While many people think of slips and falls as somewhat comical, they can actually result in serious injuries and damages. Our team understands how devastating and embarrassing these accidents are and can help you recover compensation.
There is usually a reason someone slips and falls in Elgin. Many of these accidents happen because the property owner fails to keep the premises in safe order and maintain it. In the winter months, snow and ice often cause people to slip when a property owner or business does not plow it or lay salt. Many other accidents happen when negligent employees do not clean spills or warn guests of wet surfaces. Other accidents happen when property owners do not repair their stairwells or inspect them for hazards. Our team can prepare your claim and file it before time runs out.
Call the Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502 for a free case assessment with our slip and fall attorneys today.
Common Reasons Why Slip and Fall Accidents Occur in Elgin, IL
Some people falsely believe that when someone is injured in a slip and fall accident, they are exaggerating the extent and severity of the incident. The truth is that slips, trips, and falls can result in significant damage, even when one falls from a standing height. Worse, these accidents can happen virtually anywhere and during any weather. Our slip and fall attorneys can help determine who is responsible for the dangerous condition that injured you. Whether you were injured because of snow, spills, or bad lighting, we can help you prove your lawsuit. The following are common causes of slip and fall injuries:
Winter Weather
As everyone who has spent the winter in Elgin knows, there is no escaping from the ice and snow that piles up. Being just outside of Chicago and near Lake Michigan, the snow here can be brutal, but that does not mean property owners are not obligated to manage it. Residential property owners, apartment buildings, and businesses with adjacent sidewalks must remove snow and ice that guests, residents, and patrons could reasonably be expected to slip in.
Many other falls happen in snow- and ice-covered parking lots that businesses fail to plow. Businesses that reasonably expect people to visit, like grocery shops and retail stores, should also have measures to prevent snow and ice from being tracked in and inspect those areas regularly for standing water.
Wet Surfaces and Spills
Arguably, one of the most common reasons for slips and falls is spills and wet surfaces that are negligently left uncleaned. These accidents are common where drinks are served, like bars, restaurants, and convenience stores. Regardless of whether the spill was caused by another guest or one of the employees, the business has the ultimate duty to keep the place safe. In locations like these, it would be reasonable for employees to be alert for spills and clean them as soon as they are known about.
Wet surfaces also injure people even after being cleaned because a business did not place a warning sign there. This is a clear violation of their duty. Even places like water parks should have general warning signs around standing water areas.
Stairs and Uneven Surfaces
Slipping and falling in stairwells represent a significant risk and frequently result in serious injuries. Victims might catch their feet on a damaged metal strip, losing their balance and falling. Many also fall because of railings that are not properly secured or even installed, giving victims no means of support down the stairs. These accidents commonly lead to some of the most devastating injuries victims can suffer, like spinal damage and traumatic head injuries. Also, snow should be cleared from stairwells exposed to the elements that people are known to use.
Uneven surfaces and poor flooring also lead to many slips and falls. For example, you might break your foot or knee if a fall is caused by uneven sidewalks that the city should have repaired by then. These mishaps also occur in establishments and homes with inadequate carpeting or loose tiles. Property and business owners have a duty to not only maintain the property but also make inspections from time to time to discover and repair hazards.
Inadequate Lighting
Inadequate lighting significantly increases the chances of sustaining severe injuries. Dimly lit stairs and hallways make it difficult for guests to navigate them safely. Poor light can also cause you to get injured by one of the other hazards above because you cannot see it. For instance, you might have tripped in an unseen crack in a parking lot because it had little lighting. It can also make it difficult to discern black ice on parking lots with unplowed snow.
How Long the Statute of Limitations Gives You to File a Slip and Fall Lawsuit in Elgin, IL
Most injury victims understand that they do not have an infinite amount of time to file a lawsuit. This time limit is known as the “statute of limitations,” and it provides less time than many other states give slip and fall victims to bring their claims. According to 735 I.L.C.S. § 5/13-202, you have just two years from the date you are injured to file your case. If two years pass and your claim is still not filed, the court will not hear it. Instead, they will dismiss the claim for good.
This can be a serious problem if you bring your claim with a short amount of time left. Even relatively minor claims take time to prepare. Medical records and other evidence must be gathered from various sources so we know what damages to claim when the lawsuit is filed. If you start your case immediately after the accident, the limitations period will likely not be too large of a concern.
Reach Out to Our Elgin, IL Slip and Fall Attorneys Today for Help Getting Coverage for Your Damages
Our slip and fall lawyers at the Rhatigan Law Offices can provide you with a free case review when you call us at (312) 578-8502.
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