Decatur Slip and Fall Lawyer

Slippery and poorly maintained floors can lead to slip and fall accidents. Some slip and falls may cause minor bruises, aches, and pains, while others can cause severe injuries. When a slipping and falling accident leads to expensive medical bills and lost wages, you might consider filing a personal injury lawsuit.

Read on to find out how Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help with your case.

Do You Have a Case?

Illinois state law requires proof of negligence to file a slip and fall claim. Slip and fall accidents in Decatur, Illinois, are covered under a personal injury claim, which means your case needs to establish the following:

• Legal duty of care: Illinois laws require residential and commercial property owners to maintain their properties so they’re safe and free of risk for visitors.
• Negligence: Failing to quickly clean up spills or repair broken or loose floorboards is considered negligence and making someone liable for sustained injuries.
• Causation: Liability also requires proof the at-fault party was the direct cause of the negligence. This is where an experienced personal injury lawyer can be beneficial to your case.
• Actual damages: To win a personal injury case, there must be actual, compensable damages. This may include medical bills, lost wages, or property damages.

Slip and Fall Accident Statistics

• Slip and fall accidents are one of the leading causes of injury. Nearly 54% of falls due to slipping and tripping end up in the ED or hospital. [1]
• Additionally, the older population is at a higher risk of severe slip and fall accidents, with 25% of older adults being injured in this manner. According to the U.S. Census Data, persons over the age of 65 make up over 20% of Decatur, IL’s total population of 70,000. [2,3]
• Slip and falls can also occur in the workplace. In fact, falling, slipping, and tripping are the second most common cause of occupational fatalities in Illinois. [4]

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

People can slip and fall due to a wide range of causes, with the most common including the following:

• Slippery floors
• Inclement weather
• Poor lighting
• Cluttered floors
• Lack of handrails
• Loose floorboards or carpets
• Outdoor potholes
• Broken or defective potholes
• Broken stairs

Common Slip and Fall Injuries

Serious injuries aren’t uncommon when a slip and fall accident is involved. Our personal injury attorneys have worked with slip and fall victims with the following injuries:

• Back injuries
• Head and neck injuries
• Bruises, cuts, and lacerations
• Chronic pain
• Fractured or broken bones
• Internal bleeding
• Soft tissue or ligament injury
• Sprained ankle or wrist
• Dislocated shoulder

Who Is Liable for Slip and Fall Accidents in Decatur, IL?

Liability plays an important role in a slip and fall lawsuit. The following parties could be held responsible for this type of injury:

• Property owner: The property owner is most commonly to blame when someone slips and falls. Property owners in Illinois are expected to maintain their properties and keep them safe.
• Property manager: A property manager or business owner could be at fault when a person slips and falls on a commercial property.
• Construction or maintenance crew: Fall accidents that occur from poorly maintained roads or dangerous construction zones could be the fault of a construction or maintenance crew.
• Property visitor: Property visitors could be partially to blame if visiting a dangerous job site.

Decatur personal injury lawyers can help you establish fault if you have sustained physical injuries due to someone else’s negligence. Because Illinois follows modified comparative negligence laws, a lawyer is also useful if the defendant attempts to blame the injured party.

Damages a Decatur Slip and Fall Lawyer Can Help You Recover

State law allows for two types of compensation for a slip and fall injury.

Economic damages in a slip and fall case include medical expenses, loss of wages, property damages, and diminished earning capability.

Some injured victims may also be eligible for non-economic damages, which are related to mental anguish or psychological consequences. This may include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, or loss of companionship.

What to Do After a Slip and Fall in Decatur

Taking certain steps after a slip and fall injury can improve your chances of recovery. Here are a few key steps to take right after suffering a slip and fall injury.

Seek Medical Treatment

Immediate medical care is recommended after a slip and fall accident. Head and neck injuries can be life-threatening and typically require prompt care. The full extent of your injuries may also not be clear until hours or days later, making a medical checkup extremely important.

Report the Accident

Always report a slip and fall accident as soon as it occurs. Make an official report with the company or notify the insurance company if you’re injured in a private residence. This official report may be necessary for obtaining insurance coverage or filing a personal injury lawsuit.

Document Everything

Keep clear, detailed documents of everything to help your case. Important pieces of evidence include a copy of the police report, photographs/videos from the scene, and medical bills.

Call an Attorney

A slip and fall attorney can help you evaluate your legal options. Because of Illinois’ strict timelines on personal injury cases, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible.

How Much Does a Slip and Fall Injury Attorney Cost?

Working with Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers doesn’t cost anything upfront. We offer a free consultation to explore your legal options. If you decide to proceed with a claim, you won’t pay anything unless we win your case. Any legal fees you incur will come out of your settlement, so you never have to pay out of pocket.

The Statute of Limitations for Slip and Fall Claims in Decatur, IL

Illinois has a strict time limit on personal injury claims, also known as the statute of limitations. Injured people have just two years from the date of the incident to seek compensation.

Consult an Experienced Decatur Slip and Fall Lawyer Today!

You need an experienced slip and fall lawyer to help navigate your personal injury case. Our legal team understands the complexities of building a successful personal injury case in Decatur, Illinois. We’ll help relieve some of the stress that comes with suffering a slip and fall accident. Call our law firm today at (888) 424-5757 or contact us using our online form.

Related Practice Areas

• Decatur Personal Injury Lawyer
• Decatur Lyft Accident Lawyer
• Decatur Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
• Decatur Rideshare Accident Lawyer
• Decatur Uber Accident Lawyer

Resources: [1] NCBI, [2] CDC, [3] City of Decatur, [4] DPH,

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.