Chicago Slip and Fall Lawyer

You can slip and fall anywhere, and while some accidents only result in minor bruises, you could be injured badly enough to need medical care. A serious injury can also result in lost wages due to time away from work while recovering.

If someone else’s negligence or intentional behavior caused your injury, you may be entitled to financial damages for your losses. Let a Chicago slip and fall lawyer evaluate your case and determine your eligibility for compensation. Schedule a consultation today with one of our dedicated personal injury attorneys.

Common Types of Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall injury cases are based on negligence. For instance, property owners and managers are liable if they breach their duty of care to those on their premises. Compensation may be available when they fall short of their duty, and someone gets hurt. Common examples of failed duties of care that could lead to slip and fall accidents include:

  • Grocery stores failing to put up a hazard sign to alert customers to wet floors
  • Apartment buildings lacking adequate lighting or signage in the stairwells
  • Parking lots owners letting their premises be iced over for days before being salted
  • Buckling carpet in a dimly lit restaurant

Slip and fall laws are nuanced because time is always a factor. A property manager or owner is expected to act like a reasonable person, and the jury must interpret how much time it should have taken to correct a dangerous situation.

For example, if a customer drops a carton of eggs on the grocery store floor, and someone slips and hurts themselves, reasonableness may be judged based on how long the eggs were on the floor before the injury occurred. The longer they remained, the more likely the store was liable for negligence.

The Role of a Slip and Fall Attorney

A Chicago slip and fall attorney could meet with clients to discuss their accident before tailoring a plan for proving the at-fault party’s negligence. They could also collect evidence for physical, emotional, and financial damages.

Compensation is divided into economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages have objective costs, such as medical bills and past and future lost wages. Non-economic damages are attributed to subjective losses, such as emotional trauma, the degree of ongoing pain, and the loss of enjoyment of life. A slip and fall lawyer in Chicago could study a person’s case to determine available compensation for their client.

"Danger Ice" sign on a snowy sidewalk

Statute of Limitations for Filing a Claim

The statute of limitations gives Illinois residents two years to file a civil injury lawsuit according to Illinois Compiled Statutes, § 735 ILCS 5/13-202. Some exceptions apply, primarily if an accident involves criminal charges for intentional or highly reckless behavior, or when the defendant is a local government body.

Filing deadlines are enforced to prevent drawing out the case and losing witnesses and evidence. A Chicago lawyer could ensure a client’s lawsuit meets all deadlines to prevent losing rightful compensation for a slip and fall claim.

Schedule a Consultation With a Chicago Slip and Fall Attorney

If someone is responsible for your fall that led to an injury, they may owe you compensation to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma. Navigating this type of case on your own can be challenging and put you at risk of missing crucial deadlines.

A Chicago slip and fall lawyer on our team could diligently represent you throughout the legal process. Call McCready Law today to discuss your situation and learn about your rights.