When someone trips or slips on a surface and then gets injured because of the fall, they may have a right to file a claim against another party if negligence somehow caused the incident.
Property owners are expected to keep their premises safe for residents, employees, or visitors, so if you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, you should reach out to a Rockford slip and fall lawyer.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is an experienced firm ready to assist with your personal injury claim. There are over 73,000 taxable properties in Rockford, IL, and the owners of these properties could be liable for slip and fall injuries if the premises are not kept safe [1].
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Many scenarios can lead to slip and fall accidents resulting in serious injuries. Your incident may be caused by a wet floor, poor lighting, a pothole, extension cords, stairs, uneven walkways, loose floorboards, ice, recently waxed floors, or other dangerous conditions.
When slip and fall accidents happen, another party could be held liable if any of these causes, among others, exist.
Common Slip and Fall Injuries
Though many slip and fall accidents result in minor injuries, it depends on the victim and the severity of the fall. The most common injuries in slip and fall cases include bruises, lacerations, broken bones, head injuries, neck injuries, spinal cord injuries, sprains, hip fractures, knee injuries, chronic pain, herniated discs, and dislocated shoulders.
Why Choose Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers for Your Slip and Fall Case in Rockford, IL
To have a better chance of winning your slip and fall claim, you need experienced Rockford personal injury lawyers on your side. The legal experts from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can provide a massive boost to your case. That means exploring all your legal options during a free consultation, assessing damages, pursuing compensation from all liable parties, negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf, and serving as legal representation in court if necessary.
Our track record speaks for itself, as we have earned over $450 million nationwide for our clients. This number is the result of strong negotiation tactics, knowledge of how damages are assessed, and a commitment to providing you with financial relief after a serious slip and fall injury.
Liability for Slip and Fall Injury Cases
Determining who is liable in a slip and fall accident is an important early step in the legal process. Sometimes, it is not always cut and dry who is responsible for your slip and fall injury. Here are a few potential parties that may be liable in your case.
Businesses
The company that owns or operates the property in which you were injured may be at fault for the incident. Perhaps cleanup practices are not up to standard and a spill led to you slipping on the surface because there was no wet floor sign in place. In that case, the business would likely be liable for your slip and fall injuries.
Employers
As a worker, if you get hurt at work, your employer may be partially responsible. If corners are being cut in various operations, they could create a dangerous situation for workers. Victims of workplace injuries can also contact Rockford workers’ compensation lawyers to receive insurance benefits.
If negligence is involved, then taking things a step further with a slip and fall injury claim can provide greater compensation.
Individuals
If a person’s actions or inactions led to your fall, then they are liable for the legal damages you suffer. Often, these individuals are property owners who fail to keep the premises safe. In this case, premises liability lawyers would be very helpful for your claim.
Other individuals could be coworkers, employees at a business you are visiting, or customers in the same building. Fall accidents happen everywhere, so you may need a slip and fall attorney to help you determine who may be liable for your incident.
Government Entities
A government agency could also be responsible for your slip and fall injury case if you were hurt while on government property. This could include roads, sidewalks, government buildings, or other local, state, and federally-owned locations.
Even a slip and fall at one of the nine community parks in Rockford’s city limits could be the fault of the local parks department if they failed to address a hazard in the park like an uneven sidewalk [2]. A personal injury lawyer in Rockford can help determine liability in these types of slip and fall incidents.
Establishing Whether You Have a Slip and Fall Case in Rockford, IL
Personal injury attorneys must establish four elements to have a legal right to pursue compensation and they must be established with substantial evidence. The four elements include:
- Duty of care – The defendant has a level of responsibility to prevent injury to the claimant
- Breach – The defendant failed to uphold that duty of care through their actions or inaction
- Causation – A direct link can be proven between the defendant’s actions and the damage suffered by the victim
- Damages – There are provable legal damages suffered by the victim for which they can receive compensation
Proving a Slip and Fall Claim
Since most slip and fall accidents fall under the umbrella of premises liability, your Rockford slip and fall lawyer will have to help you establish some of the doctrines under Illinois law. For example, whether or not a property owner is liable depends on the injured party’s status when the incident occurred.
Invitees are persons who enter someone else’s property with permission, usually for legitimate business purposes, such as a diner at a restaurant. A licensee is someone who has permission to enter a property but their presence does not benefit the owner, such as a guest visiting a home.
Both of these individuals are equally protected under Illinois law if they are injured because of dangerous property conditions.
Trespassers have a lower standard of care required for the owners of a property. Since they are on the property without permission, the owner may not be liable if they are injured. For example, a broken step that is not properly marked is unlikely to result in the owner being held liable if the injured party is a trespasser.
Damages a Rockford, IL Slip and Fall Accident Attorney Can Help You Recover
Your Rockford slip and fall lawyer can help you secure compensation after your accident if you have suffered legal damages. The severity of damages affects the settlement total you can expect to receive. Types of damages in slip and fall accidents include:
- Economic – Easily calculated by your slip and fall attorney and can include lost wages, medical bills, future medical expenses, travel costs for treatment, property damage, and other expenses
- Non-economic – Focused more on the emotional impact of the fall injury with elements like emotional suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and physical pain
- Punitive – Only awarded in cases where the property owner or negligent party behaved with particular malice or intent
- Wrongful death – Surviving family members can claim damages like funeral costs, burial expenses, loss of companionship, and loss of financial support
The Cost of Hiring an Experienced Slip and Fall Attorney
Slip and fall injury victims often face financial hardships because of lost wages and medical treatment costs. The thought of attorney fees may be too much to stress about. Attorneys at our Rockford personal injury law firm work on a contingency fee basis.
With no upfront costs to you, we only receive payment from the settlement amount if we win your case. This provides financial relief to all our clients while incentivizing our team to work as hard as possible on every case.
Contact Our Rockford Slip and Fall Injury Attorneys Today!
A slip and fall accident can leave you with more questions than answers, especially if your injuries are severe and you are facing lost wages, high medical expenses, and other costs. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we have the experience you need to build a strong case, gather evidence, and win a fair settlement. Whether your slip and fall accident was caused by a missing wet floor sign, an icy sidewalk, or a negligent coworker, we can hold the at-fault party responsible.
Contact Rockford personal injury lawyers today to receive a free consultation by calling 888-424-5757 or filling out the contact form. Together, we will determine the best legal options for your slip and fall accident.
Resources: [1] Rockford Township Assessor, [2] Rockford, IL Parks
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