Premises Liability Accident Lawyers in Kansas City, MO, Holding Negligent Property Owners Accountable
While many people don’t realize it, property owners owe a duty of care to those on their land. That means they can be held liable if someone is injured due to dangerous conditions on their premises. This is true for business owners, government agencies, and even private property owners. If you were injured while on someone else’s property, you may be entitled to recover compensation. However, it’s typically ideal to have an expert legal team to help you through this complicated process. That’s why you should seek out a premises liability accident lawyer in Kansas City, MO, even before speaking to the insurance company.
At Mohlman Gurney Injury Law, we understand the difficulties a person can face after they’ve suffered injuries on the property of another. Most accident victims end up dealing with pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and a host of other significant losses. Fortunately, Kansas City premises liability law offers the opportunity to seek compensation for these losses. Even if you’re unsure whether your injury was due to an unsafe condition or negligence of a property owner, don’t hesitate to reach out to Mohlman Gurney Injury Law today. We offer free initial consultations, so you have nothing to lose by seeking advice.
What Is Premises Liability?
You may hear people use terms like “slip and fall” and “premises liability” cases interchangeably. In reality, a slip-and-fall case will fall under the umbrella of premises liability. In addition to injury cases involving falls, incidents such as dog bites, falling branches, defective or dangerous conditions, uneven sidewalks, or an attractive nuisance can also fall under this umbrella. To put it simply, premises liability exists when an accident victim suffers an injury on someone else’s property because the property owner was negligent or created an otherwise unsafe condition.
Owners, landowners, homeowners, landlords, and businesses are required to protect those who lawfully enter their land or property from possible injuries. Even unexpected hazards caused by fire, inadequate security, and other unknown or known dangers can lead to liability cases. By now, it should be clear that there are many types of premises liability, and there are also many types of financial compensation an injured victim could receive. This includes recovery for both economic losses (e.g., medical bills) and non-economic damages (e.g., emotional distress). However, Missouri law does have a statute of limitations on such personal injury claims, so you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
Who can File a Premises Liability Case?
If you were injured on another person’s property, there’s a strong probability that you may have a premises liability claim. In cases where you’re an invitee or licensee on-premises, the property owner owes a duty of care to you. This isn’t typically the case for trespassers, but there are some instances where the owner could still face financial consequences for certain dangerous behaviors. This will vary on a case-by-case basis, and you can get a better understanding of your situation by speaking with a personal injury law firm before making any decisions.
Kansas City premises liability laws are very specific regarding who can recover compensation. These cases usually come down to whether the property owner was negligent and caused injury in some way. They don’t even need to have been on the property at the time, and in many cases, it’s not even necessary for them to have known a specific dangerous condition existed. If you’re unsure whether you have a valid personal injury case, though, don’t hesitate to reach out to Mohlman Gurney Injury Law. We’ll provide a free case evaluation so you can better understand your rights and how to move forward.
When is a Property Owner at Fault for my Injury?
While a property owner may be considered negligent if they allow a dangerous condition to exist on their property, this doesn’t always mean they’ll be held liable for financial compensation. For a premises liability claim to be successful, there are certain factors that must be proven. While proving these elements is really only necessary in a court of law, the fact that they exist can also dictate how settlement negotiations with an insurance company will play out. The following factors can establish fault in premises liability cases:
- The property owner must have had possession of the property at the time of the accident
- The injured victim must have been a licensee or invitee on the property
- The property owner owed a duty of care and failed in that duty because of negligence
- An injury resulted when the property owner breached their duty of care
If you can prove these elements in your Kansas City premises liability claim, there’s a good chance that the courts will award you for your damages. In fact, it’s likely that the insurance company will offer a fair settlement from the start just to avoid a trial in these situations. Of course, this is only the case if they know you’re serious about securing maximum recovery for your losses. The best way to prove this is by having a premises liability accident attorney in Kansas City on your side.
Common Questions we Hear From Slip and Fall Accident Victims
The personal injury lawyers at Mohlman Gurney Injury Law have handled countless premises liability claims over the years, and over that time, we’ve been asked a variety of questions both during consultations and throughout the recovery process. The following are the most common that we hear:
- “Can I replace my income from missing work?”
- “How can I pay my medical bills?”
- “When should I speak to the insurance company?”
- “Can I get compensated for emotional pain and suffering?”
A Kansas City premises liability lawyer can help answer each of these questions. In fact, we can simplify the answers for you right now: “1. Yes, 2. By recovering compensation, 3. Not before speaking with an attorney, and 4. Absolutely.” At Mohlman Gurney Injury Law, we understand that the road ahead seems difficult. Even so, we’ll work hard to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
Common Causes of Premises Liability Injuries
This guide has discussed in passing many of the ways you could experience a personal injury related to premises liability. Still, the list of accidents mentioned thus far is far from exhaustive. Just consider the following common causes of these personal injury cases, and you’ll understand just how common such injuries can be:
- Poor lighting
- Dangerous stairs and staircases
- Untreated ice and pavement
- Poorly placed rugs
- Uneven floors
- Potholes
- Spills
- Dangerous construction sites
- Trespass/nuisance
- Negligent security
- Explosions
- Fires
- Dangerous animal attacks
- Structural defects of buildings
- Criminal assaults
As evidenced by this list, there doesn’t even need to be a dangerous or defective condition on-premises for personal injury liability cases to move forward. Additionally, there can be more than just one at-fault party liable for such injuries. The fact is that these cases are quite complex, and having the help of a premises liability attorney can prove invaluable.
Contact Premises Liability Accident Lawyers in Kansas City
Personal injury law provides specific protections for accident victims. Unfortunately, victims don’t receive these protections simply because they were injured. Holding responsible parties accountable for their negligence means either seeking a settlement from the insurance company or filing a personal injury lawsuit. In either of these situations, trying to recover compensation can be incredibly difficult without the help of legal professionals. You have several options available to you if a property’s dangerous condition caused you harm, and Kansas City premises liability attorneys can help you understand the best way forward.
At Mohlman Gurney Injury Law, we work tirelessly to ensure our clients are fairly compensated after being injured due to a property owner’s negligence. We can handle your premises liability claim from start to finish, and this means you can focus on healing and caring for your loved ones. If you need legal services dealing with a slip and fall accident or other premises liability cases in Missouri or Kansas, our legal team is here to help. Contact us today by calling (816) 648-6000 to schedule a free consultation. With our premises liability accident lawyers in Kansas City, MO, on your side, you’ll have an advocate who won’t stop until you get justice.