Premises Liability Attorneys St. Peters, MO
St. Peters, MO Personal Injury Law Firm
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | St. Peters, MO Slip and Fall Lawyers
Premises liability attorneys in St. Peters, MO. Anyone who owns or operates a property in St. Peters, MO has a responsibility to take reasonable measures to prevent people who enter the premises from becoming hurt. 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 experienced St. Peters, MO premises liability attorneys to fight for your rights. At Halvorsen Klote, our attorneys are committed to leveling the playing field between large corporations and insurance companies and injury victims every day. We fight for the injured 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 fill out our online form for a no-risk, no-obligation 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 their respective state.
Both states treat premises liability almost equally: A property owner has a duty to inform people of or repair a "dangerous condition" they either knew of or should have been aware of through reasonable care. If they don't, they can be held accountable for any injuries sustained because of the poorly maintained property.
The states do differ in one very important way, related to the duty of care property owners must give different kinds of visitors.
Types of Visitors in St. Peters, 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 watching a movie at a movie theater. A public invitee is someone on property that the public can access, such as a park or a library. Those in control of the property 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 is on the property with the owner's permission, but there is no express financial benefit to either of them. a party guest, but the law might apply to someone who came into a grocery store just to ask for directions. In Illinois, licensees have the same legal protections as invitees. In Missouri, property owners are only liable for hazards they knew about – 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 invitees and licensees, meaning they can't make a claim to get compensated for their injuries. There are two 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 doctrine, property owners might 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 construction projects. In this instance, the child and their family can make a claim for compensation.
What Do I Need to File a Premises Liability Claim in St. Peters, MO?
In any personal injury case, you must demonstrate how the four elements of negligence apply to your injuries:
- Duty of care — Did the property owner or manager have a duty to keep you from unreasonable dangers? The extent of a landowner's duty of care depends on whether you're a invitee, licensee or trespasser and your jurisdiction. Typically, anybody who is legally on the property is owed a duty of care.
- Breach of duty — If they fail in their obligation, property owners are considered to have breached their duty. That could mean not fixing a broken staircase, or not putting a "wet floor" sign out.
- Causation — Did the hazardous 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 see warning signs because you weren't looking where you were going, the property owner may argue that your inattention caused your injuries, not the dangerous condition.
- Damages — In order to make a claim, you need to show that you suffered injuries, loss and other expenses. Usually, you need to show economic harm, such as lost wages and medical expenses, to make a claim for emotional distress and pain and suffering. If you sustained a few bumps and scrapes, but did not suffer any financial loss, you may not have a valid claim.
Halvorsen Klote's St. Peters, 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, don't hesitate to speak to one of our attorneys at no charge at 866-382-4167.
Types of Premises Liability Accidents in St. Peters, MO
Slip and Falls
Falling is the number one most common nonfatal preventable injury. Slip and falls account for 12% of total falls that lead to emergency room visits, 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 cords
- Uneven flooring, rugs or carpeting
Negligent 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 a doorman or requiring a keycard to enter the property. Typically, lawsuits for inadequate or negligent security are filed after someone being injured due to a violent crime. While the police and criminal courts are responsible for convicting the offender, you'll usually 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 leading cause of fatalities in children between one and four years old. 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 sought emergency medical attention for injuries sustained at amusement parks. Negligence can include mechanical issues, operator error, collisions, ride ejections, electric shocks structural issues. Amusement park owners must ensure that the rides are properly designed, maintained, inspected and repaired. If they didn't and you ended up injured, our St. Peters, MO premises liability attorneys will help you secure justice and maximum compensation.
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 St. Peters, 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 missing or broken smoke alarms.
Construction Accidents
Construction companies have a responsibility 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 not properly secured, you can file a lawsuit 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 St. Peters, MO premises liability attorneys for the best possible compensation you are owed.
How Much Are My St. Peters, MO Premises Liability Injuries Worth?
How much your injuries worth depends on the financial, physical and mental toll your injuries cause. With skilled St. Peters, 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 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 how serious your injuries are, how they have affected your life and the abilities of your St. Peters, MO premises liability attorneys.
How St. Peters, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Can Help
When it comes to pursuing a premises liability case, having a qualified lawyer on your side is essential. When you hire us, our premises liability attorneys will:
- Investigate the circumstances surrounding your injuries and come up with a legal strategy to prove negligence
- Acquire 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
- Answer the phone when you call and answer any question you may have
- Handle all the legal aspects of your claim so you can focus on healing
- Negotiate a settlement on your behalf
- Take the fight to trial 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. Peters, 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
Call Halvorsen Klote's St. Peters, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Now
The notion of going up against a powerful insurance company can be daunting to a lot of people. But, if you were injured because of someone else's negligence, you deserve full compensation. We've dedicated our lives to helping the average person get the same excellent legal representation as the people who injured them. If you were injured on someone else's property in St. Peters, MO, call our premises liability attorneys today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a complimentary case evaluation.
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.