Slip & Fall
Slip & Fall Accident Lawyer Arlington Heights IL
Slip and fall accidents are a common occurrence all year round in Illinois. The state has harsh winters, and people often injure themselves on driveways that have not been properly shoveled or on streets that have not been deiced. People also slip and fall in stores and in personal homes when conditions are not safe.
If you have been injured in an accident, you will have to deal with a lot of physical pain, the inconvenience of multiple doctor’s appointments, and a pile of bills that you may not be able to pay. You will miss time from work, and you may miss important life events.
If your injuries were caused by the negligence of another person or entity, the Law Office of Jack M. Shapiro, P.C. could help get you fair compensation for your injuries. Our attorney is well-versed in personal injury law Mundelein in the state of Illinois. He has handled many slip-and-fall cases. He can negotiate with insurance companies to get you the very best deal possible. He is a trained litigator with years of courtroom experience.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Injuries
Slip and fall injuries are often the result of someone not doing their job. It might be a shopkeeper that does not keep the aisles of their store free of clutter or a homeowner that does not fix cracks in their driveway. A city may not fix potholes, or a worker might leave a manhole uncovered.
Both professionals and homeowners have what is called a duty of care. This is a legal requirement to act with the caution that a reasonable person would if they were in the same situation.
There are certain reasons for slip and fall accidents that personal injury lawyers see over and over again. They include:
- Food or liquid spills.
- Loose flooring.
- Unmarked construction areas.
- Wet floors without signage.
- Tripping hazards such as wiring.
What To Do If You Are Injured in a Slip-and-Fall Accident
When you are injured in a slip-and-fall accident due to another party’s negligence, their insurance should pay for it. You will make a claim with an insurance company, and an insurance adjuster will investigate the case. They will want to see certain evidence proving that your injuries were caused by their client.
Even though you may be in pain after you are injured, there are certain things you should document at the scene of the accident.
Take pictures of whatever caused you to fall. Get the names and numbers of witnesses. If you were injured at a business, talk to the manager of the business and fill out an accident report. Ask them for a copy of this report. Get the name of their insurance company and their policy number.
If you are injured in a person’s home, you should take pictures of anything that may have caused your injury and ask for their homeowner’s insurance information. This may seem a bit awkward because the person whose home you are visiting is likely to be a friend or family member. Remember that this is why people have insurance in the first place and that medical bills can cost thousands of dollars.
Documenting Medical Expenses
If an ambulance shows up at the site of the accident, you should accept treatment from the paramedics and go to the hospital if they tell you to. Save a copy of every medical bill you get and have your doctor and physical therapist write you reports on your progress.
In addition to medical expenses, an insurance company should compensate you for lost wages. Get your employer to write you a letter stating the number of hours you have missed from work due to your injuries.
There are some things you cannot do when you are injured. You may not be able to clean the house or drive yourself to work. You may be entitled to compensation for Uber rides and maid services as well.
What a Personal Injury Attorney Can Do for You
Once the insurance adjuster assigned to your case reviews the evidence you have collected, they will approve or deny your claim. If they approve of it, they will make you a settlement offer. This amount will usually be too low.
A personal injury attorney will be able to tell you if the offer is fair. They can call the insurance company and negotiate with them for you. When you hire a fall injury lawyer, an insurance company will know to take you seriously. The company knows how much a lawsuit will cost, and you are likely to get a better deal.
When Personal Injury Cases Go to Court
In most cases, an injury attorney will be able to get you a fair deal through negotiations. However, there are some slip-and-fall cases that do end up in court. There are four basic points a lawyer must prove to win your case.
- They must show that the party you are suing had a duty of care to you.
- They must prove that the defendant violated that duty of care.
- They must establish that the defendant’s negligence of that duty has caused injury to the victim.
- They have to prove that the injury actually resulted in financial damages.
You will have two years from the date of the slip and fall accident to file a suit in the Land of Lincoln. A lawsuit is a long process. Your attorney and the insurance company’s attorney will negotiate many times. Before they go to trial, they will share the evidence that they discover, do research, and interview witnesses.
Why Choose Us
When you Google Personal Injury Attorney Arlington Heights, quite a few names will come up. However, many of those attorneys will not have the level of experience that Jack M Shapiro has. He has worked on both sides of personal injury law. He spent years representing insurance companies, and he knows how to argue with adjusters and insurance company attorneys.
If you have been injured in an Arlington Heights, Illinois, trip and fall case, our firm can help you get the damages you need to move on with your life. Call us today.