If you have experienced a Missouri slip and fall accident while on someone else’s property, it is wise to consider your options for obtaining compensation. Under Missouri premises liability law, property owners have a legal duty to ensure that their property is reasonably safe for their guests. When the property owner’s negligence caused your slip and fall accident, you may be able to hold them accountable for your financial and emotional losses.
Missouri Premises Liability Law
Victims of slip and fall accidents can bring a lawsuit under a premises liability theory. Under Missouri law, negligent property owners are financially liable for injuries people suffer on their property. The injured party must prove that the property owner acted negligently and that this negligence caused their slip and fall accident.
The property owner’s exact legal duty depends on whether the guest is a customer and guest or a trespasser. Trespassers typically do not have a clean against property owners after slip and fall accidents. On the other hand, business owners have a legal duty to look for dangerous spills and conditions that could cause slip and fall accidents and then remedy those dangers.
The key to succeeding in a premises liability lawsuit is to prove that the property owner knew or should have known of the dangerous condition that caused you to have a slip and fall accident. For example, when a grocery store employee ceases a leaking bottle of oil dripping onto the floor and fails to put safety cones around the spill or clean it up immediately, the grocery store is liable for any slip and fall accidents.
When determining liability for a Missouri slip and fall accident, courts will look at all of the factors surrounding the accident. Did employees fail to label a slippery or cracked floor? Did the property owner forget to salt the icy sidewalk leading up to his retail location? All of these are essential questions in premises liability lawsuits.
Recovering Compensation After a Slip and Fall Accident
In some cases, filing an insurance claim is the best option of obtaining compensation for your slip and fall injuries. Most businesses carry commercial liability insurance that will pay out claims to injured customers. Sometimes it becomes necessary to bring a civil litigation lawsuit, however. The business may not have adequate insurance coverage, or the owner may not be insured.
As a plaintiff, you will need to prove that the business owner is liable for their injuries. An experienced premises liability attorney can help you gather evidence for your claim, including photos of the area where you became injured. In many cases, slip and fall accident victims can obtain security camera footage showing the spill on the floor or the hazard on the ground that caused their injuries. Witness accounts from those who saw the accident happen are also invaluable in premises liability lawsuits.
Contact Our Experienced Lawyers Today
If you or your loved one have suffered an injury from a slip and fall accident, our legal team is here to help. Contact Griggs Injury Law as soon as possible to schedule your free initial consultation.
