Until you have been involved in a slip-and-fall accident, you may believe these types of serious injuries are often minor. However, slip and fall accidents can often cause devastating injuries and lasting consequences.
If another party is responsible for causing your slip and fall injuries, you may have grounds for legal action against them. However, the claims process is confusing, and the liable party will likely fight to reduce their financial obligations if possible.
Make sure you have a powerful slip and fall lawyer at 844 See Mike in your corner. Our PI law firm based in Illinois is here to help you fight for what compensation you are entitled to and ensure negligent property owners or other at-fault parties are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
Contact our office for a 100% free consultation today and find out more about how much you could win, who is at fault for your damages, and what is next for your slip and fall injury claim.
Common Types of Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents can take multiple forms. The type of slip and fall accident you were involved in is crucial to the details of your case. Your specialized lawyer will carefully analyze the type of slip and fall incident you were involved in to determine who is at fault for your injuries.
Some of the most common types of slip-and-fall accidents we handle at 844 See Mike include:
- Wet floor accidents
- Slip and falls involving pedestrian accidents
- Accidents caused by cracked or broken walkways
- Slips and falls caused by debris in the road
- Snow and ice accidents
- Stair or ladder accidents
- Accidents that result in soft tissue injuries
- Escalator or elevator accidents
- Slip and fall accidents in parking lots or hotels
- Grocery store accidents
- Injuries caused by unsecured flooring or carpeting
These are only a few examples of the types of slips and falls that could occur in your case. If you believe your slip and fall incident was caused in another way, and you do not know where to turn for help, be sure to discuss the individual details of your case with your Illinois slip and fall attorneys today.
Common Causes of Illinois Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents are unique when compared to other types of personal injury claims because they involve the liability of the property owner. When the property owner where your accident occurred fails to maintain the integrity of their premises properly, they can be held accountable when invited guests and patrons suffer injuries and damages.
However, that does not necessarily mean property owners are always responsible for the victim’s injuries. If, for example, you were injured in a stair accident due to defective railings, the railing installer or manufacturer of the railing could share liability as well.
Having your experienced attorney conduct an in-depth investigation into the cause of your slip and fall accident is crucial so we can determine the identity of everyone involved and ensure you are compensated for your damages.
Property Owner Liability Exclusions
It is important to remember that property owners are not always responsible for the injuries that occur in a slip and fall accident. In fact, there are several property owner exclusions you should be aware of as you pursue your claim.
First, for your slip and fall claim to be successful, the property owner must have owed you a duty of care. This means if you were trespassing on the property owner’s premises or were committing a crime, the property owner may have no legal obligation to your safety.
Furthermore, if you are partially responsible for causing your injuries, the property owner may be able to reduce their financial obligations under Illinois modified comparative negligence laws under Illinois 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. This could result in a dramatic reduction in the amount of compensation you are awarded.
How a Slip and Fall Could Turn Your Life Upside Down
A slip and fall accident can have significant consequences and impact various aspects of your life, including:
- Severe physical injuries, including broken bones and fractures, muscle sprains and strains, spinal cord injury, and soft tissue damage. Injuries this severe often require long-term care, medical intervention, and regular rehab after the accident. It is not unusual for these injuries to cause a reduction in the victim’s quality of life and chronic pain and limit their mobility.
- Financial insecurity due to extensive medical expenses and ongoing medical treatment often requires victims to take time off work to heal from the trauma of their injuries.
- Emotional and psychological distress, including the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and severe anxiety. This can make it challenging for victims to return to work or have trouble regaining their independence.
- Trouble maintaining close relationships with family and friends due to the fact that injury victims often require care around the clock, often provided by family members and close friends.
- An inability to complete daily living activities and trouble with mobility issues and accessibility challenges.
Compensation for Illinois Slip and Fall Accident Victims
It is not unusual for slip and fall victims to suffer devastating damages as a result of their injuries. Thankfully, you have the right to be made whole under Illinois civil rights laws. This means when someone else is responsible for causing your injuries, you have the right to fair compensation for all of your losses.
General Damages
General damages are also commonly known as non-economic damages. Non-economic damages do not have a monetary value. They must be quantified depending on how significantly they have impacted your life. Your attorney may utilize the per diem or multiplier method to accurately calculate the value of your general damages.
