Sansone & Lauber recently secured a $250,000 settlement at mediation for our client in a Missouri premises liability / dangerous condition case. This was an exceptionally strong result given the significant liability disputes and the defense’s arguments that the property owner had no proper notice of the dangerous condition.
As Missouri personal injury attorneys, we are proud to have helped our client obtain a result that reflects the seriousness of his injuries and the impact on his life.
Background of the Case
Our client was injured on a dangerous condition of property in Missouri. The incident occurred when he was walking down the back steps of his rental property and the step moved out of place because the stair stringer bracket came loose causing him to fall due to a poorly maintained stairway. As a result, he suffered injuries that required medical treatment and caused ongoing pain and limitations.
The property owner and their insurance company denied responsibility, claiming they had:
- No prior notice of the dangerous condition
- No reasonable opportunity to fix or warn about the hazard
- No violation of any duty owed to our client as a lawful visitor
Despite these defenses, our firm aggressively pursued the claim and gathered the evidence needed to show the property owner’s negligence.
Injuries and Medical Treatment
As a Missouri personal injury law firm, we ensured that all relevant medical records, bills, and expert opinions were obtained and presented to fully document the nature and extent of his injuries and future needs.
Liability Dispute: Notice of the Dangerous Condition
This was not a simple “admit fault and pay the claim” case. The defense relied heavily on lack of notice and lack of proof of a dangerous condition, arguing that:
- The condition was open and obvious or not unreasonably dangerous
- The property owner had no actual or constructive notice of the hazard
- The client was partly or entirely at fault for not seeing or avoiding the danger
In Missouri premises liability cases, proving that a property owner knew or should have known about a dangerous condition is often the central battle. Our firm conducted a detailed investigation, which included:
- Reviewing incident reports and internal documents (where available)
- Analyzing photos and measurements of the scene
- Evaluating safety practices and maintenance procedures
- Examining how long the condition likely existed before the injury
Through this work, we were able to build a strong negligence case against the property owner despite the contested notice issue.
Mediation and Settlement Result
The case proceeded through discovery and was ultimately set for mediation. The defense initially minimized the claim, emphasizing the liability disputes and arguing that Mr. Frazier’s injuries were not severe enough to justify significant compensation.
At mediation, attorney Ben Sansone of Sansone & Lauber presented:
- A clear summary of the dangerous condition and the property owner’s failures
- Medical evidence demonstrating the extent of the client’s injuries
- Documentation of his medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future impact
After extensive negotiations, the parties agreed to a $250,000 settlement. Given the disputed liability and arguments over notice of the dangerous condition, this result represents a very favorable outcome for our client.
What This Result Shows About Missouri Personal Injury Cases
This case highlights several important points for anyone injured in Missouri due to a dangerous condition on property:
- Strong results are possible even when liability is disputed.
- Premises liability cases are complex and often turn on notice, maintenance, and safety procedures.
- Having an experienced Missouri personal injury lawyer can make a critical difference in investigating the claim, presenting the evidence, and negotiating with insurance companies.
Insurers often argue that slip and fall or trip and fall cases aren’t worth much or that the injured person should have been more careful. Our firm works to prove the full value of the case and push back against these tactics.
Missouri Premises Liability and Dangerous Condition Claims
Property owners in Missouri – including businesses, landlords, and homeowners – have a duty to:
- Maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition
- Inspect for unsafe conditions
- Fix hazards or warn guests of dangers that are not open and obvious
When they fail to do so and someone is injured, a premises liability claim or dangerous condition claim may be pursued to recover for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Future medical needs
Our firm routinely handles Missouri personal injury cases involving premises liability, including:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Trip and fall accidents
- Unsafe stairs, handrails, or walkways
- Poor lighting or inadequate maintenance
- Dangerous conditions in stores, parking lots, apartment complexes, and other properties
Contact Sansone & Lauber – Missouri Personal Injury Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been injured because of a dangerous condition on someone else’s property in Missouri, you do not have to deal with the insurance company alone.
Sansone & Lauber offers free consultations and handles most personal injury and premises liability cases on a contingency fee basis – meaning you pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.
Call us today at [phone number] or contact
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