When you step outside your home, you’re on a mission. Whether that means a quick trip to your closest Jewel for groceries, a trip to the AMC River East 21 to catch the latest release, or heading out to Randolph Street for a dinner on Restaurant Row, you expect to accomplish your “mission” without incident.
Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case when a property owner allows an unsafe environment to cause you harm. When you are injured on someone else’s property, it can become an actionable premises liability claim. That is when speaking with Thomas Law Offices can have a positive impact on what you do next.
We’re a team of experienced attorneys who have represented many clients injured by a property owner’s negligent actions. Our attorneys have extensive knowledge of Illinois premises liability law. We also know what it takes to investigate an incident and identify all the parties that should be held accountable.
Bottom line: If you got hurt because of someone else’s actions, you shouldn’t be at a loss.
Thomas Law Offices has provided guidance to clients who have been injured on all types of private, commercial, and public properties across Chicago.
You might not immediately recognize that you could be dealing with a premises liability case rather than an accident that you were responsible for. Which of the following types of premises liability claims might apply to your situation?
Slip and fall accidents are the most common type of premises liability claim, and they are not always the fault of the person who was injured. You might encounter wet floors in grocery or retail stores. There could be icy sidewalks outside apartments or municipal buildings.
Additionally, there could be spilled liquids or food in any Chicago restaurant where you slip. These would all be considered preventable accidents.
Slipping isn’t the only way that you can fall. You can also trip on uneven pavement in areas such as Logan Square. You might encounter broken steps in one of the many downtown apartment or office buildings.
When an assault or robbery occurs, you might think there is nothing that can be done other than let the Chicago PD handle the situation. Unfortunately, some assaults or robberies can be due to negligent security. Issues such as broken locks at apartment building entrances, insufficient security at nightclubs, or inadequate lighting in a parking garage can be considered acts of neglect.
If a medical mistake harmed you or your newborn, we’ll investigate what went wrong and fight for funds for lifelong care. Start with a free case evaluation today.
A head injury can change everything. We pursue negligent drivers, companies, and providers to seek compensation for treatment, lost income, and long-term needs. Get a free case evaluation now.
Exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune (1953–1987)? This page explains what happened and potential harms—note the firm is no longer taking these cases. Explore the details and see other options.
From fender-benders to serious crashes, we help you pursue the money you need for medical bills, repairs, and time off work. Don’t face insurers alone—request a free case evaluation.
Hurt on a jobsite? We’ll identify who’s responsible beyond workers’ comp and pursue the recovery you deserve for pain, lost wages, and medical costs. Talk to us for a free case evaluation.
When care goes wrong, you deserve answers and accountability. We review records, build strong claims, and pursue compensation for the harm you suffered. Schedule a free case evaluation.
Motorcyclists are vulnerable—and insurers know it. We fight for riders injured by careless drivers and push for full compensation for medical care and recovery. Request a free case evaluation.
If your premature baby developed NEC after cow’s milk-based formula, your family may have legal options. We’re representing families seeking justice and compensation—act now for a free case evaluation.
Attacked because a property lacked basic security? We investigate owners’ failures—lighting, locks, cameras, staffing—and pursue compensation for your injuries. Start with a free case evaluation.
If a loved one was neglected or harmed in a facility, we’ll help you hold the home accountable and pursue compensation. Take action today—get a free case evaluation.
Injured because someone else was careless? We’ll handle the legal fight so you can focus on healing and getting life back on track. Start with a free case evaluation.
Used a recalled Philips CPAP/BiPAP or ventilator? We help people harmed by defective devices pursue claims tied to the recall and alleged foam exposure. Get a free case evaluation.
Hurt on someone else’s property? We pinpoint unsafe conditions, prove negligence, and pursue damages for medical bills and lost time. Don’t wait—get a free case evaluation.
Defective products shouldn’t cost you your health. We pursue manufacturers and sellers when unsafe designs or warnings lead to injury. Find out if you have a claim—free case evaluation.
Survivors deserve support and accountability. We help you understand your rights and pursue civil action against abusers and enablers. When you’re ready, request a free case evaluation.
A fall can mean ER visits, missed work, and lasting pain. If poor maintenance or hazards caused your injury, we’ll help you pursue compensation. Get a free case evaluation today.
Benefits can be hard to win alone. If a condition keeps you from working, we’ll guide you through the SSA process and strengthen your claim. Start with a free case evaluation.
Spinal trauma can bring lifelong care needs and huge costs. We fight for compensation that reflects the full impact on your mobility, work, and future. Request a free case evaluation.
Crashes with semis are complex and high-stakes. We investigate drivers and trucking companies and pursue the recovery you need after serious injuries. Get a free case evaluation now.
Injured at work in Kentucky? We help Louisville workers fight delays, denials, and lowball benefits so you can get medical care and wage support. Request a free consultation.
When negligence takes a life, accountability matters. We help families pursue a wrongful death claim and seek financial stability during an impossible time. Start with a free case evaluation.
Elevators and escalators are common throughout many Chicago buildings and department stores. If a lack of maintenance causes a sudden drop or malfunction that results in injury, it could be an actionable cause.
You don’t have to just be aware of what might cause an accident by looking down at the floor, but also by looking up. Objects that fall from tall shelves found in big-box retailers like Costco or Home Depot can cause serious injury.
