Were You Injured On Dangerous Premises? Naperville Premises Liability Attorneys Are Here To Help.
If you suffered a slip-and-fall injury or any other type of accidental injury on someone else’s property, we urge you to consult with a premises liability attorney at our injury law firm, Marker & Crannell in Naperville.
Your accident may have happened on private or public property. Your injuries may be moderate, severe or catastrophic. No matter what your condition is or where you are, we are ready to go to bat for you.
Our property negligence lawyers have devoted more than 35 combined years to personal injury law, including experience helping clients recover the compensation they deserve after being hurt on unsafe premises.
What Are Property Owners Responsible For In Illinois?
According to the Premises Liability Act, property owners have a duty of reasonable care to the state of their premises. However, this duty of responsibility does not extend to certain circumstances, including warning or taking steps to prevent patrons/entrants from accessing their property under conditions that are open and obvious or can “reasonably be expected to be discovered.” Property owners are also not liable for dangers or defects that they do not know about or any injury caused by misuse of the premises.
A premises liability injury attorney can give people a better understanding of the responsibilities and duties of property owners in regard to premises liability.
Common Examples Of Negligent Maintenance Or Properties Leaving People At Risk In Naperville, Illinois
The owner or manager of a property is responsible for keeping it in safe conditions for people who work, live, visit or shop there. Common causes of slip, trip and fall injuries in defective properties such as apartment buildings, office buildings, stores, parking lots and other public and private places include:
- Slippery floors and poorly laid carpets and rugs
- Inadequate lighting or other security features
- Standing water or accumulated ice and snow on steps, walkways and entrances
- Lack of handrails on stairs
- Slippery or cracked stairways
- Insecure shelving
- Lack of safety measures at public or private swimming pools
These are all common causes of injuries that can constitute a premises liability case.
Illinois’ Premises Liability Act spells out the reasonable care that property owners or occupiers (such as tenants) owe people who may enter and use land and/or buildings. Namely, they should:
- Warn people of dangerous conditions on their premises
- Take reasonable steps to protect people who may visit or use their properties from risky conditions, even if they are obvious
- Warn people about hidden defects or dangers, including things that might be harmful if misused
The liable party in a premises liability claim may be the owner, manager or tenant. If our premises liability attorneys represent you, we will conduct a thorough investigation to identify all responsible parties and hold them accountable to compensate you.
First Step After An Injury On Someone Else’s Property – Gathering Evidence
After receiving the necessary medical attention, a good first step to take after an injury on someone else’s property is to gather the necessary evidence. This evidence can be important in filing a premises liability claim, and it’s crucial to collect it as soon as possible with proper documentation.
This evidence can include:
- Photographs and/or videos of the scene, including photos of what caused the injury (i.e., puddles, malfunctioning lights and cracks)
- Witness statements
- Doctor or medical professional statements
Taking photos and videos and recording statements on your phone can help your case enormously.
Witness statements can come from others in the vicinity who may have witnessed the accident, employees who may be aware of potential safety issues or security officers who may have video surveillance footage of the accident. You can also ask for copies of video surveillance footage, if available. Look for cameras in the vicinity of the accident, in corners, on ceilings, near entrances or even near light posts if the accident occurred outdoors.
You may also want to obtain medical records and statements from your doctor or other medical professionals who attended to your injuries. In any case, it’s important to seek medical attention and a proper medical evaluation after a premises liability accident to check for hidden injuries.
Collecting proper evidence can have a big impact on your case. But it’s important to do so promptly after your accident.
How To Establish Liability In A Naperville Premises Liability Case
One of the most crucial components in a premises liability injury case is properly establishing the liability of the owner of said property. In order to do this successfully, we need to demonstrate that the property owner breached their duty of care by failing to properly maintain a safe environment on their property. We also need to prove that this breach of duty caused your injury and that you suffered damages due to it. These claims can be difficult to prove without the right evidence and prior experience in these types of cases.
Our team of attorneys is well-versed in both collecting evidence and pursuing these cases. We understand how to gather the necessary evidence to prove duty of care, breach of duty, negligence and causation for your injury and successfully argue this in your favor.
What Compensation Is Available After A Premises Liability Injury?
Getting the correct compensation for your suffering and injury is the most important part of these cases. There are a variety of expenses that compensation from a premises liability claim can cover, from medical care, including hospital bills, pain prescriptions and other costs, to expenses related to lost wages, long-term rehabilitation or therapy, property damage and even costs associated with the pain and expense of wrongful death due to injury.
Premises liability victims can also recover compensation for costs related to pain and suffering. This type of compensation addresses noneconomic damages caused by intangible harm experienced as a result of your injury. It includes both physical and emotional damage, from psychological trauma to long-term physical pain caused by injuries. This compensation can help cover costs associated with the loss of enjoyment of life or the additional support needed to get daily tasks done. Pain and suffering compensation is calculated differently depending on the unique circumstances of your case and your suffering.
Get Help Today After A Slip-And-Fall Accident From A Naperville Premises Liability Lawyer
To get your name on our calendar for a free consultation, call 630-912-6009 or contact us online. Let us explain how we can pursue the compensation you need for your medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering after a fall or another type of injury on dangerous premises. If you would like to waive the initial intake process, please consider the option of completing this form prior to our meeting.