Premises Liability Lawyer in Bridgeport, IL

Premises liability lawyer in Bridgeport, IL. If you or someone you love were seriously injured on someone else’s property, you are owed compensation under the law. Call the Bridgeport, IL personal injury lawyers of Burger Law at (618) 500-HURT or contact us online to start on your road to true recovery.

If you were injured because a property owner did not keep their property safe in Bridgeport, IL, see what the value of your injuries may be by filling out our free personal injury calculator.

If you were injured because of a property owner’s negligence, get medical attention right away. Then, contact Burger Law. Our attorneys have over 80 years of combined litigation experience getting maximum compensation for our clients in Bridgeport, IL. You did not deserve to be injured, but with our dedicated team and extraordinary level of legal advocacy, you can be made whole again. The decision to hire a premises liability lawyer is an important one; you only have one opportunity to get a full financial recovery for your accident. You deserve it, and we will not stop fighting until you receive it. To date, we have secured over $200 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients in a wide range of personal injury claims. Let us deal with the insurance company so you can focus on healing. Call a Burger Law Bridgeport, IL premises liability lawyer today at (618) 500-HURT for a no-risk, no-obligation case evaluation.

Recognized Leaders in Premises Liability Claims

Choosing the right personal injury lawyer for your claim is crucial. You want someone who has won your type of case before and who you know will not back down from a fight. In order to gauge the abilities of an injury law firm, you need to look at the cases they have won, and their reputation among their clients and peers. The numerous awards, honors and accolades Burger Law has received from our peers include:

• Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a remarkable achievement awarded to not more than 5 percent of all lawyers in the U.S.
• Million and Multi-Million Dollar Advocate Honor — Members of the Million and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an honor only given to 1 percent of attorneys in the United States.
• Top 100 Trial Lawyers Honor — Selected to the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only honor that is comprised of the most qualified lawyers in each state.
• Board Certified By the National Board of Trial Advocacy — Board certified in Civil Trial Advocacy and Civil Pretrial Practice Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Less than 4 percent of all practicing lawyers are certified by an ABA accredited certification board.

Any premises liability lawyer can say they know how to handle your case, but proving they are qualified is another matter entirely. Click on the links below to read about our previous premises liability successes:

• $1.435 Million Settlement Against Three Defendants For Deck Collapse That Injured Couple
• Widow in ATV Accident Settles with Property Owner – $600,000 Settlement
• $400,000 Settlement in Employer Sexual Assault Case
• $350,000 Settlement in Ladder Case
• $300,000 Settlement for Slip and Fall Case
• $270,000 Settlement For Construction Site Bike Accident
• $250,000 Slip and Fall Settlement
• $250,000 Settlement in Icy Slip and Fall Suit
• $232,000 Workers’ Compensation Settlement
• $150,000 Settlement Days Before Trial
• $125,000 Slip and Fall Success
• $125,000 Settlement in Trip and Fall Case
• $125,000 Settlement in Auditorium Fall
• $120,000 Settlement For Gateway Arch Worker Injured on Tram
• $117,500 Slip and Fall Settlement
• $0 to $70,000 in Parking Lot Injury Claim

Understanding the Illinois Premises Liability Act

Under The Illinois Premises Liability Act, the owner or occupier of a land typically has a duty of reasonable care to protect visitors from foreseeable injuries because of dangerous conditions on the premises, by either repairing the dangerous condition or by notifying guests that its there. That can mean dangerous conditions that they either had direct knowledge of or should have discovered through reasonable diligence. If the dangerous condition was “open and obvious,” for example, a clearly broken staircase, a property owner generally does not owe you a responsibility to keep you from unreasonable harm.

Examples of a known hazard can include:

• Spills that are not cleaned up or are not warned against
• Potholes
• Loose railings
• Unsecured flooring
• Unsecured extension cords
• Damaged steps
• Faulty doors
• Slippery surfaces due to ice, snow, or water
• Uneven walking surfaces
• Poorly designed or repaired playground equipment
• Bad building craftsmanship
• Poor lighting
• Falling debris
• Broken locks or inadequate security measures
• Pools without barriers or lifeguards on duty
• Vicious animals
• Poor electrical wiring

If you were misusing the property, for example, “goofing off” or being on a part of the property that was roped off, the person in control of the property generally does not has a responsibility to keep you from harm.

