Slip-and-fall accidents affect thousands of victims each year, sending millions to the hospital for emergency treatment. Proving fault in a Missouri slip-and-fall accident claim may be challenging and require substantial evidence to affirm causation and negligence. Property owners have a lawful duty to maintain and repair dangerous conditions on their premises and may be held liable for injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and other losses incurred as a result of their lack of duty of care.
The Missouri slip-and-fall lawyers at Goza & Honnold have three decades of experience fighting for premises liability victims and understand what it takes to build a robust claim on your behalf. We will thoroughly investigate your accident, obtain evidence of negligence, and demonstrate liability through our tailored approach. As an award-winning legal team, we have been involved in countless successful litigation settlements and trials and are ready to fight for the justice you deserve.
Ways to Prove Fault in a Missouri Slip-And-Fall Accident
Working with the Missouri premises liability lawyers at Goza & Honnold may help you navigate the complex slip-and-fall claims process. Proving fault may require the following to obtain a successful claim:
1. Collect Evidence
In order to obtain a favorable outcome in a Missouri slip-and-fall claim, you must gather evidence at the accident scene in order to bolster your chances of success. If you are able, consider taking photos and videos of the environment. It is also essential that you document anything that may have contributed to your slip-and-fall, such as exposed wiring, torn carpets, broken banisters, cracked sidewalks, or other hazardous conditions.
If there are no pictures or videos collected, the property owner may repair the condition after the accident, making it more challenging to prove. Additionally, recording a written account of the accident may help retain some of the significant details that can help prove fault in a slip-and-fall claim.
2. Legal Duty to Maintain Safe Conditions
A property owner is legally responsible for maintaining safe conditions on their premises and must take reasonable steps to ensure that their premises is free from hazardous conditions that would cause a victim to slip or fall.
If you are a victim of a Missouri slip-and-fall accident on another individual’s property due to a hazardous condition, you may have to demonstrate one of the following in order to successfully prove fault:
- The property owner should have been aware of the dangerous condition because another “reasonable” property owner in their position would have been cognizant of the danger and fixed it.
- The property owner was aware of the dangerous condition but did not repair or fix it in a timely manner
- The property owner, tenant, or employee caused the dangerous condition
Working with a Missouri slip-and-fall lawyer may help you prove these elements, including demonstrating that the property owner failed to inspect their premises by looking at maintenance or inspection reports or illustrating they had known about the condition for a reasonable amount of time and did not take steps to begin repairs through witness testimony.
Damages Recoverable in a Successful Missouri Slip-And-Fall Accident Claim
You may secure the following damages in a successful Missouri slip-and-fall accident claim:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Physical impairment or disability
- Scarring
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Physical therapy or rehabilitation
The lawyers at Goza & Honnold will help you determine the true value of your Missouri slip-and-fall claim by analyzing your medical records, pay stubs, and other expense records so we may fight for the complete compensation you deserve to help in your recovery.
Contact the Missouri Slip-And-Fall Lawyers at Goza & Honnold
Proving fault in a Missouri slip-and-fall accident claim may be challenging with the help of a premises liability lawyer. Our lawyers at Goza & Honnold are well-versed in Missouri premises liability laws and will help you navigate the claims process. With our award-winning legal team and track record of success, we tailor our proven strategies to fight for the compensation you deserve.
To schedule a free consultation with one of our slip-and-fall accident attorneys, fill out a contact form or call our office at (913) 451-3433.