Premises Liability Lawyers Serving St. Louis
If You’re Injured on Someone Else’s Property, You Could Have a Claim
Anyone who owns or manages property, private or public, is responsible for the safety of visitors. If they leave people at risk of injury by known hazards, a property owner can be liable for any damages someone suffers. The most common types of property liability claims are slip and falls and trip and falls, but these are not the only incidents that can lead to a lawsuit. You may also be able to sue for:
- Unmarked dangerous conditions
- Fires
- Unsafe stairs
- Injury due to poor maintenance
- Balcony or deck accidents
- Injury due to third-party criminals
- Parking lot accidents
- Swimming pool accidents
- Building or fixture collapse
- Malfunctioning elevator or escalator
- Dog bites or other animal attacks
- Toxic exposure
If you believe you have a premises liability claim, the first thing you should do is find a knowledgeable attorney to represent you. These cases can be hard to prove and, especially if you’re arguing against a large insurer or national company, you’ll want a strong law firm to have your back. Our team at Geoff Meyerkord Law Firm has 24 years of experience and an excellent record in the courtroom. No matter how complex or difficult your case, we will put in the work to protect your rights.
Contact our St. Louis attorneys at (314) 500-6000 if you think you have a premises liability case. We have the experience you need to build a compelling argument.
Trial Ready Attorneys Who Go the Distance
We'll Fight to Get You the Justice You Deserve
Proving a Premises Liability Case
If you are injured on someone else’s property, you must be able to show the accident happened because of the property owner’s negligence. This means it is not enough to just show there was a hazard that harmed you. Depending on the circumstances, you may also have to prove:
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The property owner/manager knew or should have reasonably known about the hazard
- They did not fix the hazard or provide sufficient warning for others
- You would not have reason to know the situation was hazardous
If there is video footage or you have witnesses of your accident, it may be much easier to prove these points. When there is not, our attorneys can investigate your case to find evidence.
Comparative Fault in Premises Liability Cases
Even if you are able to prove another’s negligence resulted in an injurious accident, you may also have to prove you cannot be held liable. An insurer may try to challenge your claim by contending you could have noticed the danger yourself if you had been paying close enough attention. If they are successful in this argument, under our state’s comparative fault law, your settlement could be reduced by the percentage of responsibility you are determined to carry. These arguments are common, as insurers want to reduce the amount they pay you. Our attorneys can prepare for and counter such challenges should they arrive.
Who Can File a Premises Liability Case?
Premises liability law separates injury victims into 3 categories depending on their relationship to the property owner:
- Trespassers
- Licensee
- Invitee
Trespassers, or anyone not allowed on the premises on which they were injured, do not have the right to recover compensation, regardless of their injury. Anyone who has permission to enter a property is considered a licensee. This class, which includes social guests, generally refers to visitors who are present to further their own interests. Anyone who is welcomed to a property for the benefit of its owner or manager is considered an invitee.
Both licensees and invitees should be provided a safe experience by the property owner or manager. However, invitees may presume a property is actively being maintained to protect their safety at all times. Licensees are not guaranteed that level of security—but they can expect any dangers known to the property owner or manager will be adequately warned.
If You’ve Been Hurt, Protect Your Rights
We know trying to understand the different levels of safety each type of property visitor must be provided can be confusing. Our experienced premises liability attorneys can help clarify your legal rights after an accident on private property causes you to be injured. We can also help you start the process of filing and defending your claim for damages.
Even simple-sounding accidents like slip and falls can injure victims enough that they need surgery and/or time off work to heal. Sometimes, they can even result in lasting pain or disability. Anyone in this position can benefit from having an experienced attorney on their side.
Our premises liability attorneys can help you maximize your claim. Call our St. Louis office any time at (314) 500-6000 to schedule a free consultation.
We're Here for You
Working With Our Firm-
We Take Cases to Trial
At Geoff Meyerkord Law Firm, we founded our practice around our passion for getting our clients the best possible outcome. To ensure this, we often take cases to trial and won't accept unfair offers from insurance companies.
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Day or Night, We're Here for You
Attorney Geoff Meyerkord as well as many of our staff are available 24/7 and on weekends. We know injuries can happen at any time of day and we always get back to our clients as quickly as possible.
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90% of Success is Preparation
We know that getting our clients the results they deserve requires an extensive amount of research, preparation, and critical thinking. Once we prepare our strategy, we focus group our cases to maximize results.
