Personal Injury Lawyer Normal IL | Who is accountable for a slip and fall accident
In Illinois, liability for slip and fall accidents is typically based on the legal concept of premises liability, which holds that property owners, occupiers, or controllers have a duty to keep their premises in a reasonably safe condition. Therefore, if you slip and fall on a business or commercial property, typically the owner can be held accountable. Our personal injury lawyer Normal IL can evaluate the circumstances of your case and help determine what your best legal options are. Contact the legal team at Kelly & Castagna for a consultation at 309-820-0600.
When you slip and fall on a business or commercial property, who is responsible for your injuries? In most cases, the answer is simple: the business owner. However, these cases can be complicated and take time, so you may want to consult with an attorney. The laws of most states hold businesses responsible for maintaining their premises in a safe condition. However, there are some exceptions that may allow them to escape liability if they can prove that it was not their fault.
Business or property owners can be held liable
Under Illinois law, liability for slip and fall accidents may be attributed to a range of parties, including property owners, landlords, tenants, property managers, and other entities that exercise control over the property. The specific parties who may be held liable depend on the circumstances of the case.
To establish liability in a slip and fall accident case, the plaintiff must show that the defendant had a duty to maintain the property in a safe condition, that the defendant breached that duty, and that the breach of duty caused the plaintiff’s injuries. Liability can arise from a range of hazardous conditions, including wet floors, uneven surfaces, inadequate lighting, and other hazards that can cause a person to slip, trip or fall. Ultimately, the determination of liability in a slip and fall case depends on the facts of the individual case, and it is important to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer Normal IL to evaluate your options.
If a business or property owner fails to maintain their premises in a safe condition, they can be held liable for injuries caused by falls or slip-and-fall accidents. A premises liability case is one where you are injured on someone else’s property and seek compensation from that person or business. For example, if you trip over an uneven sidewalk outside of a grocery store and break your leg, the grocery store may be responsible for your injuries because it failed to keep its sidewalks safe for customers walking on them.
There are many different types of slip-and-fall accidents:
- Cluttered aisles and fallen merchandise in stores can be a hazard. Store owners should avoid this whenever possible.
- Inadequate lighting can mean that people can’t see where they are walking and fall, resulting in injury.
- Tripping over loose carpeting at work can lead to injury. You’re walking down some stairs when you trip on some loose carpeting near the bottom step. Your ankle twists painfully as you fall forward onto the floor below. This type of accident would most likely fall under “trips and falls” rather than “slips”.
- You slip and fall in a store because of wet floors. The store could be liable if it knew of the problem and did nothing to fix it or warn customers about the hazard.
- You slip on ice outside a restaurant as you exit after dinner with friends. Any owner is legally obligated to keep their property in a reasonably safe condition for customers or guests and snow/ice removal is essential in the winter.
Whatever the cause, you should seek medical attention and then procure the help of an experienced attorney. Our personal injury lawyer Normal IL understands the physical pain, mental anguish, financial strain, lost wages, and other issues that come with slip and fall accidents.
Steps to take after a slip and fall accident
If you haven’t been injured that severely, take pictures on the scene and particularly, anything that may have caused the accident. If there are witnesses, talk to them and get their statements. You should always seek medical attention after an accident as falls can cause numerous injuries. Even if you are certain that you are not injured, it’s important to make sure, especially since some injuries do not manifest themselves until later. If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, make sure that the emergency room treats all of your injuries before leaving the hospital. You may need stitches or other medical treatment for any wounds sustained during the fall.
You may also want to contact the police. They will want to know how it happened and who was involved. Don’t move any further or touch anything at the scene of your accident as this can be used in evidence against you later on. You should also refrain from talking about what happened with anyone else until after talking with a personal injury lawyer Normal IL, because anything that may seem insignificant could actually help prove liability for someone else’s negligence.
Contact our Personal Injury Lawyer Normal IL to help you pursue your claim
It is important that you keep track of any costs related to your injuries. You should be able to prove that you have been injured, and how much money it has cost you. This can include medical bills, documentation of lost wages or time off work due to the accident, and other out-of-pocket expenses related to caring for yourself during recovery.
All of this information will help your personal injury lawyer Normal IL pursue a claim for you. An experienced attorney can help you understand your rights and options, as well as get the compensation you deserve for medical bills and lost wages. If necessary, they will also be able to pursue legal action against the responsible party so that they are held accountable for their actions. Contact Kelly & Castagna today for a consultation.
