Chesterfield Slip and Fall Lawyer

Chesterfield Slip and Fall Attorney

If you visit someone else’s property in Chesterfield, you should be able be on the property without fear of suffering an injury. Every private property owner has a duty of care to address foreseeable safety hazards that may result in injury to lawful guests and visitors. If you have suffered a slip and fall, an experienced Chesterfield slip and fall lawyer can help you recover compensation for your damages.

Representing Slip and Fall Injury Claims in Chesterfield, MO

The Cagle Law Firm offers compassionate and client-focused legal counsel for a wide range of cases in Chesterfield. We know that every case is unique, and every injured client will have various needs and concerns when it comes to recovering from the injuries, they have experienced because of negligent property owners. We can answer your questions and provide the guidance you need in the aftermath of a slip and fall accident resulting in serious injury.

Even if you believe that fault for your recent slip and fall is perfectly clear, you should not assume that you can handle your personal injury claim on your own or that you could secure the same level of compensation that an experienced attorney could obtain on your behalf.  When you choose us to represent you, you will have instant access to an experienced team of attorneys who can help you understand all facets of your case.

Our goal for your personal injury claim in Chesterfield is to hold the negligent property owner and their insurance carriers accountable for the injuries due to a slip and fall accident.. Those goals are best met when you get the best and appropriate medical care to optimize your physical recovery. We will help you understand Missouri’s premises liability laws as they apply to your case and the statutory rules you must follow to successfully file your claim and win compensation for your losses. You have a limited time in which to file your case so it’s vital to consult our firm as soon as you can.

Building Your Slip and Fall Accident Claim in Chesterfield

Success with any premises liability claim in Chesterfield will require accurately identifying the defendant you believe to be responsible for causing your injury and proving how they caused it. Under Missouri’s premises liability laws, a property owner has a duty to maintain their property in a safe condition for guests and lawful visitors. This includes friends, neighbors, and relatives invited to the property for personal reasons and mail carriers, utility workers, and others with permission to enter for business reasons.

Premises liability law does not protect intruders or trespassers. This means that if someone illegally enters a private property and suffers a slip and fall or other injury, they will not have any grounds for legal recourse against the property owner since they did not have permission to be there. Once you have proven that you were legally present on the property in question, your Chesterfield slip and fall lawyer can help you prove liability for your damages.

Missouri’s premises liability laws are more specific to commercial property owners. For example, business owners must ensure their properties are safe for customers and address any foreseeable slip and fall hazards as soon as they become aware of them. This could include things like posting wet floor signs over spills or freshly mopped floors.  Businesses expressly invite customers to enter their premises thus business owners have a higher duty of care for customers than do individual home residences.

When a business owner notices any safety hazard on their property, they must either take steps to immediately correct the hazard to prevent injury, or they must provide a clear warning to lawful visitors. This could involve posting clearly visible warning signs around the hazard or providing clear verbal warnings to visitors about the hazard. Failing these steps, the business owner may be liable for any resulting injuries they could have prevented.

Recovering Compensation for a Slip and Fall Accident in Chesterfield

While a “slip and fall” may sound like a minor incident, some falls result in serious, life-changing injuries. A slip and fall could result in broken bones, traumatic brain injury, and a host of various medical complications for the victim. Their injuries are also likely to be extremely painful, and they could face a wide range of long-term or even permanent effects from the incident.

The goal of your personal injury claim is to hold the property owner and their insurance carrier accountable for the harm you suffered because of their negligence. Once you have asserted liability for your damages, you must show the full extent of that damage by calculating your total economic damages and the projected future losses you face from the incident. While some of these damages may be immediately clear, your attorney can verify the full extent of your claimable damages.

Your immediately noticeable economic damages are likely to include medical treatment costs for your injury and lost wages if you are unable to work during recovery. However, you may also have the right to claim compensation for projected future economic losses resulting from the incident in question. For example, the defendant may be liable for the cost of future medical care and your lost earning power if you are permanently disabled from your injury.  These damages are proven through evidence of medical treatment and expert testimony such as treating physicians and potentially, life-care planners.

The plaintiff in a Missouri personal injury case also has the right to seek reasonable pain and suffering compensation. This reflects the physical pain, emotional distress, and psychological trauma they experienced because of the circumstances of the injury and medical treatment required to recover from said incident. It may sound difficult to assess monetary value for intangible losses like these, but your Chesterfield slip and fall lawyer will help you determine a suitable amount.

The team at The Cagle Law Firm is ready to help you recover from your recent slip and fall injury. Our firm excels at resolving complex personal injury cases, and we can explain the various legal mechanisms you will need to consider as your case unfolds. Connecting with an attorney as soon as you can after this type of incident ensures that you can collect the evidence you will need to establish liability and prove the full extent of your losses.

FAQs

Q: What Is the Statute of Limitations for Slip and Fall Claims in Missouri?

A: The statute of limitations for slip and fall claims in Missouri is five years, beginning on the date the injury happened. It’s important for the plaintiff to start building their case as quickly as possible to ensure they meet the applicable statute. It is critical to contact an attorney immediately in order for valuable evidence to be collected and evaluated. Waiting weeks to begin collecting evidence can mean it sometimes has been destroyed or forgotten. IE: witnesses forget details or contact information is not gathered, store video has been recorded over and incident reports can be d

Q: How Much Is My Slip and Fall Claim Worth in Chesterfield?

A: The total potential value of a slip and fall claim in Chesterfield will depend on the scope and severity of the victim’s injuries. Personal injury claims filed under Missouri’s premises liability laws enable plaintiffs to recover compensation for economic and non-economic damages, which may include medical treatment costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. They may also claim compensation for anticipated future losses resulting from the incident.

Q: How Do You Prove Fault for a Slip and Fall Accident?

A: Proving fault for a slip and fall accident will require evidence showing the incident occurred because of the property owner’s failure to maintain reasonably safe premises. The plaintiff has the burden of proof. Meaning the plaintiff has to identify and prove exactly what caused the fall and how the defendant is responsible. The mere act of falling is not always due to the negligence of another. The victim will also need to show the full extent of their resulting damages and prove that the defendant is liable for these damages based on a “preponderance of the evidence.”

Q: What Happens if I’m Partially Liable for a Slip and Fall?

A: If you are partially liable for your slip and fall in Missouri, you can still claim compensation for your damages from the property owner, but you will lose a percentage of your case award to reflect your shared fault should your case be decided by a judge or jury. Under Missouri’s pure comparative fault rule, the plaintiff’s fault percentage will be the percentage of their case award they lose as a penalty. Your Chesterfield slip and fall lawyer can possibly help you minimize any comparative fault assigned to you.

Q: Why Should I Hire a Chesterfield Slip and Fall Lawyer?

A: You should hire a Chesterfield slip and fall lawyer to maximize your chance of success with your impending case. The right attorney can make it much easier for you to prove fault for your damages, hold a liable property owner accountable for the harm they have done, and maximize the compensation you secure for your losses.

The team at The Cagle Law Firm has the experience needed to handle the most challenging slip and fall accident claims in Chesterfield and the surrounding communities of Missouri. We know that you are likely to have several important legal questions you cannot answer yourself, and the sooner you connect with our team, the sooner we can begin building your case. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Chesterfield slip and fall lawyer you can trust.