Lake St. Louis, MO - Halvorsen Klote

Lake St. Louis, MO

Premises Liability Attorneys Lake St. Louis, MO

Lake St. Louis, MO Personal Injury Law Firm


Call 866-382-4167 for a No-risk, No-obligation Case Review | Lake St. Louis, MO Slip and Fall Attorneys

Premises liability attorneys in Lake St. Louis, MO. Property managers in Lake St. Louis, MO have an obligation to ensure their property is reasonably safe for patrons. But too often, they fail in that responsibility, and innocent people are injured through no fault of their own. If you or a loved one was injured on someone else's property, you need experienced Lake St. Louis, MO premises liability attorneys to get you the full financial recovery you deserve. At Halvorsen Klote, our attorneys are committed to offering injury victims the same excellent legal representation as large corporations and insurance companies. We fight for the injured 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 contact us through our website for a no-risk, no-obligation case evaluation.

Premises Liability Attorneys Lake St. Louis, MO | Slip and Fall Lawyers | Personal Injury Lawyer Near Lake St. Louis

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 a duty to inform people of or fix a "dangerous condition" they either knew of or should have known of through reasonable care. If they neglect that duty, they can be held liable for any injuries suffered because of the dangerous condition.

The states do differ in one key way, related to the duty of care owed to different types of visitors.

Types of Visitors in Lake St. Louis, MO Premises Liability Cases

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

  1. Invitees — A business invitee is someone whose presence on the property benefits the property owner or manager. This can be people dining at a restaurant or someone watching a movie at a movie theater. A public invitee is someone on property that the public can access, such as a park or a library. Those in control of the property 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 the owner doesn't get any express benefit from their presence. These can be social guests, 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 – not ones they "should have known about.
  3. Trespassers — Trespassers are on the premises without consent of the property owner. Therefore, they do not have the same protections as invitees and licensees, meaning they can't make a claim for a financial recovery. There are a couple of exceptions:
    1. 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.
    2. Under the attractive nuisance principle, a child who is trespassing may be considered an invitee. An "attractive nuisance" is something present on the property that could be alluring to a child. Examples could be swimming pools, trampolines or old appliances. In this instance, the child and their family can make a claim for a financial recovery.

Proving Your Premises Liability Claim in Lake St. Louis, MO

With all personal injury claims, you must prove the following four elements in order to win a claim for negligence:

  1. Duty of care — Did the landowner have a responsibility to protect you from unreasonable dangers? The degree of a landowner's duty of care depends on what kind of visitor you are and what state you're in. Generally, 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 mopping up a wet spot on the floor, or not roping off a section that has a dangerous condition.
  3. Causation — Did the hazardous condition directly cause your injuries? If you fell because you were running, it's likely not the property owner's fault. Similarly, if you didn't see warning signs because you weren't looking where you were going, the property owner may argue that you were injured because you were distracted, not because of the hazard.
  4. 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, including lost wages and medical expenses, to get compensation for emotional distress and pain and suffering. If you sustained a minor cut, but did not suffer any financial loss, you may not have a valid claim.

Halvorsen Klote's Lake St. Louis, MO premises liability attorneys have proven numerous premises liability claims. If you have any doubts about the validity of your claim, 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 Lake St. Louis, MO | Personal Injury Law Firm | Slip and Fall Lawyer Near Lake St. Louis

Types of Premises Liability Cases in Lake St. Louis, MO

Slip and Falls

Falling is accounts for 33% of all nonfatal preventable injuries. Slip and falls account for 12% of total falls that lead to emergency room visits, 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 cords
  • Uneven flooring, rugs or carpeting

Inadequate Security

Negligent Security often arises in apartment buildings, office buildings or hotels. The owners of these properties must guard against potential criminal activity that may reasonable occur. Examples of adequate security could include security guards or needing a keycard to enter the premises. Typically, lawsuits for inadequate or negligent security are filed after someone being injured due to a violent crime. While the criminal justice system may secure a conviction of the offender, you'll usually need to take civil legal action – 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 usually happen to children. Drowning is the primary cause of death to children between one and four years old. Public swimming pools need to have lifeguards, and barriers and lifejacket rules should also be in place to help protect children.

In 2016, approximately 30,900 people went to the emergency room for injuries suffered at amusement parks. Negligence can include mechanical issues, operator error, collisions, ride ejections, electric shocks poor designs. Anybody who is in control of a theme park must ensure that the rides are properly designed, maintained, inspected and repaired. If you were injured because of their negligence, our Lake St. Louis, 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 Lake St. Louis, 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 zones must be secured with obvious warning signage. If you were injured 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 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 Lake St. Louis, MO premises liability attorneys for the best possible financial recovery you're entitled to.

What Compensation Can I Recover For My Lake St. Louis, MO Premises Liability Injuries?

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 experienced Lake St. Louis, MO premises liability attorneys, you'll be compensated for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages from time spent recovering
  • Lost earning potential 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, emotional distress, physical impairment, disfigurement and loss of consortium

How much money you get in your premises liability settlement will be based on how serious your injuries are, how they have affected your life and the skill and experience of your Lake St. Louis, MO premises liability attorneys.

How Lake St. Louis, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Can Help

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 come up with a legal strategy to prove negligence
  • Obtain evidence, including maintenance logs, inspections, previous complaints filed and/or surveillance footage
  • Take depositions from witnesses, employees or others who may be familiar with the hazard
  • Answer the phone when you call and answer any question you may have
  • Handle all the legal aspects of your claim so you can focus on healing
  • Negotiate the best possible settlement for you
  • Take the defendant to 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 Lake St. Louis, MO include:

Premises Liability Attorneys Lake St. Louis, MO | Slip and Fall Lawyers | Personal Injury Attorney Near Lake St. Louis

Call Halvorsen Klote's Lake St. Louis, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Now

The notion of having to fight back against a large corporation can be daunting to a lot of people. But, if you were injured because of someone else's negligence, you deserve full compensation. We've dedicated our practice to helping the average person get the same excellent legal advocacy as powerful corporations and insurance companies. If you were injured on someone else's property in Lake St. Louis, MO, call our premises liability attorneys today at 866-382-4167 or fill out our online form for a no-risk, no-obligation consultation.


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.