Were you injured on someone else’s property in Kansas City, Missouri? Property owners have a legal responsibility to maintain reasonably safe premises for visitors like you. Call a Kansas City premises liability lawyer at Cohen Law Firm for help seeking compensation. Schedule your free consultation by calling 816-323-0955.
Our founding attorney, Zack Cohen, has extensive experience handling claims against large property owners and corporate insurers. He’s recovered tens of millions to help clients send a message and get back on their feet. Reach out to us today to learn how we can help you.
Why Choose Cohen Law Firm for Help With My Premises Liability Claim in Kansas City, MO?
Property owners and insurance companies rarely admit fault after an accident. Instead, they’ll find ways to blame you for the accident or undervalue your losses related to it. Our Kansas City premises liability attorneys can help you maximize your compensation.
Clients in Kansas City, MO, choose Cohen Law Firm because our attorneys:
- Have experience representing injured clients throughout Missouri
- Work with safety experts, engineers, and medical professionals when necessary
- Provide compassionate client service and are available to address your calls and questions
- Handle injury claims on a contingency fee basis
Contact us today to schedule a free case review with a Kansas City personal injury attorney who can help you.
What Is Premises Liability?
Premises liability is a branch of personal injury law that holds property owners and occupiers responsible when dangerous conditions on their property cause injuries.
Property owners generally have a duty to take reasonable steps to keep their premises safe for visitors. This often includes inspecting for hazards, repairing dangerous conditions, and warning visitors about risks that are not readily apparent.
Premises liability accidents can occur in a variety of settings, including:
- Grocery stores
- Shopping centers
- Restaurants and bars
- Apartment complexes
- Hotels
- Parking lots and parking garages
- Office buildings
- Private residences
- Entertainment venues
- Construction sites
The key issue is whether the property owner failed to address or warn of known hazards that could harm guests visiting their property.
How Much Is My Kansas City Premises Liability Case Worth?
Every premises liability claim is unique. The value of your case depends on numerous factors, including the severity of your injuries.
Several considerations may affect the value of your claim, including:
- The cost of your medical treatment
- Future medical care requirements
- Lost wages and income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent impairments
- Scarring or disfigurement
- The strength of the liability evidence
- Available insurance coverage
An experienced premises liability attorney in Kansas City can help calculate the full value of your losses.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Premises Liability Accident?
Missouri law allows injury victims to pursue both economic and non-economic damages after a premises liability accident. Economic damages are financial in nature, while non-economic damages are more personal in form.
Depending on the circumstances of your case, compensation may be available for:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability
- Scarring and disfigurement
Your compensation award should make you whole by putting you as close as possible to the position you were in before the accident. Our goal is to ensure that all your damages are identified and calculated when it comes time to demand compensation from the property owner or their insurer.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Kansas City Premises Liability Lawyer?
Fortunately, most premises liability claims are handled on a contingency fee basis. This means no upfront attorney fees, no hourly billing, and no out-of-pocket legal costs to get started. You only have to pay your attorney at the end of your case if they recover a settlement or verdict for you.
This arrangement allows injury victims to pursue justice regardless of their financial situation. Cohen Law Firm offers contingency fees in all personal injury cases.
What if I Was Partially Responsible for the Accident?
Missouri follows a pure comparative fault system. This means you may still recover compensation even if you were partially responsible for the accident.
However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if a jury determines your damages total $200,000 but finds you 20% responsible for the incident, your recovery would be reduced to $160,000.
You may have been blamed already. Insurance companies regularly argue that a fall hazard was open and obvious, or that you were distracted before the fall. Even if the arguments are true, you are still entitled to compensation. However, in many cases, these are just attempts to reduce your compensation award.
A personal injury lawyer in Kansas City can challenge unfair allegations and work to minimize any fault assigned to you.
Common Types of Premises Liability Cases in Missouri
Unsafe property conditions can take many forms. Some hazards develop over time due to poor maintenance, while others result from negligent security or dangerous property designs.
Common premises liability claims include:
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common types of premises liability claims. These accidents may result from wet floors, uneven walking surfaces, or other factors.
Trip and Fall Accidents
Property owners may also be liable when dangerous walking conditions create tripping hazards. Trip and fall accidents frequently cause serious orthopedic injuries, particularly among older adults.
Negligent Security Claims
Property owners may have a duty to provide reasonable security measures to address foreseeable criminal activity on their properties.
These security measures may include providing:
- Adequate lighting
- Security personnel
- Functional locks
- Surveillance systems
- Access controls
These cases often involve assaults, shootings, or other violent incidents occurring on commercial or residential property.
Falling Object Accidents
Improperly stacked products or unsecured materials at a store or business may cause severe head injuries and other harm.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Premises Liability Accident?
Determining liability in a premises liability case is one of the first and most important steps of your case.
Depending on the circumstances, potentially responsible parties may include:
- Property owners
- Commercial tenants
- Business operators
- Property management companies
- Landlords
- Maintenance contractors
- Security companies
Many accidents involve multiple parties who share responsibility for maintaining safe conditions. Each of these can be held liable if their negligence caused you to get hurt. A thorough investigation is often necessary to determine who knew about the dangerous condition and who had the authority to correct it.
We Handle All Types of Injury Cases Caused by Dangerous Property Conditions
Premises liability accidents frequently result in injuries that require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation.
We regularly represent clients who have suffered:
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Herniated discs
- Spinal cord injuries
- Torn ligaments
- Shoulder injuries
- Knee injuries
- Severe lacerations
- Internal injuries
- Emotional trauma
In the most tragic situations, a premises liability accident can result in the loss of life. When a loved one dies because of a dangerous condition on someone else’s property, surviving family members may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim.
Although no legal action can make up for such a loss, a successful claim can provide financial support for medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, lost financial contributions, and the loss of a loved one’s companionship and guidance.
How Do I Have to Prove a Premises Liability Claim in Missouri?
Simply getting injured on someone else’s property does not automatically make the property owner liable. To recover compensation, you must establish that the owner or another responsible party failed to fix or warn of dangerous conditions on their property.
A successful premises liability claim requires proving:
- A dangerous condition existed on the property.
- The property owner knew or should have known about the hazard.
- The owner failed to repair the condition or adequately warn visitors.
- The dangerous condition caused your injuries.
- You suffered damages as a result.
Property owners often argue that they had no notice of the hazard or that the condition developed too quickly for them to address it. For this reason, you may need evidence like:
- Surveillance footage
- Maintenance records
- Inspection reports
- Incident reports
- Witness statements
- Photographs of the hazard
- Expert testimony
An experienced attorney can help you gather the evidence you need to prove that negligence caused your injuries.
How Long Do I Have to File a Premises Liability Lawsuit in Missouri?
In most premises liability cases, injured victims have five years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Although five years may seem like a long time, waiting too long can seriously harm your case. If you miss the deadline, you could lose your right to compensation. That’s why it is important to consult an attorney as soon as possible after an accident.
Contact a Kansas City Premises Liability Lawyer Today to Arrange a Free Consultation
Property owners have a responsibility to keep their premises reasonably safe. You shouldn’t be on the hook for medical bills and other damages if you got hurt on a dangerous property.
Cohen Law Firm has years of experience handling complex personal injury cases. We’ve already recovered tens of millions; we’re ready to help you secure a fair result.
Reach out to us today for a free consultation with a Kansas City premises liability attorney and learn how we can help protect your rights and pursue the recovery you deserve.