How Slip and Fall Laws Work in Illinois

 Posted on April 11, 2023 in Premises Liability

As we head into the spring and there is an increased chance of precipitation creating wet conditions all over the state, businesses all over Illinois will have to place an increasing emphasis on making sure that their property is safe. Dangerous property conditions are a common cause of most slip and fall accidents, and people can suffer severe injuries in these cases.

A slip and fall accident can often be a very confusing ordeal for most people because there can be considerable stress about how a person goes about recovering financial compensation for their injuries. The unfortunate truth in many of these cases is that businesses often claim that people were at fault for their own accidents, and there is often a refusal to pay anything.

Slip and Fall Lawsuit Process

Under 735 Illinois Compiled Statute (ILCS) § 5/13-202, actions for injuries to any person must be commenced within two years of the date of an accident. Simply put, a person is only going to have two years to file a legal claim, and people should not wait to seek legal help because waiting too long might not give a lawyer enough time to investigate a case.

A slip and fall accident case will also bring the concept of modified comparative negligence into the picture because the liable party is very likely to claim that the victim was the party responsible for the accident. Fault will be important because a person cannot seek compensation from another party when they are found to have been 50 percent or more at fault.

Under modified comparative negligence, a person’s award can be reduced by their share of negligence in connection with a slip and fall accident. This will mean that a person who is awarded $100,000 for a slip and fall accident they are found to have been 25 percent responsible for will have their award reduced by $25,000 and ultimately receive $75,000.

Contact a Barrington Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer

Did you suffer injuries or was your loved one killed in a slip and fall accident in Illinois? Make sure you contact the Barrington slip and fall accident lawyers at Lucas Law as soon as possible so our firm can explain all of your legal options and help you get justice.

Our firm offers consultations and meetings through Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Call 847-381-8700 or contact us online to arrange a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=073500050HArt%2E+XIII+Pt%2E+2&ActID=2017&ChapterID=56&SeqStart=102300000&SeqEnd=105700000