Premises Liability Attorneys Lebanon, IL
Lebanon, IL Personal Injury Law Firm
Call 866-382-4167 for a No-risk, No-obligation Case Review | Lebanon, IL Slip and Fall Attorneys
Premises liability attorneys in Lebanon, IL. Anyone who is in control of a property in Lebanon, IL has an obligation to take reasonable steps to prevent injuries on the premises. Unfortunately, a lot of times they fail in that responsibility, and innocent people are injured through the property owner's negligence. When that happens, you need dedicated Lebanon, IL premises liability attorneys to get you the full financial recovery you deserve. At Halvorsen Klote, our attorneys are dedicated 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 dictate the premises liability laws in their respective state.
The laws in each state are largely similar: A property owner has a duty to warn against or fix a "dangerous condition" they either knew of or should have been aware of through reasonable prudence. If they don't, they are responsible for any injuries sustained because of the dangerous condition.
The states are different in one key way, and it concerns the duty of care property owners must give different kinds of visitors.
Types of Visitors in Lebanon, IL Premises Liability Cases
The law distinguishes between three types 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 be 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 are liable for an invitee's injuries caused by dangers 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. a party guest, but the law might apply to someone who stopped into a grocery 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 knew about; the "should have known" standard doesn't apply when a licensee is injured.
- Trespassers — Trespassers are on the property without consent of the property owner. Therefore, 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 two exceptions:
- Pursuant to Illinois Premises Liability Act and Missouri Revised Statute §537.349, a landowner can still be liable for a trespasser's injuries if the landowner acted with "willful and wanton conduct." Meaning, if the owner intentionally created or allowed a danger to exist because they wanted trespassers to get hurt, they can still be held responsible.
- Under the attractive nuisance theory, property owners may be liable if a child gets hurt while trespassing. An "attractive nuisance" is something about the property that could make a child want to enter the property. Examples could be swimming pools, ladders or old appliances. 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 Lebanon, IL?
With all personal injury claims, you must demonstrate how the four elements of negligence are present in your case:
- Duty of care — Did the landowner have an obligation to keep you from unreasonable hazards? The degree of the property owner's or manager's duty of care depends on what kind of visitor you are and your jurisdiction. Generally, anybody who is allowed to be on the property is owed a duty of care.
- Breach of duty — If they fail in their duty, that constitutes a violation of that responsibility. That could mean not mopping up a wet spot on the floor, or not putting a "wet floor" sign out.
- Causation — Did the dangerous condition directly cause your injuries? If you fell because you had inappropriate footwear for the area, it's likely not the property owner's fault. Likewise, if you didn't see warning signs because you were looking at your phone, the property owner may argue that your inattention caused your injuries, not the hazard.
- Damages — To have a valid claim, you have to have suffered harm. Usually, you need to show financial harm, including lost wages and medical expenses, to make a claim for emotional harm and pain and suffering. If you sustained a minor cut, but did not suffer any financial loss, you likely do not have enough to make a case.
Halvorsen Klote's Lebanon, IL 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 at no charge at 866-382-4167.
Types of Premises Liability Accidents in Lebanon, IL
Slip and Falls
Falling is accounts for 33% of all nonfatal preventable injuries. Slip and falls are responsible 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:
- 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 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 security guards or requiring a keycard to enter the building. Typically, lawsuits for inadequate or negligent security are filed after someone being injured due to a violent 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 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 primary cause of death to 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, an estimated 30,900 people sought emergency medical attention for injuries sustained at amusement parks. Negligence can include mechanical issues, operator error, collisions, malfunctioning safety belts, electrician poor designs. 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 Lebanon, IL 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 Lebanon, IL 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 faulty wiring or gas leaks to leaving debris around heating units.
Construction Accidents
Construction companies have an obligation to keep their construction zones safe. If you were injured in a construction site accident in a slip and fall, car accident or by falling debris because the site was not properly secured, you can hold the construction company liable for your injuries.
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 Lebanon, IL premises liability attorneys for the maximum financial recovery you're entitled to.
What Compensation Can I Recover For My Lebanon, IL Premises Liability Injuries?
How much your injuries worth depends on the economic, physical and mental toll your accident caused. With knowledgeable Lebanon, IL premises liability attorneys, you'll be compensated for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages from time spent recovering
- Lost earning capacity if your accident results in permanent disability
- 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, emotional distress, disability, scarring and loss of consortium
How much your premises liability claim is worth depends largely on how serious your injuries are, the impact they've had on your life and the skill and experience of your Lebanon, IL premises liability attorneys.
What Our Lebanon, IL Premises Liability Attorneys Can Do For You
When it comes to pursuing a premises liability case, having a qualified lawyer on your side is crucial. Your Halvorsen Klote premises liability attorneys will:
- Investigate the circumstances surrounding your injuries and come up with a legal strategy that gets you the best possible results
- Acquire evidence, including maintenance reports, inspections, previous complaints filed and/or video footage
- Interview witnesses, employees or others who may have knowledge of the dangerous condition
- 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 your physical recovery
- 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 Lebanon, IL 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
Reach Out to Halvorsen Klote's Lebanon, IL Premises Liability Attorneys Now
The thought 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, 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 expert legal representation as the people who injured them. If you were injured because of a Lebanon, IL property owner's negligence, call our premises liability attorneys today at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a free 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.