Premises Liability Attorneys Rolla, MO | Personal Injury Lawyers | Halvorsen Klote

Rolla, MO

Premises Liability Attorneys Rolla, MO

Rolla, MO Personal Injury Lawyers


Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Case Evaluation | Rolla, MO Slip and Fall Attorneys

Premises liability attorneys in Rolla, MO. Anyone who owns or operates a property in Rolla, MO has a duty to ensure their property is reasonably safe for patrons. But too often, they fail in that responsibility, and good people who did nothing wrong get hurt. If you or a loved one was injured on public or private property, you need experienced Rolla, MO premises liability attorneys to fight for your rights. 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 so our clients can finally get a sense of justice and recognition. Speak to our premises liability attorneys today 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a free case evaluation.

Premises Liability Attorneys Rolla, MO | Slip and Fall Lawyers | Personal Injury Lawyer Near Rolla

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 for both states.

Both states treat premises liability almost equally: A property owner has a responsibility to inform people of or fix a "dangerous condition" they either knew of or should have been aware of through reasonable prudence. If they fail in that obligation, they are responsible for any injuries sustained as a result 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 Rolla, MO Premises Liability Cases

The law distinguishes between three classes 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 residents in an apartment complex. Invitees can also be considered people on property the public is allowed to be on, such as recreational areas or a library. Those in control of the property are liable for an invitee's injuries caused by dangers they knew about or should have known about.
  2. 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. These can be social guests, but the law might apply to someone who came into a grocery store just to ask for directions. In Illinois, licensees have the same rights as invitees. In Missouri, property owners are only liable for hazards they knew about; the "should have known" standard doesn't apply when a licensee is injured.
  3. Trespassers — Trespassers are on the property without consent of the property owner. Because of that, they do not have the same rights as invitees and licensees, meaning they can't make a claim for a financial recovery. There are two exceptions:
    1. Under the Illinois Premises Liability Act and Missouri Revised Statute §537.349, a property owner can still owe compensation for a trespasser's injuries if the landowner acted with "willful and wanton conduct." Meaning, if the owner created or maintained a hazardous condition because they wanted trespassers to get hurt, they can still be held accountable.
    2. Under the attractive nuisance theory, 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, 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.

Proving Your Premises Liability Claim in Rolla, MO

With all personal injury claims, you must demonstrate how the four elements of negligence apply to your injuries:

  1. Duty of care — Did the landowner have a responsibility to prevent unreasonable risks of injury? The extent of the property owner's or manager's responsibility to keep you safe 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.
  2. Breach of duty — If they neglect their obligation, property owners are considered to have breached their duty. That could mean not fixing a broken staircase, or not roping off a section that isn't safe.
  3. Causation — Did the hazardous condition directly cause your injuries? If you fell because you were running, you may not have a valid claim against the property owner. Similarly, if you didn't observe an obvious hazard because you were looking at your phone, the property owner may argue that you were injured because you were distracted, not because of the dangerous condition.
  4. Damages — In order to make a claim, you need to have suffered harm. Usually, you need to show financial loss, such as lost wages and medical expenses, to get a financial recovery for emotional distress and pain and suffering. If you sustained a bruise, but had no expenses due to your injury, you likely do not have enough to make a case.

Halvorsen Klote's Rolla, 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 at no charge at 866-382-4167.

Premises Liability Attorneys Rolla, MO | Personal Injury Law Firm | Slip and Fall Lawyer Near Rolla

Types of Premises Liability Accidents in Rolla, MO

Slip and Falls

Falling is by far the 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:

  • Wet or oily floors
  • Broken staircases, handrails or floors
  • Ice or snow
  • Loose wiring
  • Uneven flooring, rugs or carpeting

Inadequate Security

Inadequate Security often occurs 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 this could include security guards or needing a keycard to enter the building. Generally, lawsuits for inadequate or negligent security occur after someone has been the victim of a 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 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 leading cause of death to children between the ages of one and four. 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 sustained at amusement parks. Negligence can include mechanical issues, operator error, collisions, malfunctioning seat belts, electric shocks 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 Rolla, MO premises liability attorneys will help you secure justice and a full financial recovery.

Fire and Smoke Injuries

Local Rolla, MO laws are stringent when it comes to fire codes for all types of 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 Rolla, 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 missing or broken sprinkler systems.

Construction Accidents

Construction companies have an obligation to keep their construction zones safe. 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 hold the construction company responsible for premises liability.

Whatever the nature of your specific injuries, if you were injured because a property owner or manager was negligent, call Halvorsen Klote's Rolla, MO premises liability attorneys for the full compensation you are owed.

How Much Are My Rolla, MO Premises Liability Injuries Worth?

The damages you recover after a premises liability accident are meant to compensate you for the economic, physical and emotional hardships your accident caused. With experienced Rolla, 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 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, mental anguish, permanent impairment, disfigurement and loss of consortium

How much money you get in your premises liability settlement depends mostly on how serious your injuries are, the impact they've had on your life and the skill and experience of your Rolla, MO premises liability attorneys.

What Our Rolla, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Can Do For You

When it comes to pursuing a premises liability case, the role of a lawyer is paramount. When you hire us, our premises liability attorneys will:

  • Investigate the accident and come up with a legal strategy to prove negligence
  • Gather evidence, including maintenance reports, inspections, previous complaints filed and/or video footage
  • Take depositions from witnesses, employees or others who may be familiar with the hazard
  • Answer the phone when you call 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 a settlement on your behalf
  • Take the fight in front of a judge and jury 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 Rolla, MO include:

Premises Liability Attorneys Rolla, MO | Slip and Fall Lawyers | Personal Injury Attorney Near Rolla

Speak to Halvorsen Klote's Rolla, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Now

The idea of having to fight back against a large corporation can be intimidating. But, if you were injured because of someone else's negligence, nothing should be able to keep you from getting the financial recovery you are owed. We've dedicated our practice to helping the average person get the same expert legal representation as the people who injured them. If you were injured because of a Rolla, MO property owner's carelessness, call our premises liability attorneys today at 866-382-4167 or fill out our online form for a free case review.


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.