To prove a premises liability claim in Bridgeport, IL, you must demonstrate the following four factors:

1. That the defendant owed you a duty of reasonable care
2. That there was a dangerous condition on the premises
3. That the party in possession of the property knew or should have known about it
4. That they did not use reasonable care to warn, fix or discover the dangerous condition
5. That the dangerous condition caused you injuries

Two Exceptions to “Open and Obvious” in Illinois Premises Liability Laws

There are two instances in which “open and obvious” may not apply:

1. The “Distraction” ExceptionIn Ward v. K Mart Corp (185 Ill. App. 3d 153 (Ill. App. Ct. 1989)), the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that the state would apply a “distraction exception.” If an owner thinks you may not notice the danger because another aspect of the premises may be distracting, they still owe you a duty of reasonable care. For example, if a retail store has signs on the wall with information on their current discounts, and you tripped because you were not looking at the ground, the distraction exception may apply. The exception does not include distractions that are your fault, such as looking at your phone.
2. The “Deliberate Encounter” ExceptionThe second exception is when the dangerous condition may be easily discovered, but the person on the property has good reason to proceed. In LaFever v. Kemlite Company (185 Ill. 2d 380 (Ill. 1998) 706 N.E.2d 441), the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that the person in charge of a property owed a duty of care to a man who slipped on slippery material near a dumpster. The danger was known to the injured man, but because the man had to empty the dumpster as part of his employment, the owner should have expected that the man would encounter the material.

Types of Visitors in Bridgeport, IL Premises Liability Claims

How much responsibility the possessor owes you is based on what kind of visitor you are. In Illinois, there are three types of visitors:

Invitees and Licensees

Invitees are people that enter the property for business purposes, for example patrons at a bar or people who go to a amusement park. An invitee can also be someone on property open to the public.

A licensee is someone who is allowed to be on the premises, but not for business purposes. Common examples include social guests, a utility company performing work on your property, someone you let hunt on your property at no cost or someone stopping into a store just to ask for directions.

Illinois law used to distinguish between invitees and licensees — and many states still do. However, since the current Illinois Premises Liability Act when into effect on September 12, 1984, invitees and licensees have the same protections under the law.

Trespassers

A trespasser is someone who enters a property without permission or an invitation. Because the the trespasser is not supposed to be on the premises, the Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions does not require property owners to protect trespassers, with some exceptions:

• If a property owner knows or should know that a trespasser is on the premises, they cannot injure the trespasser willfully or wantonly.
• If an owner knew there was a man-made structure that could seriously injure a trespasser, and the owner knew or should have known of a trespasser’s presence, they do not have to fix the condition, but have a duty to warn against it.
• If the owner is conducting activities, for example construction, and knows that activity could harm a trespasser, they have a duty to try to avoid injuring the trespasser.
• Under the common law concept of attractive nuisance, in some states, property owners can be held strictly liable – or automatically liable – if a child comes onto the property because of a dangerous condition that might be attractive to a child and the child is hurt. Examples of an attractive nuisance include swimming pools, playground equipment, dangerous or unsecured animals or power tools. In Kahn v. James Burton Co. (5 Ill. 2d 614 (Ill. 1955) 126 N.E.2d 836), the Illinois Supreme Court rejected strict liability in attractive nuisance cases. Instead, owners could be held liable based on standard negligence and the relative cost of fixing the issue. To make a premises liability claim for a child under attractive nuisance, you must show that:
  • The owner had reason to believe a child may come onto the premises,
  • The nuisance could lead to the death or injury of a child
  • A child would likely not understand the risks, and
  • The cost of remedying the danger or restricting access was relatively low

If you are unsure what your visitor status was at the time of the accident, your knowledgeable premises liability lawyer with Burger Law will help you make sense of your situation and get you the best possible legal outcome in your situation. Talk to a premises liability lawyer in Bridgeport, IL about your case immediately at (618) 500-HURT or fill out our online form.

Common Premises Liability Injuries in Bridgeport, IL

We have gotten great results for our Bridgeport, IL clients with a wide range of injuries sustained on someone else’s property, including:

• Broken bones
• Back, neck and spine injuries
• Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
• Burns
• Electric shocks
• Ankle, knee and shoulder injuries

What Can a Premises Liability Lawyer in Bridgeport, IL Do For My Claim?

Premises liability claims are vigorously defended against by Bridgeport, IL insurance companies. They may try to blame you for your injuries, or say that the possessor did not owe you a duty of care. A knowledgeable premises liability lawyer in Bridgeport, IL like those at Burger Law will not let them get away with avoiding their obligation to compensate you. A premises liability lawyer in Bridgeport, IL can help level the playing field against a powerful insurance company. When you hire us, we will immediately get to work demanding full compensation. As part of our legal services we will:

• Perform a complete investigation into your accident and determine who is liable
• Gather evidence such as employee and eyewitness testimony, accident reports, photographs, security footage and expert testimony
• Determine how a property owner or manager failed in their duty of care
• Calculate the full value of your damages, including your medical bills, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering and emotional distress, to make sure you get the most amount of money possible
• Resist dishonest tricks from the insurance company attempting to minimize your claim
• Negotiate with the insurance adjuster on your behalf
• Answer any questions you may have at any time
• Take the fight to trial if we cannot get you the fair financial recovery you are owed in negotiations

We have earned both our distinguished reputation and our clients’ compensation through tenacity diligence and a “never back down” frame of mind. We start working on your case right away and do not give up until you get the full compensation you deserve.

