Property owners are required to make reasonable efforts to keep premises free of defective or dangerous conditions that could harm others. Property owners also have a duty to warn visitors of hazards they are aware of or should be aware of. When someone is hurt due to an unsafe condition on the property, the owner or a business on the site may owe the victim compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
If you have been hurt due to an unsafe or defective condition on someone’s property, turn to a legal team with more than 50 years of collective experience helping accident victims like you. At Sumner Law Group, LLC, we purposely limit our caseload so that we can give your injury claim the full attention it deserves. Our St. Louis premises liability attorneys will fight fiercely for the fair financial recovery you need to heal.
Contact us for a free case evaluation. We will provide you an honest and thorough assessment of your case. We will also discuss how we can help you get back on your feet and put this unexpected accident behind you. However, time is limited to take action against the negligent property owner, so call us today.
Examples of Unsafe Conditions
Common examples of unsafe or defective conditions include:
- Snow and ice
- Spilled liquids or food
- Lack of anti-skid/anti-slip mats
- Lack of (or broken) hand railings on staircases or ramps
- Broken or uneven stairs
- Broken or loose tile or hardwood flooring
- Torn carpeting or rugs
- Uneven floors and half-steps
- Recently mopped or waxed floors
- Uneven or broken pavement or walkways
- Potholes
- Covered or obscured holes in the ground
- Loose or unsecured cords or wires
- Obstructing furniture
- Trash or debris on the ground
- Broken or defective escalators or elevators
- Inadequate or broken lighting
- Inadequate security personnel or surveillance cameras
- Lack of alarms or help-boxes
- Unfenced yards or swimming pools
- Negligently constructed or maintained amusement or playground rides
What to Do If You Have Been Hurt on Dangerous Property
If you have been hurt because of a dangerous or defective condition on someone else’s property, take quick action to protect your legal rights.
- Notify the property owner about your injuries. Simply let the property or business owner know what happened. Do not go into detail about how you are feeling. If your accident takes place at a business or a commercial establishment, the owner or an employee may fill out an accident report. Ask for a copy of this report before you leave the business or establishment.
- Ask the property or business owner or manager to preserve any surveillance camera footage that may have caught the incident that resulted in your injuries.
- If any bystanders witnessed the accident, ask for their names and contact information. Your attorney may later reach out to them for a statement about your accident.
- Take photos of the accident scene. Include details of whatever caused or contributed to your injuries, such as a puddle of water, a broken staircase, or nonfunctional parking lot lights. Photograph any warning signs, safety equipment, the lighting conditions, or the weather outside, if relevant. Also photograph any visible injuries you may have suffered.
- Get checked out by a doctor as soon as possible after the accident. The doctor can identify and begin to treat your injuries. If you wait too long to seek treatment and later try to file a claim, the property or business owner may argue that you were not as seriously injured as you claim.
Finally, speak with a premises liability attorney in St. Louis about the accident and your injuries. A lawyer from our firm can help you determine whether you have a claim for compensation against the property or business owner. We can also explain what steps you should take next to begin pursuing your claim.
Demanding Full Compensation for Your Injuries
After an accident on somebody else’s property, you may end up incurring injury-related expenses and suffering personal losses. You may be entitled to demand full compensation from the property or business owner where the accident took place. The compensation would cover these damages:
- Medical treatment expenses, including ER and hospital visits, doctor’s appointments, surgeries or pain medication
- Long-term rehabilitation and care, including physical therapy or home health care
- Lost income and earning capacity if you miss time from your job or are disabled and cannot return to your pre-injury work
- Pain and suffering, or the physical and mental distress brought about by your injuries
- Lost enjoyment and quality of life due to disabilities or physical disfigurements caused by your injuries
- Physical difficulties that prevent you from performing the tasks of daily living or participating in activities you once enjoyed
How Our Premises Liability Attorneys Can Help
The premises liability lawyers at Sumner Law Group, LLC, can take the pressure off you after a serious accident. Our legal team can:
- Conduct an immediate investigation into the accident or incident that caused your injuries to secure all available evidence before it is lost or destroyed
- Use our extensive network of experts in accident reconstruction, engineering, medical, vocational, and financial fields to help us craft a strong, persuasive legal argument for liability and the amount of compensation you deserve for your losses
- File claims with insurance companies and negotiate with adjusters on your behalf
- Prepare your case to go to trial, if necessary, to demand justice for you
Call us today for a free consultation with a knowledgeable premises liability attorney in St. Louis. When you choose our firm, we will represent you on a contingency-fee basis. That means you will not owe us anything until we secure compensation for you. There is no risk or obligation, so call us now.
