Every day, Missouri residents become seriously injured in slip and fall accidents that are not their fault. If you have experienced a slip and fall accident on another person’s property in Missouri, you may be entitled to compensation. Under Missouri law, property owners have a legal responsibility to maintain their properties and keep them reasonably safe and free from dangerous conditions. When a property owner’s negligence causes your slip and fall accident, you can bring a personal injury lawsuit against the property owner for damages.
Determining Liability in a Missouri Slip and Fall Accident
The first step in recovering compensation for your injuries is determining who is at fault or liable for your injuries. In Missouri, property owners are liable when their negligence caused the slip and fall accident that resulted in the victim’s injuries. Proving liability can be challenging, especially if there were no witnesses to the slip and fall accident and no video footage. The sooner you reach out to an experienced slip and fall accident lawyer, the more time your lawyer will have to gather evidence and prove the property owner’s liability.
Property Owners are not expected to prevent all accidents that could happen on their property. However, they do have an obligation to keep their property reasonably safe. For example, if a property owner knows that one of the stair treads on his or her staircase is broken and a trip hazard, they have a legal duty to fix the step or warn customers of the danger. Suppose a property owner knows that multiple sexual assaults have occurred in a dark stairwell located in their apartment complex. In that case, the owner must make the stairwell safer by adding lights and a video camera.
Gathering Evidence to Prove Liability
Gathering evidence is crucial when it comes to obtaining compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. You will need to show that a dangerous condition existed and caused your slip and fall accident. You also need to prove that the slip and fall accident led to your injuries. Your personal injury attorney will help you gather valuable proof of your injuries that often includes the following:
- Photos of the scene of the slip and fall accident
- Photos of the specific cause of your injuries, such as the or liquid spill on the floor
- Evidence of previous accidents that have happened in the same location
- Testimony from witnesses who saw the slip and fall accident
- CCTV or other video footage of the dangerous condition or accident occurring
- Medical records demonstrating the severity of your injury
Seeing a doctor immediately after a slip and fall accident is crucial to your case. The defense may argue that the slip and fall accident did not cause your injuries because they were pre-existing. Creating a trail of medical records will help you prove your claim in court.
Contact a Missouri Slip and Fall Lawyer Today
If you have become injured in a slip-and-fall accident in Missouri, Griggs Injury Law can help. You only have five years after your accident to file your personal injury lawsuit. Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation.
