The Role of a Chicago Slip and Fall Lawyer
Navigating a slip and fall claim alone can be frustrating and difficult, especially if you have to deal with insurance companies and property owners who deny responsibility. A lawyer is an advocate, handling every aspect of the case while the victim focuses on recovery.
Some of the key ways that a slip and fall lawyer can help you include:
- Investigating the accident and collecting evidence
- Determining liability and identifying all responsible parties
- Filing claims and negotiating with insurance companies
- Consulting medical professionals to assess injury impact
- Representing you in court if a fair settlement can’t be reached
Because of Illinois’ comparative negligence laws, the property’s owner may try to argue that you were partially at fault for the fall. If a court finds that you share responsibility, your compensation may be reduced.
Your attorney will fight these claims to protect your right to full compensation.
How to Prove Liability in a Slip and Fall Case
To win a slip and fall case, you and your lawyer will have to prove that the owner or property manager was negligent.
This means showing that a hazardous condition existed, the owner knew or should have known about it, and they failed to fix it in a reasonable time frame.
If, for example, an employee of a grocery store sees a spill but does nothing to clean it up or warn customers, the store could be held responsible for an injury that occurs. However, proving negligence may be more challenging if the spill happened only moments before the fall and no one had a chance to address it.
A Chicago slip and fall lawyer gathers evidence to support a claim. This may include:
- Surveillance footage from the accident scene
- Eyewitness statements from people who saw your accident
- Reviewing accident reports filed with the property owner or manager
- Medical records linking injuries to the accident
- Photos of what caused your fall
The stronger the evidence, the more likely you are to secure compensation.