Premises Liability Attorneys St. Louis, MO
St. Louis, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a No-risk, No-obligation Case Review | St. Louis, MO Slip and Fall Attorneys
Premises liability attorneys in St. Louis, MO. Property managers in St. Louis, MO have a duty to take reasonable precautions to prevent injuries on the premises. Unfortunately, a lot of times they fail in that responsibility, and good people are injured through the property owner's negligence. When that happens, you need knowledgeable St. Louis, MO premises liability attorneys to fight for your rights. At Halvorsen Klote, our attorneys are committed to offering injury victims the same excellent legal representation 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. Speak to our premises liability attorneys today 866-382-4167 or fill out our online form for a complimentary case review.
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 are largely similar: A property owner has a duty to warn against or repair a "dangerous condition" they either were aware of or should have known of through reasonable care. If they don't, they are responsible for any injuries sustained because of the dangerous condition.
The states do differ in one very important way, and it concerns the duty of care property owners must give different categories of visitors.
Types of Visitors in St. Louis, 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 include 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, for example 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 has the permission of the property owner to be on the premises, but the owner doesn't get any express benefit from their presence. These can be social guests, but the law might apply to someone who came into a grocery store 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 hazards they had express knowledge of – not ones they "should have known about.
- Trespassers — Trespassers are on the site without consent of the property owner. Therefore, they do not have the same rights as people that are allowed to be there, meaning they can't make a claim for a financial recovery. There are a couple of exceptions:
- According to 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 misconduct." Meaning, if the owner intentionally created or allowed a danger to be there because they wanted to injure a trespasser, they can still be held liable.
- Under the attractive nuisance doctrine, 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 landowner for the child's injuries.
Do I Have a Premises Liability Claim in St. Louis, MO?
In any personal injury case, you must prove the four elements of negligence:
- Duty of care — Did the landowner have an obligation to prevent unreasonable risks of injury? The degree of a landowner's duty of care depends on whether you're a invitee, licensee or trespasser 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 fail in their duty, property owners are considered to have breached their duty. That could mean not repairing a broken staircase, or not putting a "wet floor" sign out.
- Causation — Did the hazardous condition cause or contribute to your injuries? If you fell because somebody ran into you, you may not have a valid claim against the property owner. Similarly, if you didn't notice an obvious hazard because you weren't looking where you were going, you might not be able to make a 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 expenses, to make a claim for how the injury affected you physically and emotionally. If you sustained a few bumps and scrapes, 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 St. Louis, MO premises liability attorneys have proven numerous premises liability claims. 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.
Most Common Premises Liability Lawsuit in St. Louis, MO
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 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 cords
- Uneven flooring, rugs or carpeting
Inadequate Security
Negligent Security often arises in apartment buildings, offices or hotels. The owners of these properties must guard against potential criminal activity that may reasonable occur. Examples of this could include security guards or requiring a keycard to enter the building. 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 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 usually happen to children. Drowning is the primary cause of death to children between the ages of one and four. Public swimming pools must 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, electric shocks poor designs. Amusement park owners must ensure that the rides meet safety requirements. If they didn't and you ended up injured, our St. Louis, MO premises liability attorneys will hold them accountable.
Fire and Smoke Injuries
Local St. Louis, MO laws are strict 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, 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 faulty wiring or gas leaks to missing or broken sprinkler systems.
Construction Accidents
Construction companies have a duty 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 dangerous, 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 St. Louis, MO premises liability attorneys for the maximum financial recovery you are owed.
What Compensation Can I Receive For My St. Louis, MO Premises Liability Injuries?
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 knowledgeable St. Louis, 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 transportation to and from medical appointments
- Noneconomic damages like pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability, disfigurement and loss of consortium
How much money you get in your premises liability settlement will be based on the severity of your injuries, the impact they've had on your life and the abilities of your St. Louis, MO premises liability attorneys.
What Our St. Louis, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Can Do For You
When it comes to pursuing a premises liability case, the role of a lawyer is crucial. Your Halvorsen Klote premises liability attorneys will:
- Investigate the accident and develop a legal strategy to prove negligence
- Gather evidence, including maintenance logs, inspections, proof of any previously files complaints and/or surveillance footage
- Take depositions from witnesses, employees or others who may have knowledge of the hazard
- Be available whenever you need us to be and keep you up-to-date on the status of your claim
- Handle all documentation and litigation so you can focus on healing
- Negotiate a settlement on your behalf
- Represent you in 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 St. Louis, 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 St. Louis, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Now
The notion of having to fight back against a powerful corporation can be intimidating. But, if they or their policyholder caused you harm, you deserve full compensation. We've committed our careers to offering the injured the same expert legal representation as powerful corporations and insurance companies. If you were injured on someone else's property in St. Louis, MO, call our premises liability attorneys today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online 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.
