Rockford Slip and Fall Lawyer
According to data provided by the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), slip and fall accidents send 1.1 million Americans to the emergency room every year. In many cases, these accidents can lead to very serious injuries. As a slip and fall accident victim, you have a legal right to hold the negligent property owner liable for your damages. To do so, you should work with an experienced Rockford slip and fall accident lawyer. At Brassfield & Krueger, Ltd., our premises liability team has the skills and experience needed to help you recover the compensation you rightfully deserve.
Proving Liability in an Illinois Slip and Fall Accident Case
To hold a business or property owner legally responsible for your slip and fall accident injuries, you will need to prove that their negligence, in some form, contributed to your accident. Under Illinois law, negligence is the failure to take proper care. In practice, negligence can manifest itself in many different forms. Some examples of property owner negligence that could potentially lead to a serious slip and fall accident include:
- Uncleaned spills left on the floor
- Leaks left unrepaired
- Clutter left in the middle of a walkway
- Cracked floorboards
- Broken stairs
- Tattered carpets
- Broken or inadequate lighting
- Poorly maintained outdoor walking surfaces
The Legal Elements of Negligence
Ultimately, negligence is a very fact-specific issue. When assessing negligence, there are many different factors that will need to be considered. To establish liability, your slip and fall accident lawyer will need to be able to prove the following four things:
- There was an unreasonable safety hazard present on the property;
- That safety hazard, at least partially, caused your accident;
- The property owner knew or should have known about the existence of that danger; and
- The property owner could have taken action to address the problem but failed to act.
Compensation Available for Injured Victims
Once you are able to establish liability in your Rockford slip and fall accident case, your claim will move to the issue of damages. Under Illinois law, injured victims have a legal right to recover compensation for the full value of their damages from the at-fault business or property owner. Our team can help you seek financial recovery for:
- Emergency medical expenses
- Hospital bills
- Physical therapy costs
- Other incidental economic damages
- Long-term disability
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of life enjoyment
Schedule Your Free Personal Injury Consultation Today
At Brassfield & Krueger, Ltd., our Rockford premises liability attorneys have considerable experience handling slip and fall accident claims. We can help you hold the negligent property owner accountable for your damages. From our offices in Rockford and Streator, we represent victims throughout the region, including in Winnebago County, LaSalle County, and Livingston County.
FAQs About Slip and Fall Accidents in Illinois
Can I sue if I slipped and fell while trespassing?
Typically, property owners are not responsible for injuries to trespassers because they are not expected to keep their property safe for uninvited individuals. However, there are exceptions, particularly if the owner’s actions were intentionally malicious or if the trespasser was a child. Your ability to file a claim depends heavily on the specific circumstances of your case.
What if the property owner posted a warning sign?
A warning sign can sometimes reduce a property owner’s liability, but it does not automatically absolve them of responsibility. For a warning sign to be effective, it must be clearly visible and adequately warn of the specific danger. If the sign was poorly placed or did not accurately describe the hazard, the property owner may still be held accountable.
What should I do after a slip and fall in a business?
Immediately after a fall, you should seek medical attention, even if your injuries don’t seem that bad, as some problems may not be immediately apparent. Report the incident to the business manager and document everything by taking photos of the scene, the hazard that caused you to fall, and your injuries. Also, be sure to get contact information from any witnesses.
What happens if my fall aggravated a pre-existing injury?
You can still pursue compensation even if the fall worsened an old injury. Under the “eggshell skull” rule, a defendant is responsible for all resulting damages, even if the victim was more susceptible to injury than a typical person.