Premises Liability Attorneys St. Louis County, MO
St. Louis County, MO Personal Injury Law Firm
Call 866-382-4167 for a Complimentary Consultation | St. Louis County, MO Slip and Fall Law Firm
Premises liability attorneys in St. Louis County, MO. Anyone who is in control of a property in St. Louis County, MO has a responsibility to take reasonable precautions to prevent injuries on the premises. But too often, they neglect that duty, and innocent people who did nothing wrong get hurt. If you or a loved one was injured on someone else's property, you need dedicated St. Louis County, MO premises liability attorneys to get you the full financial recovery you're entitled to. At Halvorsen Klote, our attorneys are committed to offering injury victims the same standard of legal advocacy as large corporations and insurance companies. We take cases 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 online for a no-risk, no-obligation consultation.
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.
Both states treat premises liability fairly similarly: A property owner has an obligation to inform people of or repair a "dangerous condition" they either knew of or should have been aware of through reasonable maintenance. If they don't, they are responsible for any injuries sustained because 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 St. Louis County, MO Premises Liability Cases
The law differentiates between three types of visitors in premises liability claims:
- Invitees — A business invitee is someone who is visiting the premises to benefit themselves and/or the proprietor. This can include a customer in a retail store or someone shopping in a grocery store. 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 hazards they knew about or should have known about.
- Licensees — A licensee is someone who is on the property with the owner's permission, but for personal, non-business reasons. a party guest, but the law might apply to someone who came into an establishment just to use the restroom. In Illinois, there is no legal distinction between invitees and licensees. In Missouri, property owners can only be held accountable for dangers they had express knowledge of; the "should have known" doctrine doesn't apply when a licensee is injured.
- Trespassers — Trespassers are on the site without permission 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 two exceptions:
- According to Illinois Premises Liability Act and Missouri Revised Statute §537.349, a landowner 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 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 that is likely to attract children. Examples could be swimming pools, ladders or power tools. In this instance, the family of the child may still sue the property owner or manager for the child's injuries.
Proving Your Premises Liability Claim in St. Louis County, MO
With all personal injury claims, you must prove the following four elements in order to win a claim for negligence:
- Duty of care — Did the property owner or manager owe you a duty of care to prevent unreasonable risks of injury? The extent 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 legally on the property is owed a duty of care.
- Breach of duty — If they neglect their responsibility, 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 hazardous condition directly cause your injuries? If you fell because you were running, you may not have a valid claim against the property owner. Likewise, if you didn't observe 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 need to have suffered harm. Usually, you need to show financial loss, such as lost wages and medical bills, to get compensation for how the injury impacted you physically and mentally. If you sustained a minor cut, but had no expenses due to your injury, you may not have a valid claim.
Halvorsen Klote's St. Louis County, 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 for free today at 866-382-4167.
Most Common Premises Liability Claims in St. Louis County, MO
Slip and Falls
Falling is the number one most common nonfatal preventable injury. Slip and falls are responsible for over one million emergency room visits a year, 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
These cases often arise in apartment buildings, office buildings 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 property. Typically, 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 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 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, roughly 30,900 people sought emergency medical attention for injuries suffered at amusement parks. Negligence can include mechanical issues, operator error, collisions, ride ejections, electrician substandard designs. Anybody who is in control of a theme park must ensure that the rides meet safety requirements. If you were injured because of their negligence, our St. Louis County, MO premises liability attorneys will help you secure justice and maximum compensation.
Fire and Smoke Injuries
Local St. Louis County, 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 St. Louis County, 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 dangerous, you can file a lawsuit 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 St. Louis County, MO premises liability attorneys for the best possible financial recovery you're entitled to.
How Much Are My St. Louis County, MO Premises Liability Injuries Worth?
How much your injuries worth depends on the economic, physical and emotional hardships your injuries cause. With experienced St. Louis County, MO premises liability attorneys, you'll be compensated for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages from time spent recovering
- Lost earning potential if your accident results in permanent disability
- Out-of-pocket expenses, such as transportation to and from medical appointments
- Noneconomic damages like pain and suffering, mental anguish, disability, scarring and loss of consortium
How much money you get in your premises liability settlement depends mostly on the severity of your injuries, the impact they've had on your life and the skill and experience of your St. Louis County, MO premises liability attorneys.
How St. Louis County, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Can Help
Given the complex nature of litigation and premises liability laws, having a qualified lawyer on your side is essential. As part of our legal representation, our premises liability attorneys will:
- Investigate the circumstances surrounding your injuries and develop a legal strategy that gets you the most compensation possible
- Acquire evidence, including maintenance logs, 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 healing
- Negotiate a settlement on your behalf
- Take the liable party to court 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 St. Louis County, 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 St. Louis County, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Now
The idea of going up against a powerful 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 deserve. We've dedicated our lives to helping the average person get the same expert legal advocacy as the people who injured them. If you were injured because of a St. Louis County, MO property owner's negligence, call our premises liability attorneys today at 866-382-4167 or fill out our online form for a free consultation.
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.
