Proving a Slip and Fall Injury

Working with a St. Louis slip and fall lawyer will give you the knowledge and reassurance you need to take the next step after a slip and fall. If you decide to pursue a case, you must prove four conditions in court:

• Dangerous conditions existed on the property.
• The party in possession or control of the premises were aware of the conditions.
• The party in possession failed to repair or warn of danger.
• You were injured as a direct result of their inaction.

Common Slip and Fall Injuries

As St. Louis slip and fall lawyers, we have seen both minor and catastrophic injuries from dangerous conditions that cause slip and falls to occur. A few common slip and fall injuries include:

• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Neck and Back Injuries
• Broken Bones
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Head or Facial Injuries
• Joint Injuries
• Chronic Pain
• Cuts or Lacerations
• Soft Tissue Injuries

Finding Fault in a Personal Injury During a Slip and Fall

Pursuing a slip and fall case requires a bit of insight from a St. Louis slip and fall lawyer with regard to the way the state’s court system treats these incidents. Missouri has a “pure comparative negligence rule” that allows the courts to assign a percentage of fault to the plaintiff and the property owner, thus determining the payout amount. For example, if the court finds you to be 40% at fault for your incident, then the property owner would be required to pay 60% of the agreed-upon damages.

Property owners will generally make a multitude of arguments in an attempt to prove that you were negligent in your slip and fall case, such as:

• You were in an area of the property where visitors are not allowed.
• You did not have permission to be on the property.
• You ignored obvious signs of dangerous conditions such as signage or cones.
• You weren’t paying attention to the conditions ahead of you.
• You were not wearing proper shoes.

Even if your case does not make it to trial, comparative negligence will still play a role in slip and fall settlement amounts. The property owners’ insurance company and their attorneys will consider your fault in the matter and will make a settlement offer that reflects their view. Hiring a slip and fall attorney in St. Louis ensures your side of the story will not only be heard, but also taken seriously.