Premises Liability Attorneys Versailles, MO
Versailles, MO Personal Injury Law Firm
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Case Review | Versailles, MO Slip and Fall Lawyers
Premises liability attorneys in Versailles, MO. Anyone who is in control of a property in Versailles, MO has an obligation to take reasonable precautions to prevent people who enter the premises from becoming hurt. 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 dedicated Versailles, 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 take cases in both Missouri and Illinois, and fight hard to see our clients get the justice and recognition they deserve. Call our premises liability attorneys today 866-382-4167 or fill out our online form 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 stipulate the premises liability laws in their respective state.
The laws in each state tend to be comparable in regards to property ownership and management: 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 maintenance. 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 key aspect, and it concerns the duty of care property owners must give different categories of visitors.
Types of Visitors in Versailles, MO Premises Liability Cases
The law distinguishes between invitees, licensees and trespassers:
- 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 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 dangers they knew about or should have known about.
- Licensees — A licensee is someone who is on the property with the owner's consent, but for personal, non-business reasons. a party guest, but the law might apply to someone who stopped into a grocery store just to use the restroom. In Illinois, licensees have the same legal protections as invitees. In Missouri, property owners are only liable for dangers they knew about – not ones they "should have known about.
- 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 to get compensated for their injuries. There are a couple of exceptions:
- Under the 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 intentionally created or allowed a danger to exist 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 make a claim against the landowner for the child's injuries.
What Do I Need to File a Premises Liability Claim in Versailles, MO?
In any personal injury case, you must prove the following four elements in order to win a claim for negligence:
- Duty of care — Did the property owner or manager have a duty to prevent unreasonable risks of injury? The degree of a landowner's responsibility to keep you safe depends on what kind of visitor you are 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 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 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 notice an obvious hazard because you weren't looking where you were going, the property owner may argue that you were injured because you were distracted, not because of the dangerous condition.
- Damages — In order to make a claim, you have to have suffered harm. Usually, you need to show financial harm, such as lost wages and medical expenses, to make a claim 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 Versailles, 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.
Most Common Premises Liability Lawsuit in Versailles, MO
Slip and Falls
Falling is by far the most common nonfatal preventable injury. 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:
- Wet or oily floors
- Broken staircases, handrails or floors
- Ice or snow
- Loose cords
- Uneven flooring, rugs or carpeting
Inadequate Security
These cases often arise in apartment buildings, office buildings or hotels. The owners of these properties must guard against potential criminal activity that may reasonable occur. Examples of adequate security could include security guards or needing a keycard to enter the property. Generally, lawsuits for inadequate or negligent security occur after someone being injured due to a violent crime. While the criminal justice system may secure a conviction of the offender, you'll usually need to take civil legal action – with the help of premises liable attorneys – against a property owner to be compensated financially for your injuries and emotional anguish.
Swimming Pool and Amusement Park Accidents
Swimming pool accidents usually happen to children. Drowning is the primary cause of death to children between one and four years old. Public swimming pools must be properly supervised, and have strict measures to protect children from injuring themselves.
In 2016, approximately 30,900 people went to the emergency room for injuries sustained at amusement parks. Injuries can be caused by mechanical issues, operator error, collisions, malfunctioning safety belts, electric shocks substandard designs. 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 Versailles, MO premises liability attorneys will hold them accountable.
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 Versailles, 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 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 liable for premises liability.
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 Versailles, MO premises liability attorneys for the best possible financial recovery you are owed.
What Compensation Can I Receive For My Versailles, MO Premises Liability Injuries?
The damages you recover after a premises liability accident are meant to compensate you for the economic, physical and mental hardships your accident caused. With skilled Versailles, 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 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, disability, disfigurement and loss of consortium
How much money you get in your premises liability settlement depends largely on how serious your injuries are, how they have affected your life and the skill and experience of your Versailles, MO premises liability attorneys.
The Role of Your Versailles, MO Premises Liability Attorneys
When it comes to pursuing a premises liability case, having a qualified lawyer on your side is essential. Your Halvorsen Klote premises liability attorneys will:
- Investigate the circumstances surrounding your injuries and come up with a legal strategy that gets you the best possible results
- Gather evidence, including maintenance logs, inspections, proof of any previously files complaints and/or video 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 the best possible settlement for you
- 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 Versailles, 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 Versailles, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Today
The notion of going up against a large insurance company 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 practice to offering injury victims the same excellent legal representation as the people who injured them. If you were injured on someone else's property in Versailles, MO, call our premises liability attorneys today at 866-382-4167 or fill out our online form for a complimentary 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.