St. Joseph Premises Liability Lawyer

Compensation Is Within Reach

Running errands should not be a dangerous activity, yet accidents happen every day because of unsafe conditions on other people’s property.

If you were injured at a business, on residential property, or in a public place, a premises liability claim could be the legal path you need to help recover your damages.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury or wrongful death because of unsafe conditions, you need a skilled St. Joseph premises liability lawyer to protect your rights and pursue justice.

At Wendt Law Firm, our experienced St. Joseph premises liability lawyers are ready to protect your rights and pursue justice. Championing Buchanan County residents since 2008, we’re committed to fighting for every penny you are owed.

Contact us today at 816-531-4415 to schedule a free consultation. We’ll evaluate your case and explain your options.

What Is Premises Liability?

Premises liability law is designed to hold property owners accountable for injuries that happen on their property due to hazardous conditions.

This includes businesses, government buildings, and even residential properties.

Property owners have a legal duty to maintain a safe environment for their visitors. When they fail to do so, and someone gets hurt, the owner can be held responsible for the injury.

Common Types of Premises Liability Cases

Premises liability covers a broad range of accidents that can happen for many different reasons. From an injury at a grocery store to suffering harm because of a cracked sidewalk, understanding the different types of premises liability cases can help you recognize whether your situation qualifies. Some of these cases include:

• Slip and fall accidents: Slip and fall accidents are among the most common claims filed under premises liability. These accidents often happen because of wet floors, uneven surfaces, or objects obstructing walkways. If the property owner was aware — or should have been aware — of the hazard and failed to address it, they could be held liable for your injuries.
  
• Negligent security: When a property owner fails to provide adequate security and a guest is injured during an assault, robbery, or other violent crime, the property owner can be held liable under negligent security claims.
  
• Inadequate maintenance: Buildings and properties must be properly maintained to ensure safety. This includes maintaining walkways, repairing faulty lighting, and keeping stairways in good condition. If maintenance neglect leads to an accident, the property owner could be held responsible.
  
• Dog bites and animal attacks: If a dog or other animal attacks you while you’re on someone’s property, the owner could be held responsible for the injury. Under Missouri law, pet owners are generally held accountable for attacks that happen on their property or in public spaces, especially if the animal has a known history of aggression.
  
• Swimming pool accidents: Property owners with swimming pools are responsible for making sure the pool is safe for swimmers. This includes fencing, signs, and proper maintenance. Pool accidents, including drownings, can result in serious injuries or fatalities, which could result in a premises liability claim.

While each case is unique, all premises liability claims share a common thread: a property owner failed to maintain safe conditions. If you’ve been hurt because someone neglected that duty, you may have grounds for legal action. At Wendt Law Firm, we help Buchanan County residents determine what their next steps should be to get the compensation they deserve.

Who Is Responsible for Premises Liability?

The responsibility for maintaining a safe property falls on the property owner or anyone responsible for managing the premises. This could include landlords, business owners, business managers, property management companies, or even government entities. These parties are expected to regularly inspect the property for hazards and repair or warn visitors of any potential dangers.

However, just because an accident happens on someone else’s property doesn’t mean they’re automatically liable. To ensure your premises liability claim is valid, the property owner or the person responsible for the property must have been negligent. This can involve showing that:

• The property owner knew about the dangerous condition or should have known about it.
• The owner didn’t fix/correct the hazard or warn visitors of the danger.
• The hazardous condition directly led to your injury.

Identifying the person (or entity) responsible for your accident is important when building a strong case. At Wendt Law Firm, our experienced attorneys can investigate the circumstances, gather evidence, and hold the responsible individuals or entities accountable.

Premises Liability and Missouri Law

To successfully file a claim, you need to be able to prove that the property owner was negligent and that their negligence caused your injury. To do this, our St. Joseph premises liability attorneys need to gather evidence, analyze medical records, and calculate the total amount of damages that you suffered.

However, Missouri is a comparative fault state, which means if you’re partially responsible for the accident, your final compensation amount could be reduced based on your degree of fault. For example, if you’re found to be 20% at fault, your compensation could be reduced by 20%.

Comparative fault might seem daunting, but recovering reduced compensation is better than receiving none at all.

Missouri operates under a statute of limitations, which means you have a limited time to file a premises liability claim. Missing the deadline means giving up your right to seek any compensation.

Generally, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Missouri is five years from the date of the accident. However, if the accident led to the wrongful death of a loved one, the time limit to file a claim could be much shorter, so it’s important not to wait.

At Wendt Law Firm, our premises liability lawyers are ready to take on your case. We serve Buchanan County and beyond and have fought for the residents of St. Joseph, De Kalb, Easton, Dearborn, and Gower for many years.

What Compensation Can You Get in a Premises Liability Case?

If you’ve been injured because of unsafe conditions on someone else’s property, you could be entitled to compensation. Understanding what types of compensation are available is important when making sure you’re being properly compensated for your losses. Some of these kinds of compensation can include:

1. Medical expenses: This includes all costs related to your injury, like emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, and prescription medications.
   
2. Lost wages: If your injury stops you from working, you can include any income you’ve lost in your claim. This could include compensation for not only your current wages, but if the injury affects your ability to return to your current job or leaves you with a disability, you could also include future earnings in your claim.
   
3. Pain and suffering: This compensates you for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by your injury and can include conditions like anxiety, depression, and any ongoing discomfort that you endure.
   
4. Loss of enjoyment of life: If the injury prevents you from taking part in activities you used to enjoy, or if the injury affects your social life, you could receive compensation for the loss of these experiences.
   
5. Property damage: If your property was damaged during the accident, you could be entitled to compensation for repairs or replacement of items, like your clothing, electronics, or vehicles.
   
6. Wrongful death damages: In cases where a loved one dies because of a premises liability accident, family members could be entitled to recover funeral expenses, lost financial support, and compensation for loss of companionship.
   
7. Punitive damages: If the property owner’s actions were especially negligent or reckless, you could be entitled to punitive damages, which are meant to punish the defendant and stop them from similar behavior in the future.

Navigating the aftermath of an injury on someone else’s property can be overwhelming, but understanding the damages you could be entitled to can help clear up the process. Wendt Law Firm is ready to take on your case and be the advocate you need to get the compensation you deserve.

How a St. Joseph Premises Liability Lawyer Can Help

Premises liability claims can be complicated, especially if you’re dealing with large companies or government entities. A knowledgeable Buchanan County premises liability attorney can help you gather the evidence you need to not only prove the property owner’s negligence but also make sure you’re not taken advantage of during the process.

Our team at Wendt Law Firm is committed to fighting for the justice you deserve. We can:

• Investigate the accident to determine the cause and gather evidence
• Handle all communications with insurance companies and property owners
• Negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf
• Represent you in court if the case goes to trial

If you or someone you love has been injured on someone else’s property, reach out for help. Serving residents all across Buchanan County, Wendt Law Firm prides itself on fighting for your rights and securing the compensation you need to move forward.

Contact a St. Joseph Premises Liability Lawyer

From St. Joseph to De Kalb, Easton to Atchison, Wendt Law Firm is here to help you every step of the way, from filing your claim to securing the compensation you need.

Don’t wait. Contact us today at 816-531-4415 to schedule a free consultation, and let’s combine forces to secure the future you deserve.

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