The owners of land in St. Louis have an obligation under Missouri state law to protect invited guests against foreseeable harm. This can include not only accidental injuries such as slips and falls but also injuries that may result from criminal activity or attacks of others. Though, despite this overarching responsibility, the law never assumes that a landowner is liable following an injury without proof of negligence.
A St. Louis premises liability lawyer wants to help you hold a negligent property owner accountable and collect the compensation that you need to recover for your losses. Reach out to one of the dedicated personal injury attorneys at our firm today to discuss the specifics of your case.
What Is a Premises Liability Case?
A premises liability case describes situations where a landowner allows a hazardous condition to cause injury or harm to a guest on their property. This can include shoppers, patrons at a movie theater, guests at a birthday party, and even tenants in an apartment building. A premises liability lawsuit or insurance claim attempts to hold a property owner financially liable for these incidents.
As a result, premises liability cases may be appropriate under a variety of circumstances. These include both pure accidents and situations where landowners failed to provide a safety from the criminal activity of others. Common examples of premises liability claims in St. Louis include:
- Slips and falls
- Failures to maintain stairways, escalators, and elevators
- The inability to clear ice and snow from sidewalks and parking lots
- Not having proper security measures such as locks, lighting, and trained staff
A seasoned St. Louis premises liability attorney could take the lead in investigating the cause of a person’s injuries. If it appears that a landowner was negligent in not providing proper protection, they are prepared to demand full compensation on behalf of victims.
Demanding Full Compensation within the Legal Timeframe
State law gives people a limited time to demand compensation following a personal injury. Missouri Revised Statute § 516.120 asserts that there is a five-year statute of limitations on most premises liability cases. This means that people must act quickly to evaluate their rights and measure their losses.
A landowner that allows an injury to occur on their property is liable for the full extent of a victim’s damages, which always centers around a physical injury. The costs of all necessary medical care to stabilize a person’s health are the centerpiece of a premises liability lawsuit or insurance claim.
However, this is not the only potential source of compensation. Most injuries will place a person in significant pain and cause other harmful impacts on their emotional health. A diligent premises liability lawyer in St. Louis strives to understand how these experiences have shaped a person’s past, present, and future. With this information, they can place an accurate dollar value on these emotional traumas and seek damages for them through a settlement or award package.
Many people also lose out on significant income following an injury. Whenever these incidents cause a person to miss time at work, an at-fault property owner must provide reimbursement for an injured individual’s lost wages.
Enlist the Help of a St. Louis Premises Liability Attorney
Injuries that occur on another person’s property can place you in a difficult legal position. It may be clear that the incident was not your fault. Even so, the law may appear to claim that the property owner had no obligation to keep you safe. At the same time, you may be dealing with harsh physical injuries and intense emotional trauma. With so much going on, it is easy to feel overwhelmed.
A St. Louis premises liability lawyer is ready to step in and fight for you. They work to explain the state’s premises liability laws and how they apply to your case. They will also gather the evidence needed to prove defendant fault for your injury and demonstrate that injury’s impact on your life. Reach out now to discuss your legal options with one of our committed attorneys.
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