Were you injured while at a business establishment or on someone else’s property in Chicago, IL? If your injuries were due to their negligence, you could seek financial compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. A Chicago premises liability lawyer can review the facts involved in your case and guide you through your next steps.
Hiring an experienced Chicago premises liability lawyer can help you focus on your physical and emotional recovery while we work toward your financial settlement. The experienced legal team at Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers can answer the questions you might have after a premises liability accident. Contact our law office to schedule your free consultation today at (312) 635-5400.
How Can Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers Help You After a Premises Liability Accident in Chicago?
The Chicago premises liability attorneys at Powell and Pisman can take on the challenging work of negotiating with insurance companies and handling a personal injury lawsuit after you’ve been hurt in an accident.
A Chicago premises liability attorney will carefully analyze what happened, how it happened, and how to prove liability in your case. We’ll take all of the following steps and more:
- Talk to you through a free consultation to learn about your claim;
- Gather evidence such as photos, video surveillance, police reports, and eyewitness information;
- Negotiate with insurance providers to discuss settlement;
- File a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf;
- Litigate your personal injury case in court;
- Fight hard for a fair settlement as your case proceeds;
- Take your case to a jury trial if the other side won’t offer the settlement you deserve.
We have over 35 years of combined experience and have recovered more than $250 million in damages for our clients. Additionally, we have been recognized for our achievements by the American Association for Justice, The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Lawyers, Best Law Firms of America, and Avvo.
We will work hard to prove your claim and obtain the compensation you deserve after a serious premises liability accident in Chicago, Illinois. Call us to schedule a free consultation today with one of our Chicago personal injury lawyers.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Chicago Premises Liability Lawyer?
You might be nervous about the cost of hiring a lawyer in a premises liability case. The good news is that a premises liability lawyer in Chicago will typically represent you on a contingency fee basis. Contingent fee arrangements do not require you to pay attorney’s fees upfront, allowing victims to hire skilled, experienced lawyers without worrying about a large retainer fee.
You will only owe attorney’s fees if your lawyer is successful and your case results in a financial award. If your claim is unsuccessful, you will owe them nothing. The contingency fee approach shifts any risk involved in your case away from you so you can focus on your recovery.
If you win your case, your attorney will be paid a percentage of the overall settlement. The attorney’s percentage depends on the details of your agreement. You can learn more about how contingent fee agreements work during your free consultation with one of our dedicated premises liability attorneys.
What is Premises Liability?
Premises liability is a legal theory that allows people to hold property owners legally responsible due to negligence. If a property owner allows a hazardous condition to exist when knew or should have known about it, you could have a premises liability claim if you were hurt on the property.
Property owners have a duty of care to keep their premises reasonably safe for their invitees. “Invitees”, for premises liability purposes can include business guests, customers, visitors, and others with legal permission to be at the site.
Common types of premises liability accidents can include:
- Slip and fall
- Falling objects
- Stairway and escalator accidents
- Elevator accidents
- Amusement park accidents
- Swimming pool accidents
- Dog bites
- Daycare injuries
- Grocery store accidents
- Shopping mall accidents
- Toxic chemical exposure
Premises liability cases can be complex and hard-fought in some situations. A property owner will almost certainly dispute your claim and try to avoid financial liability for your injuries. A premises liability lawyer will fight hard to hold the property owner accountable for your damages.
Common Injuries In Premises Liability Claims
Premises liability accidents tend to happen suddenly and without warning, and injuries can be serious and devastating.
Common injuries in a premises liability accident include:
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Sprained and torn ligaments
- Concussions
- Skull fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Paralysis
- Soft tissue injuries
- Loss of vision and hearing
- Loss of limbs
- Wrongful death
Serious injuries can reduce your quality of life, impact your ability to keep earning a living, and require long recoveries. A premises liability claim will aim to restore you financially while you work on your physical and mental recovery from the accident.
What Is the Value of My Premises Liability Case?
In Illinois, damages will include economic damages and non-economic damages in a premises liability claim. Your lawyer will pursue both types of damages, although there are differences between the two.
Economic damages are the actual financial losses caused by your accident, such as medical costs, lost income, and out-of-pocket expenses.
Non-economic damages are meant to cover emotional distress and other “intangible” costs of an accident. Pain and suffering, disability, and reduced quality of life are considered non-economic damages. If you are no longer able to do certain things you enjoyed before the accident, your lawyer will also seek financial recovery to address those losses.
As you can see, the overall value of your premises liability case will depend on how the accident happened, where it happened, and the extent of your injuries. While it is hard to pinpoint the value of your case at the beginning of the process, an experienced premises liability lawyer can provide a realistic estimate of your claim’s worth and fight to obtain that amount for you.
What Is Negligence in a Premises Liability Case, and How Can I Prove It?
Negligence is the legal theory supporting most premises liability cases. Before you can collect financially, you must prove the elements of negligence, which include:
- Duty of care owed to guests and visitors by the property owner
- Breach of the property owner’s duty of care to you
- Causation between the property owner’s act (or omission) and your injuries
- Damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and other costs due to the accident
Your Chicago premises liability lawyer will use the following types of evidence to support your claim, along with any other evidence that helps your case:
- Medical records and bills
- Photos
- Video footage, including surveillance and cell phone videos
- Police reports
- Eyewitnesses to the accident and expert witnesses
- Maintenance logs and other documents held by the property owner.
Your lawyer will work hard to prove negligence and maximize your financial award when liability is proven.
Can I Recover Damages if I’m Blamed for an Accident in Illinois?
You can pursue a personal injury claim even if you shared some responsibility for what happened in a premises liability accident. Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence standard in premises liability cases. This means you can collect damages if you share a percentage of the fault, but your damages will reduced by that percentage. However, if your share of responsibility is 51% or more, you will collect nothing.
As an example, under modified comparative negligence, if you were found to be 30% responsible for the accident, your payout would be lowered by 30%. So, a potential $100,000 payment would become $70,000, based on your share of the blame. Even if you think you are partly at fault, you should still consult with a lawyer to talk about your legal options.
What is the Statute of Limitations in Illinois for a Premises Liability Case?
In most cases, the statute of limitations for a personal injury lawsuit — including a premises liability claim — is two years from the date of the accident.
The statute of limitations is critical to your case. If you miss the deadline, you could permanently lose your right to collect damages from the negligent party. Your trusted Chicago premises liability lawyer will keep a close eye on the statute of limitations and meet all deadlines throughout the course of your case.
Contact a Chicago Premises Liability Lawyer Today for a Free Consultation
If you were injured on someone else’s property in Chicago, IL, you could be entitled to financial compensation from the negligent party. The dedicated legal team at Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers understands what you are going through and will fight hard for your financial recovery. Contact our law office today to schedule your free consultation with a Chicago premises liability lawyer.