Examples of general damages could include:
- Skin scarring
- Inconvenience
- Damage to your reputation
- Pain and suffering
- Anticipation
- Disfigurement
- Emotional distress and trauma
- Apprehension
- Shock and shame
- Embarrassment and indignity
- Loss of consortium
- Reduced quality of life
Special Damages
Special damages are much easier to quantify. They have set financial values, which means their worth can be determined through financial records, bank statements, receipts, and other documentation. Examples of special damages available after a slip and fall could include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of employer-provided benefits
- Personal property damages
- Damage to your credit score
- Loss of household services
The Slip and Fall Accident Claims Process
Every person’s premises liability claim is different. However, most injury claims unfold in similar ways. Here is a general idea of what you can expect from your Illinois slip and fall accident claim:
- You hire a slip-and-fall lawyer to take on your slip and fall case
- Your slip and fall attorney thoroughly reviews the evidence and begins investigating the cause of the accident
- We gather valuable and compelling evidence that can be used against the asphalt party
- We carefully review your damages to determine how much compensation your claim is worth
- Your slip and fall lawyer determines whether you have the right to file a personal injury claim with the property owner’s homeowners insurance or another insurance provider
- We will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and protect you from being taken advantage of
- If insurance settlements are not enough to fully meet your needs, we will be prepared to move forward with your slip-and-fall lawsuit
Slip and Fall Accident Statistics in Illinois
The NFSI provides valuable information and statistics regarding Illinois in the United States. By analyzing a variety of insurance, government, and private industry data, they can help determine some of the top causes and other important statistics that could be useful in legit for your damages.
Some of the essential facts and stats you should be aware of include:
- 5% of slip and fall victims suffer bone fractures
- Slip and falls account for approximately 8 million hospital ER visits annually across the U.S.
- The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that floor materials and flooring are responsible for more than 2 million slip and falls annually
- Many slip-and-fall victims are aged 55 or older
- The CDC reports that 1.8 million people over 65 need emergency room visit to do to slip and fall accident
- 60% of fatal slip and falls happen to people aged 75 and older
- Employee-related slip and falls account for more than $70 billion each year, according to national safety council injury facts
Illinois Slip and Fall FAQ
Looking for answers to some of your most important slip-and-fall accident questions? We have addressed some of the most frequently asked questions surrounding your Illinois premises liability case below:
What does it cost to hire a slip and fall accident lawyer in Illinois?
Our slip and fall lawyers at 844 See Mike work on a contingency fee basis for injury victims. You do not have to pay us anything for our efforts in recovering compensation for your damages and less we win.
If we are successful, a portion of your award will go towards our attorney’s fees. But if we lose, you do not have to pay even one cent for our services.
How will my case be affected if I am partially at fault for the accident?
Illinois follows modified comparative negligence laws under Illinois personal injury law. If your portion of the fault is greater than 50%, you do not have the right to compensation for your damages anymore.
However, if your portion of fault is less than 50%, you can still be awarded reimbursement for your losses at a reduced rate that is proportional to your percentage of fault. For example, if you were 30% responsible for causing your slip and fall accident injuries, you would only recover 70% of your awarded settlement.
Should I give a statement to the insurance company?
It is never a good idea to give a statement to the insurance company without reviewing it with your lawyer. Insurance companies are known for taking advantage of a fall victim.
As profit-driven companies, they lose money by paying out on claims. If they can delay the processing of your slip and fall injury claim, misrepresent the policy terms, or trick you into accepting a settlement that is less than your claim is worth, they will reduce their profit losses.
Protect yourself from money-hungry insurance providers by having your slip-and-fall attorney negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and provide them with all the information they need to continue processing your claim.
Contact a Slip and Fall Accident Attorney for Help Today
Pursuing justice after a slip and fall accident is often far more complex than injury victims realize. You do not have to go through the claims process alone when you have an experienced slip-and-fall attorney at 844 See Mike advocating for maximum compensation.
Our firm will take over the legalities of your case so you can devote your time and energy to recuperating. Schedule your no-cost, risk-free consultation as soon as today when you call our office or cut free our convenient contact form.
