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Did negligence cause my slip-and-fall injury?

On Behalf of | Oct 3, 2022 | Accidents & Injuries

woman fell on icy sidewalk

Slip and falls are some of the most common causes of injuries in the US. In Illinois, you have a right to sue the property owner if you believe their negligence caused you to fall. With winter fast approaching, the risk of falling increases. Property owners and managers have an obligation to their patrons to provide a safe environment for walking.

Continue reading to learn more about establishing negligence in a slip-and-fall case. According to the Illinois General Assembly, you only have two years to establish a personal injury case. The sooner you start your case, the better.

Property owners have liability

Slip-and-fall cases rely on negligence laws to determine who is at fault. Any property owner must maintain a level of safety within reason. If they become aware of a safety hazard, they are responsible for repairing it or providing a sufficient warning. Sometimes a property owner may claim ignorance of the unstable walking surface. However, after a significant amount of time passes, the courts may rule that the owner reasonably should know about the danger.

Examples of negligence

The courts might find negligence in a variety of scenarios. For example, a retailer might not salt their walkways or parking lots after ice formation. The walkways in a business might not have sufficient lighting for patrons to walk safely. Patrons might not have an adequate warning for a wet surface.

If the courts determine that a business has more than 50 percent fault in a slip-and-fall accident, you have a good chance of winning the case. Do not settle for physical pain and medical bills if someone else’s negligence caused your suffering.