Resources For Your Premises Liability Case in Bridgeport, IL

Most people who come to us have never had to deal with making an injury claim before, and do not know how to go about making their claim, or even how to the right attorney for their case. Fortunately, we have literally written the book on essential questions to ask before picking a lawyer or settling your case, which you can download at no cost below.

We also offer a variety of other free resources on our website.

• Illinois Personal Injury Resources
• How a Lawsuit Works
• Personal Injury Legal Terms
• Legal Podcasts
• Premises Liability Blog

What Are the Most Common Types of Bridgeport, IL Premises Liability Claims?

What Are the Most Common Types of Bridgeport, IL Premises Liability Claims?

At Burger Law, we have gotten great results in a wide range of premises liability claims in Bridgeport, IL, including:

• Slip and falls
• Negligent security
• Claims against restaurants
• Assault and sexual assault
• Elevator and escalator accidents
• Fire and smoke injuries
• Grocery or retail store injuries
• School and daycare accidents
• Claims against bars and restaurant
• Claims against landlords
• Claims against hotels
• Swimming pool accidents
• Amusement park accidents
• Exposure to toxic chemicals or substances
• Dog bites and other animal attacks

If you were injured on someone else’s property because of the possessor’s negligence, you deserve to be compensated, no matter where or how your injuries occurred. We will ensure you get it.

Bridgeport, IL Premises Liability Lawyer: Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Can I Receive in Compensation?

How much your claim is depends on the particulars of your claim:

• The extent of your injuries and how much they have affected your life
• If your injuries led to long-lasting consequences
• Whether you will need future medical treatment
• Whether or not you are partially to blame for your injuries
• The insurance coverage’s policy limits, and whether there is more insurance available

Your Bridgeport, IL premises liability lawyer at Burger Law will be able to ensure that no money is left on the table when securing your settlement or jury verdict.

Can I Still Receive Compensation if I Was Partially at Fault for My Accident?

You can still recover compensation, although it will not be as much as if you shared no blame. Illinois is what is considered a modified contributory fault state, which means that you will be compensated for the portion of the fault you do not bare.

Meaning, if a jury awards you $100,000 in damages, but finds that you share 30 percent of the blame for your accident, you will receive $70,000. Keep in mind that 735 ILCS 5/ §2-1116 states that:

The plaintiff shall be barred from recovering damages if the trier of fact finds that the contributory fault on the part of the plaintiff is more than 50 percent of the proximate cause of the injury or damage for which recovery is sought.

Meaning, if you share more of the blame than the other party, you cannot make a recovery in Bridgeport, IL. Your Burger Law premises liability lawyer will know how to prove that you are not responsible for the harm someone else caused.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Premises Liability Claim in Bridgeport, IL?

In Illinois, the statute of limitations is relatively short at two years for most personal injury claims, pursuing to 735 ILCS 5/. That means you must file a claim within two years of when the injury occurred. However, there are two notable exceptions:

1. If you were a minor at the time of the injury, you have until your 20th birthday.
2. If you were under a “legal disability” when the injury occurred, you have two years from the date the disability was “removed.”

After a premises liability injury, there is no time to wait. You only have one chance to receive full compensation, and the countdown has already started. Do not delay, call us now at 312-500-HURT.

What if I Was Injured Because of a Dangerous Condition at a Friend or Family Member’s House?

If you were injured at a friend or family member’s property, you should still file a claim with their insurance company. While the thought of “suing” a family member or friend is awkward at best, the truth is you are merely insisting that their insurance cover the expenses related to your injuries as part of their contract with the homeowner. No good friend or family member would want to see you under financial hardships because of an injury.

Can I Sue the State of Illinois or Another Government Entity in Bridgeport, IL for Premises Liability?

Generally, the Illinois State Lawsuit Immunity Act gives immunity to government entities. However, the Illinois Court of Claims Act allows you to make a claim against the state for damages that could also be sought against a private entity. So, the state has the same duty to warn against or fix dangerous conditions on public property, such as roads or parks, as a homeowner or business owner would be.

Instead of having two years to make a claim, claims against Illinois must be filed within one year of the injury. There are also unique rules for filing your claim with the State Attorney General and Clerk of the Court of Claims. By hiring a knowledgeable premises liability lawyer, you can ensure everything goes smoothly.

In addition to premises liability, other claims we take on in Bridgeport, IL include:

• Truck Crash Lawyers in Illinois
• Wrongful Death Lawyers in Illinois
• Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer in Illinois
• Car Accident Attorney in Illinois

Hire Burger Law

Speak to a Premises Liability Lawyer in Bridgeport, IL Today

Property owners and their insurance companies often do not want to pay for their negligence. Burger Law fights against bullies like resistant insurance companies and people who do not want to take responsibility for their actions every day. We know you did not expect to be injured, but, with Burger Law, you can expect full compensation and the best possible results in your claim. We insist on nothing but the best possible compensation, and offer nothing but the highest quality legal advocacy. Call a Burger Law Bridgeport, IL premises liability attorney today at 312-500-HURT or fill out our online contact form to discuss your case at no cost to you.