St. Louis Slip and Fall Lawyer

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Slip and fall accidents often occur without serious injury. Despite a bruised ego, most are still able to get up, dust themselves off, and have a good laugh about it. But sometimes, slip and fall accidents result in serious personal injury.

Have you or someone you know been seriously injured in a St. Louis slip and fall accident? If so, you know firsthand how something seemingly innocent, like a wet floor or a snag in a rug, can lead to serious financial hardship. After you total up the medical bills, physical therapy, and lost wages, that clumsy moment is certainly no laughing matter.

saint louis slip and fall attorney

The good news is that if your injury was caused by the negligence of a property owner or business, then you have the power to fight for the compensation that you deserve. However, you will likely need an experienced St. Louis personal injury attorney on your side to prove the property owner’s negligence caused your accident.

The St. Louis personal injury lawyers at Miller & Hine have more than 50 years of combined experience representing the people of St. Louis in slip and fall accidents and other personal injury cases, with a high degree of success taking on insurance companies and protecting victims in premises liability cases. Contact Miller & Hine law firm today to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation. Call (314) 413-2053, or visit our contact page anytime.

Why Hire a St. Louis Slip and Fall Attorney?

After being injured in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, you can’t always rely on property owners and businesses to hold themselves accountable for your injury, and they will likely contact their own legal team or insurance company before you even make it to the hospital.

Proving that the owner of the business or property was responsible for your injuries is not easy. That is why it is crucial for you to contact an experienced St. Louis slip and fall attorney as soon as possible, so we can begin to build your

case against the property owner by contacting witnesses and documenting hazards on the property.

Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Commonly Occur?

No one expects to experience a bad fall accident while they’re enjoying a meal in a restaurant, shopping in a mall, or running errands in town, but busy commercial properties require careful management to keep visitors safe. When a hazardous condition is present and you slip and fall on a commercial property, the property owner’s liability insurance must cover your damages. Some common places where slip and fall accidents occur include:

Commercial property managers and owners are typically liable for injuries if you suffer a fall accident on their property due to a hazardous condition, but in some cases, a government agency may be held liable; for example, if you fall in a public park or in a post office.

Proving Liability in St. Louis Slip and Fall Accidents

Property owners have a duty to keep others safe when they visit as a guest, a patron, or a customer. This duty requires them to perform routine inspections and promptly address any safety hazards present. It also requires them to place warning signs in a visible location near any hazardous conditions while they are present. Proving liability in a slip and fall accident requires the plaintiff to show the following points:

Once an investigation shows clear liability on the part of a property owner or manager, your St. Louis slip and fall attorney has a compelling case for your complete compensation.

Who Can Be Liable for a Slip-and-Fall Accident?

When a sudden slip and fall occurs through no fault of the victim and it causes a serious injury, the fall victim has the right to recover full and fair compensation for their damages. First, it’s essential to identify the liable party. Compensation in a St. Louis slip-and-fall case typically comes from the at-fault party’s property liability insurance. Common liable parties in slip-and-fall accident claims include:

Part of a St. Louis slip-and-fall lawyer’s investigation is to determine the liable party and pinpoint the appropriate insurance policy. Then, they craft a demand letter with the evidence and a carefully calculated list of the injury victim’s past, current, and anticipated future damages.

Does a Slip-and-Fall Case In St. Louis Require a Trial?

Nearly 95% of personal injury claims result in a settlement following a personal injury attorney’s negotiations with the insurance company. If your case requires court, your attorney will ensure that you are well-prepared for the process and then make a compelling argument to a jury, seeking a positive verdict. A well-executed case in court often brings a large jury award for damages. While a court case takes longer than a settlement, juries are usually sympathetic to an injury victim rather than the powerful insurance companies that protect company profits at an injury victim’s expense.

