When you suffer serious injuries while visiting the property of a business or another individual, you might be entitled to compensation for your losses through an injury claim. These types of claims are called premises liability lawsuits, and choosing the right lawyer is critical for the outcome of your claim. Scroll down to learn what to look for in a premises liability attorney.
Understanding Premises Liability
Premises liability is a legal term referring to a specific type of claim that falls under Missouri’s civil tort laws. Property owners have a legal duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition to prevent lawfully present visitors from sustaining foreseeable injuries. If a business or private property owner fails to correct hazardous conditions that they knew or reasonably should have known about, and a lawfully present customer or social guest is injured by that condition, the property owner might be liable to pay damages to the injured victim.
When you’re considering filing an injury claim after being injured on someone else’s property, it’s important to choose the right premises liability attorney. To ensure your rights are protected, look for the following characteristics in a premises liability lawyer.
Legal Experience
Attorneys must complete a bachelor’s degree followed by a law school program to obtain a Juris Doctor. They must then take and pass a comprehensive bar examination and ethics exam before they can obtain a license to practice law. While all practicing lawyers have this same basic education, premises liability lawyers focus on personal injury law. The first facet to consider is the experience a lawyer has both in terms of years of legal practice in general and in personal injury law. You should look at how long any lawyer you consider has been licensed. Then, you should consider how long they have practiced in the area of personal injury law.
While a recently licensed attorney might be talented, you won’t want to hire someone who will be learning with you on the job during your case. Choose someone who has at least several years of practical experience in personal injury law and has been licensed for years.
Experience Handling Premises Liability Claims
In addition to focusing on personal injury law and having years of legal experience, you should also look for someone who has experience handling premises liability claims. Ask any lawyer you consult about how many premises liability cases they have handled and whether they have represented clients whose cases involved similar factual patterns to yours. Premises liability cases can be complex and might require your lawyer to conduct a thorough investigation while anticipating potential defenses. Your lawyer must understand how to handle your claim and how to identify the best legal strategies to implement on your behalf.
Verifiable Litigation Experience and Track Record
Some attorneys have little or no trial experience and instead, quickly settle all claims outside of court. A lawyer without trial experience is unlikely to secure the best settlement offer for you. While most premises liability lawsuits will be resolved through settlement agreements, your lawyer must have a verifiable track record at trial. Insurance companies are much more likely to agree to fair settlements if your lawyer has a lengthy record of success at trial. This is because the insurance company might be motivated to avoid a loss at trial and the publicity that can come with it.
Ask a prospective attorney about their litigation experience. A good premises liability attorney should be able to provide you with information on the number of jury trials they have had and their overall results at trial.
Excellent Communication Skills
Your lawyer should have excellent communication skills to successfully negotiate on your behalf and represent you in court. Pay attention to how a lawyer communicates with you when you consult them. The attorney should carefully listen to you, ask questions about your case, and explain the law and how it applies in understandable terms. Avoid lawyers who talk over you, interrupt, or fail to listen or answer your questions. When your attorney has an excellent communication style, it can help them communicate your story for you and can aid in successfully negotiating a fair outcome.
Consult a Premises Liability Attorney
If you were injured on someone else’s property because of a dangerous condition, you might be entitled to compensation. Contact the Law Offices of Bryan Musgrave to schedule a case evaluation. Our consultations are free, and we work on a contingent fee basis. This means you won’t have to pay attorney’s fees until and unless we recover compensation for you. Call us today at 417-322-2222 or contacting us online to learn more about your rights.