Premises Liability Attorneys Lebanon, MO
Lebanon, MO Personal Injury Law Firm
Call 866-382-4167 for a No-risk, No-obligation Case Evaluation | Lebanon, MO Slip and Fall Lawyers
Premises liability attorneys in Lebanon, MO. Anyone who is in control of a property in Lebanon, MO has a duty to take reasonable steps to prevent people who enter the premises from becoming hurt. Unfortunately, a lot of times they neglect that duty, and innocent people are injured through the property owner's negligence. When that happens, you need experienced Lebanon, MO premises liability attorneys to get you the maximum compensation you are owed. At Halvorsen Klote, our attorneys are devoted to leveling the playing field between large corporations and insurance companies and injury victims every day. We take cases 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 contact us online for a no-risk, no-obligation case evaluation.
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 their respective state.
Both states treat premises liability almost equally: A property owner has a duty to inform people of or fix 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 as a result of the dangerous condition.
The states do differ in one key aspect, and it concerns the duty of care property owners must give different types of visitors.
Types of Visitors in Lebanon, 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 be people dining at a restaurant or hotel guests. A public invitee is someone on property that the public can access, such as 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.
- Licensees — A licensee is someone who has the permission of the property owner to be on the premises, but there is no express financial benefit to either of them. This can mean a family member staying at your house, but the law might apply to someone who stopped 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 dangers they knew about – not ones they "should have known about.
- Trespassers — Trespassers are on the site illegally. Therefore, they do not have the same protections as people that are allowed to be there, meaning they can't sue the property owner for a financial recovery. There are a couple of 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 to injure a trespasser, they can still be held responsible.
- 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, 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 Lebanon, MO
With all personal injury claims, you must prove the four elements of negligence:
- Duty of care — Did the property owner or manager have an obligation to keep you from unreasonable dangers? The degree of a landowner's responsibility to keep you safe depends on what kind of visitor you are and your jurisdiction. Generally, anybody who is legally on the property is owed a duty of care.
- Breach of duty — If they fail in their responsibility, property owners are considered to have breached their duty. That could mean not repairing a broken railing, or not roping off a section that isn't safe.
- Causation — Did the hazardous condition cause or contribute to your injuries? If you fell because somebody ran into you, it's likely not the property owner's fault. Likewise, if you didn't see an obvious hazard because you weren't looking where you were going, you might not have a valid claim.
- Damages — To have a valid claim, you have to show that you suffered injuries, loss and other expenses. Usually, you need to show economic loss, including lost wages and medical expenses, to get compensation for how the injury impacted you physically and mentally. If you sustained a bruise, but did not suffer any financial loss, you may not have a valid claim.
Halvorsen Klote's Lebanon, MO premises liability attorneys have gotten great results for our clients in a variety of cases. If you want to see if you have a case, 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, MO
Slip and Falls
Falling is accounts for a third of all nonfatal preventable injuries. 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:
- Slippery floors
- Broken staircases, handrails or floors
- Ice or snow
- Loose wiring
- Uneven flooring, rugs or carpeting
Inadequate Security
Inadequate Security often occurs in apartment complexes, offices 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 needing a keycard to enter the property. Generally, lawsuits for inadequate or negligent security occur after someone being injured due to a violent crime. While the criminal justice system may secure a conviction of the offender, you'll typically 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 are most common in children. Drowning is the primary cause of fatalities in children under the age of five. Public swimming pools must be properly supervised, and have strict measures to protect children from injuring themselves.
In 2016, approximately 30,900 people sought emergency medical attention for injuries suffered at amusement parks. Negligence can include mechanical issues, operator error, collisions, malfunctioning safety belts, electrician structural issues. Amusement park owners must ensure that the rides are properly designed, maintained, inspected and repaired. If you were injured because of their negligence, our Lebanon, 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 Lebanon, 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 poor handling of flammabale materials to leaving debris around heating units.
Construction Accidents
Construction sites 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 not properly secured, you can make a claim against the construction company.
Whatever the nature of your specific injuries, if you were injured because a property owner or manager did not keep their property safe, call Halvorsen Klote's Lebanon, MO premises liability attorneys for the full compensation you're entitled to.
How Much Are My Lebanon, MO Premises Liability Injuries Worth?
How much your injuries worth depends on the economic, physical and mental toll your accident caused. With experienced Lebanon, MO premises liability attorneys, you cans secure compensation:
- 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, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement and loss of consortium
How much your premises liability injuries are worth depends largely on how serious your injuries are, the impact they've had on your life and the abilities of your Lebanon, MO premises liability attorneys.
The Role of Your Lebanon, MO Premises Liability Attorneys
Given the complex nature of litigation and premises liability laws, the role of a lawyer is essential. Your Halvorsen Klote premises liability attorneys will:
- Investigate the accident and come up with a legal strategy to prove negligence
- Acquire evidence, including maintenance reports, inspections, proof of any previously files complaints and/or video footage
- Interview witnesses, employees or others who may be familiar with 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 liable party 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 Lebanon, 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 Lebanon, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Now
The idea of going up against a powerful insurance company can be intimidating. But, if they or their policyholder injured you by their negligence, you deserve full compensation. We've committed our practice to helping the average person get the same expert legal representation as powerful corporations and insurance companies. If you were injured because of a Lebanon, MO property owner's carelessness, call our premises liability attorneys today at 866-382-4167 or fill out our online form 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.