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in St. Louis

Slip and fall accidents happen every day in department stores, restaurants, grocery stores, parking lots, at work, or someone’s house. Slips and falls are usually caused by poor maintenance or design:

Slip and fall injuries can be serious, ranging from head trauma, spinal injuries, damaged knees, broken limbs, internal injuries, and paralysis.

What Kind of Injuries are Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents in St. Louis?

Fall accidents are one of the leading causes of personal injuries in the United States. This is especially true for the elderly, but a person of any age can experience a fall and sustain painful injuries. Some common injuries from slip-and-fall accidents include:

Injuries from fall accidents can cause physical trauma and expensive medical bills. When your injury was preventable if only someone had taken reasonable precautions, you shouldn’t have to suffer the financial consequences.

What to Do Immediately After a Slip and Fall Accident in St. Louis

  1. Check the floor. Look to see if there was something on the floor, if there was a crack or defect in the floor, or another dangerous condition. If you have a camera phone with you, take a picture.
  2. File an incident report. Contact a manager or supervisor immediately. Get the manager’s card or at least their name and phone number. If the manager prepares a report at the scene, make sure that you get a copy of the report. If they tell you they will not give you a copy of the report, please ensure you get everyone’s name and try to take a picture of them or their name tag. Additionally, gather a name and contact information for the property owner.
  3. Witnesses. Obtain the names and telephone numbers of any witnesses to the accident.
  4. Seek medical attention. Seek immediate medical attention for any injuries you have sustained. In fact, you should get checked out by a doctor even if you feel fine.
  5. Call Miller & Hine. Call our law firm to consult with an experienced St. Louis slip and fall accident attorney about what you should and shouldn’t do to preserve your right to compensation and maximize your slip and fall injury claim.

What Damages Can I Recover After a St. Louis Slip and Fall Accident?

When you’ve experienced significant injuries, the costs quickly escalate. Your bills are now compounded by medical expenses and you may be out of work for recovery either temporarily or permanently. When the slip and fall attorneys at Miller & Hine advocate for your rights throughout the legal process you can maximize your chances of gaining full compensation for the following damages:

If you’ve suffered a preventable injury due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve full compensation from the liable party—typically paid through their property insurance or commercial property insurance.

Time Limits to File a Slip-and-Fall Case In St. Louis

Slip-and-fall cases fall under the umbrella of personal injury claims in Missouri. An injury victim has up to five years from the date of the accident to take a case to court under Missouri’s generous five-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Insurance companies will not pay out on claims made after the statute of limitations has expired because a court would likely refuse to hear the case. There are some exceptions to the five-year time limit. For instance, if an injury occurs to a minor, they have up to five years from their 18th birthday. If a slip-and-fall victim in St. Louis discovers an injury later—such as when a doctor diagnoses a nagging backache as a burst disc fracture from the fall—the statute of limitations begins on the date of the discovery. If the fall leaves a victim unconscious or comatose after the accident, the five-year time limit begins on the date they recover consciousness. If the claim is against a government entity, such as after a slip-and-fall accident in a public park or city bus station, shorter time limits apply. A claim against a government entity requires a notice of claim within 90 days of the injury.

Why Hire a St. Louis Slip-and-Fall Attorney?

Insurance companies are not on your side, even if they sound concerned and compassionate when they communicate with you after an injury. A slip-and-fall attorney’s priority is to defend your rights and safeguard your best interests throughout the claim process by doing the following:

When a slip-and-fall accident causes a serious disruption to your life, including causing pain, requiring medical treatment, interfering with your earning ability, or leaving you with a disability and an uncertain future, you need the assertive legal representation your critical claim deserves.

Miller & Hine | Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers in St. Louis, MO

If you have been injured in a St. Louis slip and fall accident, then you need the services of an experienced St. Louis premises liability attorney who will fight day and night for the compensation you deserve. Call Miller & Hine law firm today at (314) 413-2053, or visit our contact page to get your slip and fall accident case started.

We handle slip and fall accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you pay us no out-of-pocket fees until we recover compensation for you.