Premises Liability

Premises Liability simply means that you were hurt on someone else’s property. The reason you were on the property is an important first question. If you think you have a case, contact The S.E. Farris Law Firm and learn how we can represent your case.

While slip and fall accidents are one of the most common types of personal injury, it’s not the only type of accident that can be a case of premises liability. Premises liability means responsibility for an injury on the property of another.

Property owners are responsible for maintaining safe conditions for invitees and licensees. Invitees are people invited to the property for business reasons, for example a customer, contractor,  or pizza delivery driver. Licensees are those permitted but not invited onto the property such as someone visiting a park or walking on a public sidewalk.

Even trespassers are entitled to a certain standard of care, in that the landowner must warn of known dangers. “Beware of Dog” signs are one way that trespassers are given the required notice.

In Missouri, the adult victim of an injury on the property of another can be held partially responsible for their own injury for not paying enough attention to their surroundings. Because of this, we have tried more cases over the years for victims who were harmed by an unsafe or hazardous property condition, regardless of what type of injury.

The Farris Law Firm provides a free case evaluation for Premises Liability claims. Call us at 314-A-LAWYER (252-9937), contact us by email, or find us on Google.

Premises Liability Case Features

A 13-year-old sued the St. Louis Cardinals for premises liability after he broke his arm in a contest at Busch Stadium. The team had set up a game requiring contestants to sprint 60 feet between a simulated home plate and first base. The teen, who had played the game more than 15 times previously, struck the wall and broke both bones in his forearm. He was awarded a $48,000 judgment.

Richard Hawkins, age 78 at the time, was exiting the south turnstiles at River City Casino when his foot caught the exposed edge of a tile bordering a carpeted area. Mr. Hawkins fell and landed face first, knocking out his permanent dental bridge. The plaintiff’s dentist testified that it would cost from $13,000 to $23,000 to fix the damage. Hawkins previously attempted to negotiate a settlement of $25,000 to which the casino didn’t respond. Judgment was entered in favor of Hawkins for the amount of $40,000.

One of our clients, 44-year-old Michelle Schaefer sued the Kellan Restaurant Management Group after breaking her kneecap at the 54th Street Grill and Bar, a chain location in Blue Springs. The plaintiff spent weeks in the hospital and months afterward in physical therapy. She’d fallen on a slick floor that the manager told her had caused injuries in the past, which resulted in Schaefer winning a $75,000 verdict from a jury which was many times higher than the amount for which she had offered to settle.

Premises Liability FAQ

Generally, property owners are liable for an injury on their premises if they:

  • Directly cause the safety hazard that resulted in the accident.
    • For example, if the owner had a handicap railing removed for aesthetic reasons and it causes an accident.
  • Knew about the safety hazard but didn’t fix it, warn visitors of it, or block access to the area.
    • An example could be something as simple as the absence of a wet floor sign.
  • Should have known about the danger because a “reasonable person” could have found the problem and taken steps to prevent injuries caused by the condition.
    • For instance, if there are missing or broken stairs but the property owner never saw them because no inspections of the area were ever performed, they are still considered liable.

As you know, premises liability injuries are not limited to slip and fall accidents. Many types of injuries can occur because of safety hazards including:

  • Wet floors without proper warning or barricade.
  • Exposed wiring.
  • Faulty elevators and escalators.
  • Poor lighting.
  • Faulty stairs and faulty or missing railings.
  • Uneven or unstable surfaces.
  • Negligent security, especially in an area with a history of crimes.
  • Failing to lock up dogs or other animals which can lead to animal attacks.
  • Insufficient security such as a lack of security cameras.
  • Icy sidewalks and parking lots.

Call The Farris Law Firm at 314-A-LAWYER (252-9937) to discuss your case.