Premises Liability Attorneys Valley Park, MO | Personal Injury Lawyers | Halvorsen Klote

Valley Park, MO

Premises Liability Attorneys Valley Park, MO

Valley Park, MO Personal Injury Law Firm


Call 866-382-4167 for a Complimentary Case Evaluation | Valley Park, MO Slip and Fall Law Firm

Premises liability attorneys in Valley Park, MO. Anyone who owns or operates a property in Valley Park, MO has an obligation to take reasonable measures to prevent people who enter the premises from becoming hurt. Unfortunately, a lot of times they fail in that responsibility, and innocent people are injured through the property owner's negligence. If you or a loved one was injured on someone else's property, you need dedicated Valley Park, MO premises liability attorneys to get you the maximum compensation you are owed. At Halvorsen Klote, our attorneys are committed to leveling the playing field between large corporations and insurance companies and everyday people 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. Call our premises liability attorneys today 866-382-4167 or fill out our online form for a complimentary case evaluation.

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

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 almost equally: A property owner has a responsibility 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 can be held accountable for any injuries sustained as a result of the dangerous condition.

The states are different in one very important aspect, and it concerns the duty of care owed to different types of visitors.

Types of Visitors in Valley Park, MO Premises Liability Cases

The law distinguishes between invitees, licensees and trespassers:

  1. Invitees — A business invitee is someone who is on the property to benefit themselves and/or the proprietor. This can include people dining at a restaurant or someone shopping in a grocery store. A public invitee is someone on property that the public can access, for example a park 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 is on the property with the owner's consent, 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 store just to ask for directions. In Illinois, there is no legal distinction between invitees and licensees. In Missouri, property owners can only be held accountable for hazards they knew about – not ones they "should have known about.
  3. Trespassers — Trespassers are on the property without permission of the property owner. Because of that, they do not have the same protections as people that are allowed to be there, meaning they can't sue the property owner for a financial recovery. There are two exceptions:
    1. 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 intentionally created or allowed a danger to be there because they wanted trespassers to get hurt, they can still be held liable.
    2. Under the attractive nuisance theory, property owners may be liable if a child gets hurt while trespassing. 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 Valley Park, MO

With all personal injury claims, you must prove the following four elements in order to win a claim for negligence:

  1. Duty of care — Did the landowner owe you a duty of care to protect you from unreasonable dangers? The degree of a landowner's responsibility to keep you safe depends on what kind of visitor you are and what state you're in. Typically, anybody who is legally on the property is owed a duty of care.
  2. Breach of duty — If they neglect their duty, that constitutes a breach of that responsibility. That could mean not fixing a broken railing, or not roping off a section that isn't safe.
  3. Causation — Did the hazardous condition cause or contribute to 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 weren't looking where you were going, you might not be able to make a claim.
  4. Damages — To have a valid claim, you need to show that you suffered injuries, loss and other expenses. Usually, you need to show financial harm, including lost wages and medical bills, to get compensation for emotional harm and pain and suffering. 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 Valley Park, MO premises liability attorneys have gotten great results for our clients in a variety of cases. If you want to discuss your 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.

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

Types of Premises Liability Cases in Valley Park, MO

Slip and Falls

Falling is by far the 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:

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

Inadequate Security

These cases often arise in apartment complexes, 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 adequate security could include a doorman or requiring a keycard to enter the premises. Generally, lawsuits for inadequate or negligent security are filed 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 primary cause of fatalities in children between one and four years old. Public swimming pools need to have lifeguards, and have strict measures to protect children from injuring themselves.

In 2016, over 30,000 people sought emergency medical attention for injuries sustained at amusement parks. Injuries can be caused by mechanical issues, operator error, collisions, ride ejections, electrician poor 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 Valley Park, MO premises liability attorneys will hold them accountable.

Fire and Smoke Injuries

Local Valley Park, 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 Valley Park, 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 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 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 Valley Park, MO premises liability attorneys for the maximum compensation you deserve.

How Much Is My Valley Park, MO Premises Liability Claim Worth?

How much your injuries worth depends on the economic, physical and emotional hardships your injuries cause. With skilled Valley Park, MO premises liability attorneys, you'll be compensated for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages from time spent recovering
  • Lost earning potential if you can no longer work
  • 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, emotional distress, physical impairment, scarring and loss of consortium

How much money you get in your premises liability settlement will be based on how serious your injuries are, how they have affected your life and the abilities of your Valley Park, MO premises liability attorneys.

How Valley Park, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Can Help

When it comes to pursuing a premises liability case, the role of a lawyer 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 best possible results
  • Gather evidence, including maintenance logs, inspections, previous complaints filed and/or video footage
  • Take depositions from witnesses, employees or others who may be familiar with the hazard
  • Be available whenever you need us to be and answer any question you may have
  • 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 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 Valley Park, MO include:

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

Reach Out to Halvorsen Klote's Valley Park, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Today

The idea of having to fight back against a powerful insurance company 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 are owed. We've committed our lives to helping the average person get the same excellent legal representation as the people who injured them. If you were injured because of a Valley Park, MO property owner's negligence, call our premises liability attorneys today at 866-382-4167 or fill out our online form for a complimentary case evaluation.


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.