Premises Liability Attorneys High Hill, MO
High Hill, MO Personal Injury Law Firm
Call 866-382-4167 for a Complimentary Case Review | High Hill, MO Slip and Fall Attorneys
Premises liability attorneys in High Hill, MO. Anyone who owns or operates a property in High Hill, MO has a responsibility to ensure their property is reasonably safe for patrons. But too often, they neglect that duty, and good people are injured through the property owner's negligence. If you or a loved one was injured on public or private property, you need knowledgeable High Hill, MO premises liability attorneys to get you the full financial recovery you deserve. At Halvorsen Klote, our attorneys are dedicated to offering injury victims the same high-quality legal advocacy as large corporations and insurance companies. We fight for the injured in both Missouri and Illinois, and fight hard to see our clients get the justice and recognition they deserve. Call our premises liability attorneys today 866-382-4167 or fill out our online form for a free case review.
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 their respective state.
Both states treat premises liability fairly similarly: A property owner has a responsibility to warn against or repair a "dangerous condition" they either were aware of or should have known of through reasonable care. If they neglect that duty, they are responsible for any injuries suffered because of the poorly maintained property.
The states do differ in one key way, related to the duty of care owed to different types of visitors.
Types of Visitors in High Hill, MO Premises Liability Cases
The law differentiates between three classes of visitors in premises liability claims:
- Invitees — A business invitee is someone who is on the property to benefit themselves and/or the proprietor. This can include people dining at a restaurant or someone shopping in a grocery store. Invitees can also be considered people on property the public is allowed to be on, such as bike paths 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 to the benefit of either solely the licensee or neither of them. This can mean a friend coming over for dinner, but the law might apply to someone who stopped into an establishment just to use the restroom. In Illinois, licensees have the same legal protections as invitees. In Missouri, property owners can only be held accountable for dangers they knew about – not ones they "should have known about.
- Trespassers — Trespassers are on the premises without permission of the property owner. Therefore, they do not have the same rights as invitees and licensees, meaning they can't make a claim to get compensated for their injuries. There are two exceptions:
- 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 conduct." Meaning, if the owner intentionally created or allowed a danger to exist because they wanted to injure a trespasser, they can still be held liable.
- Under the attractive nuisance doctrine, property owners might 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, ladders or old appliances. If a child is injured by or because of an attractive nuisance, the child and their family can make a claim for a financial recovery.
What Do I Need to File a Premises Liability Claim in High Hill, MO?
With all personal injury claims, you must prove the following four elements in order to win a claim for negligence:
- Duty of care — Did the property owner or manager owe you a duty of care to prevent unreasonable risks of injury? The extent of the property owner's or manager's duty of care 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.
- Breach of duty — If they fail in their responsibility, that constitutes a violation of that duty. That could mean not fixing a broken staircase, or not roping off a section that has a dangerous condition.
- Causation — Did the hazardous condition cause or contribute to your injuries? If you fell because you had inappropriate footwear for the area, you may not have a valid claim against the property owner. Similarly, if you didn't see warning signs because you were looking at your phone, the property owner may argue that you were injured because you were distracted, not because of the hazard.
- 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 expenses, to make a claim for how the injury affected you physically and emotionally. If you sustained a minor cut, but didn't need medical attention or miss any time off work, you may not have a valid claim.
Halvorsen Klote's High Hill, MO premises liability attorneys have taken on, proven and won these types of cases before. If you have any doubts about the validity of your claim, or have questions about filing a personal injury lawsuit, call one of our attorneys for free today at 866-382-4167.
Most Common Premises Liability Lawsuit in High Hill, MO
Slip and Falls
Falling is the number one most common nonfatal preventable injury. Slip and falls account 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:
- Slippery floors
- Broken staircases, handrails or floors
- Ice or snow
- Loose cords
- Uneven flooring, rugs or carpeting
Negligent 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 adequate security could include security guards or needing a code to enter the property. Typically, inadequate security claims 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 file a civil lawsuit – with the aid 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 primary cause of fatalities in children between one and four years old. Public swimming pools must have lifeguards, and fences and lifejacket rules should also be in place to help protect children.
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, malfunctioning seat belts, electric shocks structural issues. Anybody who is in control of a theme park must ensure that the rides meet safety requirements. If they didn't and you ended up injured, our High Hill, MO premises liability attorneys will help you secure justice and maximum compensation.
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 High Hill, 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 sites need to 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 file a lawsuit against the construction company.
Whatever the nature of your specific injuries, if you were injured on someone else's property or in a public space, call Halvorsen Klote's High Hill, MO premises liability attorneys for the full compensation you deserve.
What Compensation Can I Recover For My High Hill, MO Premises Liability Injuries?
How much your injuries worth depends on the economic, physical and emotional hardships your injuries cause. With talented High Hill, MO premises liability attorneys, you cans secure a financial recovery:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages from time spent recovering
- Lost earning capacity if you can no longer work
- Out-of-pocket expenses, such as hiring household services for chores you can't do while you're injured
- 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 how serious your injuries are, the impact they've had on your life and the skill and experience of your High Hill, MO premises liability attorneys.
How High Hill, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Can Help
When it comes to pursuing a premises liability case, having a qualified lawyer on your side is essential. As part of our legal services, our premises liability attorneys will:
- Investigate the accident and come up with a legal strategy that gets you the most compensation possible
- Acquire evidence, including maintenance logs, inspections, proof of any previously files complaints and/or video footage
- Interview witnesses, employees or others who may be familiar with the dangerous condition
- Answer the phone when you call and answer any question you may have
- Handle all documentation and litigation so you can focus on healing
- Negotiate a settlement on your behalf
- Take the defendant to court if the other side will not be fair 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 High Hill, 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 High Hill, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Now
The notion of going up against a large corporation can be intimidating. But, if they or their policyholder injured you by their negligence, you deserve full compensation. We've dedicated our practice to offering injury victims the same excellent legal advocacy as powerful corporations and insurance companies. If you were injured on someone else's property in High Hill, MO, call our premises liability attorneys today at 866-382-4167 or fill out our online form for a free consultation.
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.
