Elgin Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer

A sudden slip or trip can lead to serious, long-lasting injuries. These incidents are often dismissed as simple clumsiness, but in many cases, they are the direct result of a property owner’s negligence. Whether you fell in a grocery store, a parking lot, an apartment building, or on a public sidewalk in Elgin, you have the right to seek compensation if a dangerous condition caused your harm. At The Law Offices of Anthony R. Scifo, we specialize in holding negligent property owners accountable under the legal principle of “premises liability.”

Our experienced personal injury team understands how to build a strong case to prove that a property owner knew, or should have known, about a hazard and failed to take reasonable steps to protect you. We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe us nothing unless we win your case. To protect your rights, call our Elgin office at (847) 628-8311 for a free case evaluation.

Understanding Premises Liability in Illinois

In Illinois, all property owners have a legal “duty of care” to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition for lawful visitors. This means they are responsible for addressing known hazards in a timely manner. To win a slip and fall case, we must prove three key elements:

1. A dangerous condition existed on the property (e.g., a wet floor, an icy patch, a broken stair).
2. The property owner or their employee knew about the hazard or should have reasonably known about it through regular inspection and maintenance.
3. The owner failed to repair the hazard, block it off, or provide adequate warning, and this failure directly caused your injuries.

Proving these elements requires a swift and thorough investigation, which is why it is critical to contact an attorney as soon as possible after your fall.

Common Causes of Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents

As the National Safety Council reports, falls are a leading cause of preventable injuries. We handle claims arising from a wide variety of dangerous property conditions, including:

• Liquid spills or freshly mopped floors without proper warning signs.
• Failure to clear snow or ice from sidewalks, entryways, and parking lots.
• Uneven or cracked pavement and potholes.
• Poor lighting in stairwells, hallways, and parking garages.
• Torn carpeting, loose floorboards, or buckled mats.
• Cluttered aisles, fallen merchandise, or debris in walkways.
• Defective stairs or broken handrails.

Crucial Steps to Take After a Slip and Fall Accident

The actions you take immediately after a fall can significantly impact your ability to file a successful claim. To protect your rights, you should:

• Report the Incident: Notify the store manager, landlord, or property owner immediately. Insist that they create an official incident report and ask for a copy.
• Document the Scene: Use your phone to take pictures of the exact hazard that caused you to fall. It is vital to capture the condition before it is cleaned up, repaired, or altered.
• Get Witness Information: If anyone saw you fall, get their name and phone number. An independent witness can be invaluable to your case.
• Seek Medical Attention: Get a medical evaluation right away, even if you don’t feel seriously hurt. This creates an official record of your injuries and their connection to the fall.
• Preserve Your Footwear: Place the shoes you were wearing at the time of the fall in a safe place. Do not wear them again, as they can be important evidence.
• Decline Recorded Statements: Do not give a recorded statement to the property’s insurance company without speaking to an attorney first.

Frequently Asked Questions About Slip and Fall Claims

What if the store had a “Wet Floor” sign up?
A warning sign can sometimes be used as a defense, but it does not automatically absolve the owner of liability. We can still argue negligence if the sign was not placed in a clearly visible location or if the hazardous condition was left unattended for an unreasonable amount of time.

How long do I have to file a slip and fall lawsuit in Illinois?
Generally, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the fall. However, if your injury occurred on government-owned property (like a public park or municipal building), you have a much shorter deadline—often just one year—to file a formal notice of your claim.

The property owner is blaming me for the fall. Do I still have a case?
Yes. It is standard for the defense to claim you were clumsy or not paying attention. Under Illinois’s “modified comparative negligence” rule, you can still recover damages as long as you were not 50% or more at fault for the incident. Our job is to prove the owner’s negligence was the primary cause.

Holding Negligent Property Owners Accountable. Call Us Today.

You should not have to bear the financial burden of an injury that was caused by someone else’s carelessness. The Law Offices of Anthony R. Scifo is ready to fight for the full compensation you are entitled to for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Call our Elgin office today at (847) 628-8311 for a free and confidential consultation about your case.