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Premises Liability

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Chicago Premises Liability Lawyers

Levin, Riback & Adelman represents people injured on unsafe property in Chicago and nearby Illinois communities, including claims involving falls, negligent security, dog bites, falling merchandise, and dangerous property conditions.

When you visit someone else’s home or business, you expect and have the right to a safe environment. Unfortunately, many Chicagoland property owners and businesses don’t uphold their legal obligations, and their negligence can cause severe accidents. Premises liability accident victims and their families often struggle with painful injuries, expensive medical bills, lost income, and severe emotional distress.

As premises liability lawyers in and around Chicago, the team at Levin, Riback & Adelman is here to protect your rights and fight for fair compensation after an accident. Our law firm prides itself on providing attentive, personalized service to every client. Instead of passing you off to a paralegal or case manager, we work closely with you to fully understand your needs and goals. Furthermore, you can rest easy knowing your case is in capable hands, as we frequently receive referrals from other attorneys who know of our experience and courtroom acumen. You don’t pay any fees unless you recover compensation, so call now or complete our contact form for a free case review.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers handle serious premises liability claims involving unsafe property conditions, negligent

Why You Need a Chicagoland Premises Liability Law Firm

Handling your premises liability case is a recipe for disaster. Without an attorney’s help, you’re much more likely to say something that could hurt your case and block you from recovering compensation. You might also have trouble proving your case if you don’t know what evidence you need and where to find it. Finally, you might settle for less than your claim’s full value because you didn’t account for all your losses. Hiring a premises liability law firm means you have someone looking out for you and protecting your rights.

A premises liability claim is also a significant undertaking, particularly when you’re struggling with severe injuries. It’s a lot of work to investigate the accident scene, review the evidence, fill out the required insurance forms, and negotiate with adjusters. Your lawyer can handle these tasks for you, letting you focus on healing.

How Our Chicago Premises Liability Attorneys Help You

Your lawyer isn’t just someone who speaks for you in court, though that’s part of their job. Most premises liability cases end without a trial, and much of the work in these cases happens outside a courtroom. Our premises liability attorneys protect your rights and interests by:

  • Investigating the accident – We review surveillance footage, accident reports, bystander testimony, photos from the scene, and other evidence to build a comprehensive account of what happened and who caused your injuries. This step creates a solid foundation for your case and makes it easier to push back against allegations that you caused your own injuries.
  • Documenting your losses – Many people hurt in premises liability accidents accept less than their claim is worth. They might not account for the long-term effects of their injuries, or they don’t include intangible losses like their emotional distress. Our lawyers use your medical records, financial documents, expert testimony, and other proof to illustrate the full extent of what you’ve lost and maximize your claim’s value.
  • Dealing with insurance companies – The back-and-forth with insurance companies can be exhausting, and a single mistake could be a significant setback. Our law firm handles all communication with the insurance companies, so you don’t have to deal with them. We also manage settlement negotiations to protect your interests and contest any efforts to blame you or reduce your compensation.
  • Preparing your case for trial – While most premises liability claims in the state don’t go to trial, being prepared for a courtroom showdown demonstrates that you’re serious about defending your rights. Two of our lawyers teach trial classes at Northwestern, and people all over Chicagoland come to us for our courtroom prowess. If going to court is the right move, we handle all pre-trial procedures for you and present a robust argument to the judge or jury.

Common Premises Liability Accidents

Premises liability law covers many situations where negligence by a business or property owner causes an accident. Some common premises liability cases that our attorneys handle include:

  • Slip-and-fall accidents – Visitors to a home or business can suffer slip and fall accidents from hazards such as wet floors, loose rugs, or uneven pavement.
  • Trip-and-fall accidents – People can trip on broken stairs, missing handrails, poor lighting, or cluttered walkways and sustain severe injuries.
  • Falls from heights – Unsafe balconies, damaged railings, open stairwells, and other forms of poor upkeep can lead to serious injuries from a sudden drop.
  • Elevator and escalator accidents – Faulty doors, sudden stops, and poor repairs can cause crushing injuries, falls, or entrapment accidents on elevators or escalators.
  • Negligent security incidents – A lack of safety features, poor lighting, broken locks, and other dangers at a business or residential complex can put guests and customers at risk for assaults and other crimes.
  • Dog bites and animal attacks – Loose dogs or aggressive animals can cause dog bites involving puncture wounds, scarring, infections, and long-term emotional trauma.
  • Falling merchandise injuries – Items can drop from shelves or overhead displays and strike a shopper’s head, neck, or back. If a falling object, or unsafe property condition caused a serious head injury, our Chicago traumatic brain injury attorneys can also evaluate the full impact of your claim.
  • Swimming pool accidents – Missing barriers, unsafe surfaces, and a lack of supervision can lead to drownings and other pool injuries.
  • Parking lot injuries – Parking lots are often full of dangers, including cracked pavement, potholes, poor lighting, and confusing traffic patterns. These issues can cause falls and vehicle-related injuries.
  • Construction hazards – Unmarked holes, debris, unstable surfaces, and other hazards found in work zones can injure visitors, tenants, and delivery workers.

Proving a Premises Liability Claim in Illinois

A premises liability claim focuses on whether a property owner, business, or occupier failed to take reasonable steps to prevent a dangerous condition from harming visitors.

To win a premises liability claim in Illinois, you must demonstrate that the property owner or business failed to act with reasonable care. You need proof that a dangerous condition existed on the property and that the owner knew or should have known about it. Witness accounts, surveillance footage, and other evidence can support this element of your claim.

You also must connect the hazard to your injuries. Medical records, photos, and expert testimony can illustrate how the accident led to your current injuries. Illinois premises liability law requires property owners and occupiers to use reasonable care under the circumstances, which makes early evidence collection critical after an injury.

What to Do After an Injury on Someone Else’s Property

Your actions in the days, weeks, and months after a premises liability accident can significantly impact your case and potential compensation. Here’s what to do to protect yourself:

  • Get medical care right away, then make sure you follow your doctor’s treatment plan.
  • Report the accident to the property owner, manager, or business as soon as you can, preferably the same day as the accident.
  • If your injuries allow, take photos or videos of the hazard, the area around it, and any visible injuries before seeking medical treatment.
  • Similarly, get the names and contact information of anyone who saw what happened. Their accounts might support your claim.
  • Save the shoes and clothing you wore, and do not wash or repair them.
  • Keep copies of medical records, bills, and proof of missed work.
  • Avoid giving recorded statements or signing paperwork from an insurance company.
  • Stay off social media, or at least avoid posting about the accident, your injuries, and your recovery.
  • Write down your symptoms each day to track your pain, limits, and progress.

Compensation in Illinois Premises Liability Cases

With proper support from an experienced and dedicated law firm, your compensation for a premises liability accident could include money for:

  • Lost income
  • Reduced future earnings
  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Damaged personal property

Contact Our Chicago Premises Liability Lawyers Today

Don’t risk your future after a premises liability accident in Chicago. Call Levin, Riback & Adelman now or complete our contact form for a free consultation with our Chicago premises liability lawyers.

Don’t risk your future by not seeking help after a premises liability accident in Illinois. Call Levin, Riback & Adelman now or complete our contact form for a free consultation.

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Hold Those Responsible To Account — Contact Levin, Riback & Adelman

If you were injured in an accident caused by the negligence of a premises owner, our experienced personal injury attorneys can help you claim the compensation you deserve. Call Levin, Riback & Adelman, at 312-782-6717 or request a free consultation online.