Premises Liability Attorneys Manchester, MO
Manchester, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Complimentary Consultation | Manchester, MO Slip and Fall Lawyers
Premises liability attorneys in Manchester, MO. Property managers in Manchester, MO have 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 who did nothing wrong get hurt. If you or a loved one was injured on public or private property, you need dedicated Manchester, 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 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 contact us through our website for a free consultation.
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 each state.
The laws in each state tend to be comparable in regards to property ownership and management: A property owner has a responsibility to inform people of or repair a "dangerous condition" they either were aware of or should have known of through reasonable care. If they fail in that responsibility, they can be held accountable for any injuries sustained because of the poorly maintained property.
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 Manchester, MO Premises Liability Cases
The law differentiates between invitees, licensees and trespassers:
- Invitees — A business invitee is someone who is on the property to benefit themselves and/or the proprietor. This can be 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 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 to the benefit of either solely the licensee or neither of them. This can mean a family member coming over for dinner, but the law might apply to someone who stopped into a store 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 hazards they had express knowledge of – not ones they "should have known about.
- Trespassers — Trespassers are on the property without consent of the property owner. 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 a couple of 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 misconduct." Meaning, if the owner created or maintained a hazardous condition because they wanted to injure a trespasser, they can still be held accountable.
- Under the attractive nuisance principle, 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. In this instance, the child and their family can make a claim for compensation.
Proving Your Premises Liability Claim in Manchester, MO
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 a duty to keep you from unreasonable hazards? The extent of a landowner's responsibility to keep you safe depends on what kind of visitor you are 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 obligation, that constitutes a violation of that obligation. That could mean not repairing a broken railing, or not roping off a area of the property that isn't safe.
- Causation — Did the dangerous condition directly cause your injuries? If you fell because somebody ran into you, it's likely not the property owner's fault. Likewise, if you didn't notice warning signs because you were looking at your phone, the property owner may argue that your inattention caused your injuries, not the dangerous condition.
- Damages — In order to make a claim, you have to show that you suffered injuries, loss and other expenses. Usually, you need to show economic harm, including lost wages and medical bills, to make a claim for how the injury affected you physically and mentally. If you sustained a minor cut, but didn't need medical attention or miss any time off work, you likely do not have enough to make a case.
Halvorsen Klote's Manchester, MO premises liability attorneys have gotten great results for our clients in a variety of cases. 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 for free today at 866-382-4167.
Types of Premises Liability Cases in Manchester, MO
Slip and Falls
Falling is accounts for a third of all nonfatal preventable injuries. Slip and falls are responsible 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 wiring
- Uneven flooring, rugs or carpeting
Negligent Security
Inadequate Security often arises 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 this could include a doorman or needing a code to enter the premises. Typically, lawsuits for inadequate or negligent security occur 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 help 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 are most common in children. Drowning is the primary cause of death to children under the age of five. Public swimming pools need to be properly supervised, 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 suffered at amusement parks. Negligence can include mechanical issues, operator error, collisions, malfunctioning seat belts, electrician structural issues. Anybody who operates a theme park must ensure that the rides meet safety requirements. If they didn't and you ended up injured, our Manchester, 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 Manchester, 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 need to be coned or roped off with sufficient 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 make a claim against the construction company.
However you sustained your injuries, if you were injured on someone else's property or in a public space, call Halvorsen Klote's Manchester, MO premises liability attorneys for the best possible compensation you're entitled to.
What Compensation Can I Receive For My Manchester, MO Premises Liability Injuries?
How much your injuries worth depends on the financial, physical and emotional hardships your injuries cause. With skilled Manchester, MO premises liability attorneys, you'll be compensated for:
- Medical bills
- 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 hiring household services for chores you can't do while you're injured
- Noneconomic damages like pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, scarring and loss of consortium
How much your premises liability injuries are worth depends largely on the severity of your injuries, how they have affected your life and the abilities of your Manchester, MO premises liability attorneys.
What Our Manchester, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Can Do For You
Given the complex nature of litigation and premises liability laws, the role of a lawyer is crucial. Your Halvorsen Klote premises liability attorneys will:
- Investigate the circumstances surrounding your injuries and develop a legal strategy that gets you the most compensation possible
- Obtain evidence, including maintenance logs, inspections, proof of any previously files complaints and/or surveillance footage
- Take depositions from 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 fight to trial 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 Manchester, 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
Reach Out to Halvorsen Klote's Manchester, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Today
The notion of having to fight back against a powerful corporation can be intimidating. 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 careers to offering the injured the same high-quality legal representation as powerful corporations and insurance companies. If you were injured on someone else's property in Manchester, MO, 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.
