licensee is injured.
- Trespassers — Trespassers are on the premises illegally. Therefore, they do not have the same rights as the first two categories, meaning they can't make a claim for a financial recovery. There are two exceptions:
- According 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 trespassers to get hurt, they can still be held responsible.
- Under the attractive nuisance doctrine, property owners may be liable if a child gets hurt while trespassing. An "attractive nuisance" is something present on the property that could be alluring to a child. Examples could be swimming pools, trampolines or construction projects. If a child is injured by or because of an attractive nuisance, the child and their family can make a claim for compensation.
Proving Your Premises Liability Claim in Dardenne Prairie, MO
In any personal injury case, you must prove the following four elements in order to win a claim for negligence:
- Duty of care — Did the landowner have a responsibility to protect you from unreasonable harm? The degree of a landowner's responsibility to keep you safe depends on whether you're a invitee, licensee or trespasser and your jurisdiction. Generally, anybody who is legally on the property is owed a duty of care.
- Breach of duty — If they neglect their duty, property owners are considered to have breached their duty. That could mean not mopping up a wet spot on the floor, or not roping off a section that isn't safe.
- Causation — Did the dangerous condition cause or contribute to your injuries? If you fell because you were running, you may not be able to show that the property owner was negligent. Likewise, if you didn't notice warning signs because you were looking at your phone, you might not have a valid claim.
- Damages — In order to make a claim, you need to show that you suffered injuries, loss and other expenses. Usually, you need to show financial loss, such as lost wages and medical bills, to make a claim for how the injury affected you physically and emotionally. If you sustained a bruise, but did not suffer any financial loss, you likely do not have enough to make a case.
Halvorsen Klote's Dardenne Prairie, 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, call one of our attorneys for free today at 866-382-4167.
Types of Premises Liability Accidents in Dardenne Prairie, MO
Slip and Falls
Falling is by far the most common nonfatal preventable injury. Slip and falls are responsible 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:
- Wet or oily floors
- Broken staircases, handrails or floors
- Ice or snow
- Loose wiring
- Uneven flooring, rugs or carpeting
Negligent Security
These cases often arise in apartment complexes, 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 proper security could include security guards or needing a code to enter the property. Generally, lawsuits for inadequate or negligent security are filed after someone has been the victim of a crime. While the police and criminal courts are responsible for convicting the offender, you'll typically need to take civil legal action – 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 usually happen to children. Drowning is the leading cause of fatalities in children between one and four years old. Public swimming pools must have lifeguards, and have strict measures to protect children from injuring themselves.
In 2016, over 30,000 people went to the emergency room for injuries sustained at amusement parks. Injuries can be caused by mechanical issues, operator error, collisions, ride ejections, electric shocks structural issues. Amusement park owners must ensure that the rides meet safety requirements. If you were injured because of their negligence, our Dardenne Prairie, MO premises liability attorneys will help you secure justice and a full financial recovery.
Fire and Smoke Injuries
Local Dardenne Prairie, MO laws are strict when it comes to fire codes for all types of 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 Dardenne Prairie, 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 leaving debris around heating units.
Construction Accidents
Construction companies have a responsibility 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 liable for your injuries.
Whatever the nature of your specific injuries, if you were injured because a property owner or manager was negligent, call Halvorsen Klote's Dardenne Prairie, MO premises liability attorneys for the maximum compensation you're entitled to.
How Much Is My Dardenne Prairie, MO Premises Liability Claim Worth?
The damages you recover after a premises liability accident are meant to compensate you for the financial, physical and mental toll your injuries cause. With knowledgeable Dardenne Prairie, MO premises liability attorneys, you'll be compensated for:
- Medical expenses
- 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, disability, scarring and loss of consortium
How much your premises liability injuries are worth will be based on the severity of your injuries, how they have affected your life and the skill and experience of your Dardenne Prairie, MO premises liability attorneys.
The Role of Your Dardenne Prairie, MO Premises Liability Attorneys
When it comes to pursuing a premises liability case, the role of a lawyer 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, previous complaints filed and/or video footage
- Interview witnesses, employees or others who may have knowledge of the hazard
- Be available whenever you need us to be and keep you up-to-date on the status of your claim
- Handle all documentation and litigation so you can focus on healing
- Negotiate the best possible settlement for you
- Take the fight to trial 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 Dardenne Prairie, 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
Speak to Halvorsen Klote's Dardenne Prairie, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Today
The idea of going up against a large corporation can be daunting to a lot of people. But, if they or their policyholder caused you harm, nothing should be able to keep you from getting the financial recovery you deserve. We've devoted our lives to helping the average person get the same high-quality legal representation as the people who injured them. If you were injured on someone else's property in Dardenne Prairie, MO, call our premises liability attorneys today at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a no-risk, no-obligation case review.
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
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.
