Did one of these things cause your slip-and-fall accident?

It happened; you slipped and fell and suffered injuries. At first, you just felt embarrassed by it. Then the pain started to set in. As it turns out, your slip-and-fall accident ended up costing you a lot, physically, financially and emotionally. According to Illinois laws, you may not have to carry these losses on your own if negligence contributed to your injuries.

Slip-and-fall accidents can happen anywhere, and a number of factors can contribute to them. It does not matter if your incident occurred on private property, commercial property or government property; if one of the following issues contributed to your fall, you may have legal recourse.

Common causes of slip-and-fall accidents

The primary cause of these accidents is dangerous property conditions. These conditions might include:

• Ripped carpeting
• Wet floors
• Poorly lit walkways or stairwells
• Broken sidewalks
• Ice-covered walkways
• Broken handrails
• Potholes

The list goes on. Basically, any part of a property that is in disrepair or not cleared of debris, other objects or various substances may cause it to be dangerous for the average person. This also means that a sudden but serious accident could occur at any time.

Elements needed in a slip-and-fall case

If you believe that negligence contributed to your accident and injuries, you may file civil claims against the property owner or possessor. To do this, however, certain elements must exist in your case. These elements are:

• Property owner/possessor knowing of or creating the dangerous condition
• Property owner/possessor failing to fix the issue in a timely manner
• The problem not being easily anticipated by the average person in order to avoid it

If it is possible to establish these three things in your case, the court may award you damages for any legally recoverable losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering -- among various others.

Does a case like this have to go to court?

No. It may be possible to settle the matter through out-of-court negotiations. Every case is different, though. If agreeable settlement terms cannot be reached, litigation may be unavoidable.

If pursuing a premises liability claim for your slip-and-fall accident is something you are interested in, legal counsel can review your case and help you decide if civil actions are appropriate. With the right assistance, you may achieve maximum relief for your losses.

If you were injured in a slip-and-fall accident, do not wait to find legal help. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation to get started.