Slip and fall accidents can happen in an instant, but they can leave victims with serious injuries, lost wages, hefty medical bills, and other major expenses. When these accidents occur on someone else’s property due to unsafe conditions, victims may have a premises liability claim against the property owner or manager to recover compensation. However, winning these Chicago personal injury cases involves navigating complex legal issues around liability. This article examines some key questions around proving liability in Illinois slip and fall claims.
Where Did the Accident Happen?
The first issue in any premises liability case is establishing the classification of the property where the fall occurred. In Illinois, the duty of care owed to an injured person depends on how they are classified on the property:
Trespasser: A trespasser enters property without permission. Property owners owe them no duty of care other than refraining from intentional, harmful actions. Slip and falls are nearly impossible to win under this status.
Licensee: A licensee is on the property for their own benefit, with the owner’s permission. For example, social guests in a home. Property owners must warn licensees only of concealed dangers on the property that the owner is aware of. The owners have no responsibility to discover hidden dangers or make the property safe for licensees.
Invitee: An invitee enters the property for the owner’s commercial purpose or mutual benefit, such as customers, clients, and patrons. Property owners owe invitees the highest duty of care to keep the premises reasonably safe, including inspection and warning of dangers.
In slip and fall cases, plaintiffs want to establish they were invitees by showing they entered as paying customers, members, employees, etc. Different levels of duty apply to accidents in stores, restaurants, offices, hotels, medical facilities, parks, sidewalks, private homes, and other property types.
What Caused the Fall?
Merely falling on someone’s property does not automatically make them liable. The accident victim must prove:
- A dangerous condition existed on the property
- The property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition
- The owner was negligent in failing to correct the condition or warn visitors about it
- The condition caused the fall and subsequent injuries
Typical dangerous conditions in slip and falls center on:
- Existing wet or slippery surfaces like spilled liquids, leaks, rainwater accumulation, uncleared snow, ice, grease, food or drips that create fall hazards
- Unsecured, inadequately maintained or improperly installed flooring materials such as loose carpets, lifted tiles, warped hardwood, protruding grout, and tears or holes
- Poor lighting conditions such as burned-out lightbulbs, inadequate fixtures, shadows or glare that obscure tripping dangers
- Clutter and obstructions in walkways like merchandise, boxes, cables, furniture or other items blocking paths
- Lack of secured rugs and mats that can slide underfoot
- Missing or inadequate handrails to grasp for stability and balance
- Variations in surfaces heights with unmarked, uneven, broken or cracked steps, thresholds, sidewalk sections etc.
- Other absent fall safeguards like non-slip floor treatments or protective barriers in risky areas
Strong evidence is needed showing the property owner’s improper maintenance, faulty design choices, lack of inspections, failure to place warnings, missing safeguards, violations of state laws or building codes, or other negligent acts that failed to keep visitors reasonably safe.
What Factors Help Determine Liability?
In trying slip and fall claims, Illinois courts consider many case specifics that shape liability determinations, including:
Standard of Care – Owners must make reasonable efforts to keep premises safe without expecting perfection. Customers must show unaddressed risks were clearly dangerous and unreasonable. What defines “reasonable care” changes for different property types and purposes.
Notice – Generally, owners must have actual notice (personal knowledge) or constructive notice (reasonably should have known) of dangerous conditions with enough time to address them before being liable. But notice may not be required for risks created by the owner’s own negligence.
Comparative Negligence – If a plaintiff fails to exercise reasonable care for their own safety and this partial negligence contributed to their accident, any compensation awarded can be reduced proportionally. But the claimant’s negligence cannot exceed 50% for recovery in Illinois.
Expert Testimony – Engineers, building code specialists, facilities safety managers, human factors experts, or other professionals often provide opinions on conditions, causation, and reasonable standards of care. Medical experts also establish the nature and extent of injuries.
Evidence Preservation – Plaintiffs must carefully preserve and document evidence immediately after accidents, including photos of hazards, videos of accident scenes, records of injuries and expenses. Witness statements, records requests, and subpoenas may also be required.
State Laws – Specific state statutes govern slip and falls in different property categories like rental units, businesses, restaurants, healthcare facilities, and public spaces. Additional city regulations can also impose safety directives.
Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney
Successfully navigating a premises liability claim involves overcoming numerous legal complexities. An experienced personal injury attorney can be essential for charting the best course and strategies for each individual case. Qualified lawyers have specialized expertise to handle issues like:
- Evaluating case specifics against legal precedents and state statutes to determine viability
- Conducting thorough investigations and evidence gathering to prove negligence
- Identifying all potentially liable parties
- Consulting and retaining specialist expert witnesses
- Calculating and documenting all categories of damages accurately
- Managing litigation processes like discovery, depositions, motions and hearings
- Negotiating optimal pre-trial settlements when appropriate
- Presenting most compelling arguments and evidence at trial
No two premises liability claims are identical. Subtle legal and evidentiary factors can significantly alter the trajectory and settlement potential of cases. Skilled personal injury firms have the resources and dedication needed to build strong cases and overcome complex defenses. Their legal representation can increase injured victims’ chances of a favorable liability ruling and obtaining the maximum compensation they require and rightfully deserve.
If you’ve been injured in an Illinois slip and fall accident that was somebody else’s fault, contact us today to see how we can help. We have 32 offices in 19 states including Illinois, Washington, and Virginia. You can call us for a free consultation on (888) 477-0597.