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Falling down a tall flight of stairs is a frightening experience. Along with incurring physical injuries, the incident can cause emotional trauma. Anyone suffering from a stairwell accident in Chicago should contact a lawyer with McCready Law for assistance in pursuing compensation.
An experienced slip and fall attorney could help establish a strong foundation of evidence for your case to secure a substantial financial award. Reach out to our law office today to arrange an initial consultation with a member of our legal team.
Whether homeowners or store managers, landlords can be liable for injuries occurring on their property. However, injured parties must prove negligence if they want to receive compensation. Establishing negligence requires that the individual prove the following:
Two common examples of negligence are poorly lit stairwells and debris. Insufficient lighting heightens the risk of missteps, and letting objects pile up on stairs and landings increases the likelihood of tripping.
Establishing negligence can be challenging if the property owner claims the plaintiff should have known about the risk of injury. To counter such claims, injured parties must gather evidence such as the following:
Pictures illustrating the stairwell condition can help others understand how the accident could have happened. They can show the unsafe conditions that caused injuries. Security or surveillance footage may be available, and, in some cases, bystanders may have pictures or video of the incident.
Reports may contain valuable information depending on where the stairwell accident occurred. Similarly, witness statements can support negligence claims. Recording a bystander’s story and what they witnessed and collecting contact information can help ensure their side is heard.
Building owners may require accident reports that should be available to others. Additionally, if law enforcement or first responders are called, police reports should document the actions leading up to and after a stairwell accident.
Medical records document an injury and the steps to diagnose and treat it. Stairwell accidents can result in broken bones, head trauma, bruises, and more. Regardless of the injury, individuals should seek medical attention to prevent any harm from being undiagnosed.
In addition, injured parties should keep all appointments and retain copies of all treatments to help document the extent of their injuries. Medical records can also indicate when further treatment will not improve the outcome and require ongoing medical services.
Maintenance and inspection records are another type of record that can indicate how well the property is being maintained. A stairwell accident attorney in Chicago could use this information to help outline a strategy for pursuing compensation.
Most premises liability claims request compensation for medical bills and lost wages. The size of the request depends on the severity of the injury. For instance, if the accident results in temporary or permanent disability, the settlement amount should include ongoing compensation to cover expenses.
Noneconomic compensation, such as pain and suffering or loss of companionship, are also available. If the injury results in impairment, an injured person may ask for compensation for a lower quality of life. A reliable Chicago lawyer could help calculate all necessary compensation based on the damages sustained in a stairwell accident.
You can seek compensation for your losses when you or a loved one has been injured in a stairwell accident in Chicago. A proficient lawyer could assist you by meeting all filing deadlines and gathering evidence to strengthen your negligence claim.
McCready Law has the resources necessary to help you pursue compensation. Do not hesitate to contact our law office today to schedule an initial consultation.