Premises Liability

Best Premises Liability Attorneys | Joplin MO | Columbia MO

What is Premises Liability?

Premises liability is a legal concept that typically comes into play in personal injury cases where a personal injury is caused by a property owner’s negligence. A premises liability-based personal injury claim lets a victim hold a property owner – and potentially other parties – liable for defective property conditions.

Property owners have a legal responsibility to maintain a safe environment on their property. Premises liability personal injury cases happen when property owners let unsafe or defective conditions progress on their property to the point of causing injury. These cases can involve anything from water leaks to inadequate property maintenance.

Victims of neglected or defective property have the right to assert claims against those responsible.

In successful premises liability cases, personal injury lawyers will place the responsibility of the accident on the property owner because the property was not in good condition.

Property owners and other responsible parties should be held liable for their negligence.

If you have suffered a personal injury on someone else’s property, you need a premises liability lawyer on your side. Your case is time-sensitive. At Sticklen & Sticklen, we recommend contacting us for a free consultation to arm yourself with the knowledge you need to protect yourself.

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Types of Premises Liability

You may have a case if you have been injured due to any of the following incidences.

Snow & Ice Accidents

Property owners have a responsibility to make sure their property is free of hazards like snow and ice. Clearing away snow and ice to provide safe walkways should be something every business does if they plan to have customers on site. Slips and falls on wet or ice-covered steps can cause serious head and back injuries with lifelong consequences.

Inadequate Maintenance of the Premises

Property owners have a legal responsibility to maintain their property in a way that protects visitors from personal injury. A neglected property is a dangerous property. Inadequate or neglected maintenance can lead to injuries like chemical exposure or a fall.

Defective Conditions on the Premises

Personal injury claims caused by a defective property have high success rates. A property can easily become defective if a property owner’s negligence is left unchecked. Improperly constructed stairways and walkways, faulty stair handrails, and incorrectly installed ceiling or flooring tiles are a few examples.

Water Leaks or Flooding

Falls caused by slipping are a leading cause of premises liability cases. These cases can expand to personal property damage if a water leak, which caused the slip or fall, goes unnoticed for a long period of time.

Elevator & Escalator Accidents

While only 27 people on average are killed in elevator accidents per year on average, there are thousands of reported – and many more unreported – cases of elevator accidents a year. Elevators and escalator have high rates of use, which can lead to high accident rates.

These common, yet very preventable, accidents are usually caused by the negligence of the property owner to maintain regular inspections. Design flaws, electrical or mechanical malfunctions, and out of date machinery can cause serious accidents.

Dog Bites

Local ordinances may define a dog owner or animal responsibility more broadly than state laws. However, in most instances, dog owners are liable for the behavior of their animal. If you are injured by a dog bite, seek medical attention. Be sure to collect images of your injury, the location where it happened, and other important details to assist your case. A dog’s owner may reimburse the victim for medical bills and other damages instead of going to court.

Swimming Pool Accidents

Swimming pools can lead to deadly accidents. Swimming pools need to have multiple entry and exit points whether that be ladders or steps. This ensures a quick exit in case of an emergency. Accidents caused by someone slipping and falling in the area around the pool are common. Pool owners should equip the pool area with the proper grips and grounding materials.

Amusement Park Accidents

Severe accidents caused by amusement park rides almost always make headlines. Smaller accidents often don’t make headlines, but excessive restraints or whiplash can have serious health consequences. Be cautious during your day of fun and take note of any pain you may feel during or after your day at the park.

Fires

Not all fires are caused by the negligence of a property owner. In order to find reasons for a premises liability case, a personal injury lawyer would need to find and document proof of negligence on the owner’s part in order to collect any damages.

To help determine if the property owner may be at fault, lawyers will want to find answers to the following questions. Was the fire preventable? What safety precautions were put in place to protect the building and its inhabitants? Did the building comply to fire regulations? Were regular fire inspections filed?

Inadequate Building Security Leading to Injury or Assault

If you are injured or assaulted on property you don’t own, you can bring charges against the person who directly caused you harm as well as the property owner who did not supply adequate security for you to be safe on their property. Both commercial and residential land owners are responsible for their property’s security.

These types of cases can occur on any property that is open to the public. Property owners should be aware of crimes committed in the area and other safety concerns that might harm others in order to best secure their property. Faulty locks, poor guest and visitor screening, broken or malfunctioning security cameras, or inadequate lighting all contribute to greater security risks.

Toxic Fumes or Chemicals

Injuries that occur from toxic fumes or chemicals may not show up for years after you were exposed to them, or they may have immediate effects. If toxic chemicals are on the premises, property owners must be extra vigilant. Water, soil, or air contamination are common. Premises liability can also include heavy metal toxicity in meats, pesticides, and herbicides, and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Be sure to collect all documents from your doctor and any photos you have of the property to support your claim. Medical bills from chemical burns or fumes can quickly add up.

Call or email our Columbia or Joplin office today for a free consultation.

After your accident, refrain from immediately talking to your insurance company or the property owner’s as they often are only looking out for their own interests. The premises liability lawyers at Sticklen & Sticklen always put you, the client, first.

Don’t be caught off guard when injury occurs.

The laws within personal injury cases are very complex. Let us help you navigate those turbulent waters. Call Sticklen & Sticklen at our Columbia or Joplin locations to schedule a free consultation to learn about your rights today.

Do you have a Case?

Whether it’s a dangerous condition, a defect on a property, or a failure to warn of a dangerous or defective situation that may have caused you harm, we can help. We have handled hundreds of personal injury cases with record success.

Call (888) 959-5445 to schedule a free consultation.

Don’t let the threat of medical bills take away your life. At Sticklen & Sticklen, we have earned our winning reputation with hard work and diligence. Call us to get case results in your favor.

“Charlie had substantial experience dealing with insurance companies that we obviously did not have. We were able to focus on our family and our son’s healing while Charlie took care of the insurance matters. It was such a relief during an already stressful time. We definitely recommend Charlie to others. He was very professional, yet personal. We felt like he truly cared about our case and our family.”

Debi O.