773-365-0040
You didn’t leave your house expecting to get hurt. But due to a property owner’s negligence, your life has been interrupted. Painful injuries, mounting medical bills, and missed time at work will all take a toll on you in various ways.
At Shea Law Group, we understand these “accidents” often could have been prevented, but occurred because a property owner cut corners on safety.
If you have been injured because a landlord, business owner, or manager failed to keep their property safe, you need an experienced Chicago premises liability lawyer in your corner. We thoroughly investigate these incidents to uncover negligence and help you receive maximum compensation for your suffering.
To schedule a free consultation with a premises liability attorney from Shea Law Group, call us today at (773) 365-0040 or contact us online. Keep reading to learn about how to know whether you have a case and how exactly we can help you.
How Do I Know If I Have a Premises Liability Case?
Many injury victims hesitate to call an attorney because they aren’t sure if the property owner is actually at fault. It is important to understand that simply getting hurt on someone else’s property doesn’t automatically guarantee a payout. To win a case, specific legal elements must be met.
When you speak with a Chicago premises liability attorney at our firm, we will look for evidence of four key factors:
- Duty of Care: Did the property owner or manager have a responsibility to keep the area safe for you? (In most public and private spaces, the answer is yes.)
- Dangerous Conditions: Was there a specific hazard that created an unreasonable risk? Examples of hazards include broken steps, wet floors, and inadequate lighting.
- Knowledge: Did the owner know (or should they have known) about the danger and failed to fix it?
- Causation: Did that specific hazard directly cause your injury?
If you suspect your situation meets these criteria, do not assume it was your own clumsiness. Let our premises liability attorneys in Chicago review the facts for free.
Common Hazards: When Property Owners Neglect Safety
Chicago is a dense city filled with older buildings, high-traffic businesses, and harsh weather conditions. These factors often contribute to dangerous environments when property owners fail to perform maintenance.
We handle a wide variety of claims, helping you navigate the specific challenges of each.
Slip and Fall Accidents
This is the most common type of premises liability claim, but proving fault requires detail. Our job is to prove the owner had ample time to address the hazard but chose not to. Examples of slip and fall accidents include unaddressed spills in a supermarket aisle or icy walkways that landlords refused to salt and shovel. Learn more about slip and fall accidents.
Inadequate Security
Property owners of apartment complexes, nightclubs, hotels, and parking garages have a duty to deter crime. If you were assaulted or robbed, it’s possible that property owner negligence was involved, and we can help you hold that property owner accountable. Examples of inadequate security include broken locks, poor lighting, and the absence of security personnel.
Porch and Stair Collapses
Chicago is famous for its wooden porches and older multi-unit buildings. Tragically, lack of maintenance leads to structural failures every year. We represent victims injured on porches and stairs due to factors like rotting wood, loose railings, and collapsing decks. In these cases, we often consult structural engineers to prove that the landlord ignored building codes.
Dog Bites and Animal Attacks
Premises liability also extends to pet owners who fail to control their animals. If you were attacked by a dog on someone’s property, we may be able to hold the homeowner accountable for your medical treatment and emotional trauma. Learn more about dog bites.
How Shea Law Group Builds Your Case
Insurance companies for commercial properties and landlords are aggressive. They will attempt to blame you for your fall or downplay the severity of your injuries. That’s why you need a Chicago premises liability attorney who pushes back harder.
Here is how we help:
- Preserving Evidence: Security camera footage is often deleted within days. With this in mind, we move quickly to send preservation letters to secure video evidence, maintenance logs, and incident reports.
- Expert Analysis: We work with safety experts, engineers, and medical professionals to reconstruct the accident and calculate the true long-term cost of your injuries.
- Negotiating for Maximum Value: We don’t let insurance adjusters lowball you. We demand compensation for medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and pain and suffering.
What to Expect When You Contact Us
We know that reaching out to a lawyer can feel intimidating. Below, we lay out the process so you know exactly what happens next.
The Free Consultation
Step one is a free consultation. Schedule yours by calling us or reaching out online. During your consultation, you will speak directly with a legal professional who will listen to your story without judgment. There is no obligation to proceed after this.
The Investigation
If we take your case, our premises liability attorneys immediately get to work gathering evidence. We handle all the paperwork, phone calls, and other related tasks. At this point, you do not need to do anything.
The Demand & Negotiation
Once your medical treatment is clearly understood, we submit a demand to the insurance company. We fight for a settlement that fully covers your needs.
Litigation
If the insurance company refuses to pay what is fair, we are fully prepared to file a lawsuit and present your case to a jury.
If you believe you have a premises liability case, time is, unfortunately, not on your side. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget details, and Illinois imposes strict statutes of limitations on how long you have to file a claim.