An attack by an unleashed or aggressive dog can happen outdoors, in a public park, or on a sidewalk. It can also happen in a person’s home. When the owner of that dog has not kept them under control or warned them of possible danger. They could be held liable for their pet’s actions.
You have enough on your plate. Get a free case evaluation and clear answers from our experienced attorneys today — we’ll take it from here.
The property owner where a swimming pool is located owes a duty of care to secure that pool with proper fencing, supervision, and safety signage. That is true for hotel owners and apartment complex owners, as it is for homeowners with a pool in their backyard.
When carbon monoxide poisoning occurs in a rented home without detectors, or a fire breaks out due to faulty wiring in a building, it can be an actionable cause. The same can be said of lead paint poisoning in older Chicago apartments, where landlords failed to properly abate it.
If you’ve been impacted by any of the above scenarios, you owe it to yourself and your family to explore all the viable options for pursuing fair compensation.
Before you can assert a legitimate premises liability claim against a property owner, you first need to establish your visitor’s status. In other words, did you have a right to be on the property in the first place?
In Chicago, as in the rest of the country, there are three types of visitors in premises liability claims.
An invitee is a person who has been directly or indirectly “invited” onto the premises by the owner. Typically, this applies to a customer who enters a business to make a transaction that benefits the business owner. It’s important to remember that you don’t need to actually buy something to complete the transaction. You also don’t need a personal invitation.
The moment a store opens for business, the invitation to shop is implied.
A licensee is someone who enters a property for their own purposes. This applies to anyone who is a guest of the owner of a private residence.
A trespasser is one who doesn’t have the owner’s permission to be on the property. If a trespasser sneaks onto your property and slips on ice, they can’t sue you for damages.
In order to prevail in a premises liability case, you and your attorney need to establish the four core elements of negligence. Those are:
In a premises liability case, you also have to consider the notice requirement. This is directly tied to the breach-of-care issues. In a car accident, a driver who runs a red light and collides with another vehicle has clearly breached their duty of care.
With premises liability, you have to determine if and when the owner was aware of the hazard. It will either be one of the following:
Please Note: This is when the owner, manager, or staff is actively aware of the hazard. At a grocery store, an announcement of a spill in a particular aisle is actual notice.
If the owner did not repair the hazard after receiving the inspection report, they can be held liable.
Yes. Parking lots can present hazards such as poor lighting, broken pavement, inadequate security, or improperly maintained walkways. If a property owner failed to address a dangerous condition that contributed to your injury, they may be held responsible.
It is vital to report the incident to the property owner or manager before you leave to seek medical attention. Additionally, it will help to take photographs of the accident scene, gather contact information from witnesses, and obtain any copies of the incident report. Your attorney can follow up to secure any available surveillance footage.
Potentially. Even if another customer created the dangerous condition, a business may still be liable if its employees knew about the hazard or should have discovered and corrected it within a reasonable time. For instance, a customer can knock a bottle of oil off the grocery shelf, shattering it on the floor, but it is the staff who need to warn other customers and clean up. The specific facts of the case will determine liability.
Photographs and videos can be helpful, but they are not always required.
Witness statements, incident reports, maintenance records, and other forms of evidence may also help establish how the accident occurred and who was responsible.
In some situations, yes. If your injury occurred on public property owned or maintained by a city, county, or other government agency, you may have a claim. However, special notice requirements and shorter deadlines may apply. An experienced attorney will be able to provide you with the details of those special filing requirements.
Once you’ve established your visitor status and the property owner’s negligence, you are entitled to seek compensation. That can take the form of a settlement or a jury verdict.
Under Illinois law, you are entitled to seek the following types of compensation:
The amount of your settlement can also be impacted by a modified comparative negligence doctrine. Under this doctrine, if you were partially at fault for the accident, you are still entitled to seek compensation provided your share of the fault is 50% or less.
If you’re assigned a percentage fault, your final compensation will be reduced by the amount of that percentage.
Because of this, insurance lawyers will work hard to shift the blame to you. However, just because they assert you are partially at fault doesn’t mean they are correct. If you and your attorney can provide compelling evidence about the true nature of the accident and who should be held accountable, you can receive the full amount that you’re asking for.
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If you’ve been injured at a property because of the owner’s negligence, you’re entitled to seek a remedy for any losses you endured.
While it might be easy to establish how you were injured, assigning blame to a specific owner can be complicated. Fortunately, the Chicago premises liability attorneys at the Thomas Law Offices have decades of combined experience handling these exact types of claims.
Our process begins with a thorough investigation into what happened. We gather accident reports, surveillance footage, maintenance logs, inspection records, incident reports, and photographs of the hazardous condition whenever possible. We also identify and interview witnesses who may have seen the accident or can confirm how long the dangerous condition existed. The more evidence we can gather in support of your claim, the more likely we are to prevail.
We need to calculate the full extent of your damages. That can happen by collecting medical records, consulting with medical experts, and reviewing lost income. We’ll also evaluate how your injuries affect your daily life and future earning potential.
That final number will be presented in a demand letter to the relevant insurance carrier.
Timing also matters. Under Illinois law, a premises liability lawsuit must be filed within two years of the date of injury. Missing the statute of limitations could prevent you from recovering compensation altogether. We won’t let that happen.
If you were injured because of dangerous property conditions in Chicago, don’t try to navigate the process alone.
Contact Thomas Law Offices today for a free case evaluation. The sooner we talk about what happened, the sooner you can understand what should happen next.
Have You Been Injured? We're Ready to Fight for You.
