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Cape Girardeau Slip and Fall Lawyer
At NST Law, we are dedicated to helping injured individuals and their families get the justice and compensation they deserve.
Expertise
Mr. Trotz has handled injury cases involving auto accidents, slip and fall, premises liability, and negligent security. Every day, Mr. Trotz represents those who have been injured and many of his clients have sustained traumatic and life-altering injuries.
A sudden slip and fall can turn your life upside down. You may face debilitating pain, costly medical treatment, and weeks or months of missed work. If you slipped and fell on someone else’s property, you may be eligible to seek compensation for these losses and more.
Property owners have a responsibility to keep their property reasonably safe for visitors. At NST Law, we’re committed to helping injured people hold property owners accountable when their negligence causes harm. Our Cape Girardeau slip-and-fall lawyers are ready to help you understand your legal options and pursue the compensation you deserve.
- What Are Common Causes of Slip-and-Fall Accidents?
- Who Is Liable for Slip-and-Fall Injuries in Cape Girardeau?
- Do I Have a Valid Claim for a Cape Girardeau Slip-and-Fall Case?
- What Injuries Can Result from Slip-and-Fall Accidents?
- What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Slip-and-Fall Case in Cape Girardeau?
- What Damages Can You Recover from a Slip-and-Fall Case in Cape Girardeau?
- How Can the Cape Girardeau Slip-and-Fall Attorneys at NST Law Help?
- Contact NST Law Today for a Free Consultation
What Are Common Causes of Slip-and-Fall Accidents?
Slip-and-fall injuries often occur due to preventable hazardous conditions, such as:
- Slippery surfaces: Wet floors and icy pavement can cause visitors to lose their footing.
- Obstructed walkways: Visitors may slip or trip when businesses leave loose merchandise, cords, boxes, or other objects in walking paths.
- Uneven flooring: Cracked pavement, loose tiles, or torn carpets can cause visitors to trip and fall.
- Lack of handrails: When stairs or ramps have missing or broken handrails, visitors who require support using stairs are more likely to fall.
- Poor lighting: Dim or nonexistent lighting can make it harder for visitors to see and avoid hazards.
Proving what caused a slip-and-fall accident is necessary to recover compensation. If you’ve fallen on someone else’s property, be sure to document the incident promptly. Take photos of the area where you slipped and any contributing hazards, and hold on to your medical records related to the treatment you received afterward.
Who Is Liable for Slip-and-Fall Injuries in Cape Girardeau?
Property owners and managers are responsible for maintaining their premises in a reasonably safe condition. They must take reasonable steps to identify, fix, or warn about dangerous conditions on their property. If they fail to do so, they can be liable for slip-and-fall injuries that occur due to their negligence.
Examples of property owner negligence that may make them liable for a fall include:
- A grocery store that fails to place a wet floor sign after mopping
- A landlord who ignores repeated tenant complaints about a broken staircase
- A hotel that neglects to conduct regular safety inspections
- A shopping mall that fails to remove ice from the parking lot after a winter storm
- A restaurant that leaves spilled food on the floor for an extended period
If you slipped and fell at work, your employer may not be liable for your injuries even if their negligence caused the incident. However, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Whether you were injured in a construction accident or an office incident, our Cape Girardeau workers’ compensation lawyers can help you navigate this process.
Do I Have a Valid Claim for a Cape Girardeau Slip-and-Fall Case?
You may have a valid slip-and-fall claim if you can prove all of the following elements:
- Duty of care: The property owner or manager had a legal obligation to keep the premises reasonably safe. In Missouri, this duty generally applies to lawful visitors, such as customers or tenants, but not to trespassers.
- Breach of duty: The property owner or manager failed to meet their legal duty by not repairing or warning about a dangerous condition they knew—or should have known—existed.
- Causation: The hazardous condition must have directly caused your injury. It’s not enough to prove the hazard was present—you must show it was the specific reason you slipped and fell.
- Damages: You suffered compensable harm, such as medical expenses, lost wages, or pain and suffering, as a direct result of the fall.
Strong evidence is necessary to prove these elements. This may include photos of the area where you slipped, medical records, witness statements, surveillance footage, maintenance records from the property, and more.
Do I Have a Claim if I'm Partially at Fault?
Under Missouri’s pure comparative fault law, you may have a claim even if you’re partially at fault for your injury. Both you and the property owner will be assigned a percentage of fault reflecting how each party’s actions contributed to the incident, and your compensation will be reduced proportionate to your fault.
For example, say you were using your phone while walking and failed to see the hazard. In that case, the property owner may still be liable for their share of negligence if they knew about the hazard and failed to fix it.
What Injuries Can Result from Slip-and-Fall Accidents?
Slipping and falling can cause severe, life-altering injuries. Our Cape Girardeau personal injury lawyers have represented clients facing these injuries and more:
- Bone fractures to the hip, ribs, arms, or vertebrae
- Sprains and strains, especially to the ankles, knees, and wrists
- Spinal cord injuries
- Herniated discs
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Dislocations of the shoulders, knees, or other joints
Some of these injuries may not show immediate symptoms. It’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible after a slip and fall, even if you don’t feel seriously injured. Getting these injuries diagnosed promptly helps you prove their direct link to the incident.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Slip-and-Fall Case in Cape Girardeau?
Missouri has a five-year statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim. This deadline applies to most types of injuries, including slips and falls. If you don’t file a claim within five years of the day you fell, you may lose your right to seek compensation.
What Damages Can You Recover from a Slip-and-Fall Case in Cape Girardeau?
You may seek compensation for any damages you suffer as a result of your slip-and-fall injury. This includes both economic damages and non-economic damages, such as:
- Past and future medical expenses related to your injury, including surgery, hospitalization, medication, and physical therapy
- Lost wages for the work you missed while you recovered from your injury
- Lost earning capacity for the injury’s long-term impact on the type of work you can do
- Disability-related expenses, such as mobility equipment, home or vehicle modifications, or in-home assistance
- Transportation expenses for doctor’s visits
- Property damage for any personal belongings that were damaged when you fell, such as your watch, phone, or clothing
- Pain and suffering, which includes both physical pain and emotional distress
- Loss of consortium for the injury’s impacts on your relationships
- Loss of enjoyment of life if the injury prevents you from participating in activities you previously enjoyed
How Can the Cape Girardeau Slip-and-Fall Attorneys at NST Law Help?
Our firm has recovered billions for injured people and their families in Missouri and beyond, and we’ve been fighting for victims of negligence for over 35 years. If you or a loved one slipped and fell on someone else’s property, we’re ready to put that experience to work for you.
When you turn to us after a serious injury, we’ll handle every step of the legal process while you focus on your health. Our slip-and-fall lawyers in Cape Girardeau will:
- Investigate the incident to determine how it happened and who’s at fault
- Collect evidence proving the property owner’s liability and your damages
- Calculate your damages to determine how much compensation you’re entitled to
- Protect you from the insurance company’s tactics
- Negotiate with the insurance company to reach a fair settlement
- Represent you in court if the insurance company refuses to settle for what you deserve
How Can the Cape Girardeau Slip-and-Fall Attorneys at NST Law Help?
You’re not alone after a fall. Let our Cape Girardeau slip-and-fall lawyers seek maximum compensation on your behalf while you rebuild your life. Contact us online or call 800-529-4004 to start moving forward with a free consultation.
Contact us for a free consultation now so that we can review your case and decide how we can best help you.