Columbia Slip and Fall Lawyer

A fall can look minor to everyone except the person who took it. A spill nobody cleaned up, a broken step, an icy walkway that was never salted, or a dark parking lot can leave you with a broken wrist, a hip fracture, a back injury, or a head injury. If you were hurt on someone else’s property in Columbia or Boone County, Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers can help you find out whether the owner or manager should be held responsible. There is no fee unless we win. Call our Columbia office at (573) 722-2121 or our main line at (888) 550-4026.

Why Columbia Residents Call Mutrux Firm

Attorney Tyson Mutrux used to work as a claims representative for State Farm. He knows how a property insurer looks at a fall claim, including the questions adjusters ask to shift blame onto the injured person. He is an Army veteran, licensed in Missouri and Illinois, and he has led the firm since it was founded around 2010. We opened our Columbia office at 2415 Carter Ln, Suite 102 in 2019. That office has a 5.0 Google rating from 137 reviews (Google Maps, October 2026). Visit our testimonials page to hear from past clients. We only represent injured people in personal injury cases.

How Property Owners Can Be Responsible

Missouri property owners and businesses have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for people who are lawfully there. How much care is owed depends partly on why you were on the property. A customer in a store is generally owed more care than a trespasser. To build a claim, we usually need to show that:

• A dangerous condition existed on the property;
• The owner or the party in control knew, or reasonably should have known, about it;
• They failed to fix it or give an adequate warning; and
• That failure caused your injury.

Who is responsible isn’t always obvious. The landowner, a commercial tenant, a property manager, or a snow removal or cleaning contractor may share responsibility. If the fall happened on government property, special rules and shorter notice requirements may apply, so speak with a lawyer quickly.

Common Fall Hazards Around Columbia

Columbia has busy shopping centers, apartment complexes, restaurants, campus-area housing, and office buildings, and each brings its own risks:

• Wet or freshly mopped floors with no warning sign
• Spilled products in grocery and retail aisles
• Ice and snow left on sidewalks, steps, and parking lots during Missouri winters
• Cracked or uneven pavement and potholes in parking areas
• Broken stairs or missing handrails in apartment buildings
• Poor lighting in stairwells, hallways, and parking lots
• Loose rugs, cords, or merchandise left in walkways

Missouri Law on Slip and Fall Claims

Five-year filing deadline. Most Missouri premises liability lawsuits must be filed within five years under RSMo 516.120. Don’t let the long window fool you. Stores often record over security video within days, and owners can repair a hazard right after a fall. Early action keeps the evidence intact. Pure comparative fault. Insurers often say you should have watched where you were going. Missouri follows pure comparative fault, so your recovery can be reduced by your share of fault, but sharing some blame doesn’t automatically bar you from recovering. Local courts. A lawsuit over a fall in Columbia is often filed in Boone County Circuit Court, part of the 13th Judicial Circuit, which serves Boone and Callaway Counties. The Boone County Courthouse is at 705 E. Walnut St. in downtown Columbia.

What to Do After a Fall in Columbia

1. Get medical care. For serious injuries, call 911. University Hospital in Columbia, part of MU Health Care, is a Level I trauma center. For any fall, get checked and follow your doctor’s treatment plan.
2. Report the fall. Tell the manager, landlord, or owner, and ask that an incident report be made. Ask for a copy.
3. Photograph everything. Get the hazard, the area around it, the lighting, any warning signs (or the lack of them), your shoes, and your injuries.
4. Get witness information. Names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the fall or the hazard can be very valuable.
5. Keep your shoes and clothing. Store them as they were when you fell.
6. Be careful what you sign or say. Don’t sign releases or give recorded statements to the property’s insurer before you get advice.
7. Call us. We can send preservation requests for video and maintenance records quickly.

How Mutrux Firm Builds Your Claim

We investigate who owned and controlled the property, ask for surveillance footage, incident reports, and inspection and maintenance records, and interview witnesses. We collect your medical bills and wage records and document how the injury affects your daily life. We handle all communication with the insurer. If they won’t make a fair offer, we’re prepared to go to court. For more on premises cases statewide, see our Missouri slip and fall lawyer page. To see all the injury cases we handle locally, visit our Columbia personal injury lawyer page. Free case review: (573) 722-2121 (Columbia) or (888) 550-4026. No fee unless we win.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a slip and fall lawsuit in Missouri?

Generally five years from the date of injury under RSMo 516.120. Claims against government entities can involve additional notice requirements and other rules, so talk to a lawyer early.

Do I have a case if I fell on ice?

Possibly. It depends on things like who controlled the area, how long the ice was there, and whether reasonable steps were taken to treat it or warn people. We can review the facts with you for free.

What if the store says I wasn’t paying attention?

Missouri follows pure comparative fault. If you share some fault, your recovery may be reduced by that percentage, but you aren’t automatically barred from recovering.

Should I give a statement to the property owner’s insurance company?

You aren’t required to give a recorded statement to the other side’s insurer. It’s wise to talk with a lawyer first.

What does it cost to hire you?

Nothing up front. We work on contingency: no fee unless we win.

Can I get help if I fell at a rental property?

Yes. Landlords, property managers, and maintenance contractors may share responsibility for unsafe common areas, depending on who controlled the space.

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Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers – Columbia 2415 Carter Ln, Suite 102, Columbia, MO 65201 Columbia: (573) 722-2121 | Main: (888) 550-4026 The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.