A slip and fall back injury is one of the most common causes of personal injury claims. In Chicago, you could get hurt while walking down the street, shopping for groceries, or entering an apartment building. These injuries can have a major impact on your life, which is why seeking compensation and justice for your suffering is a viable option.
The right law firm can guide you through the claims process with a greater chance for success. At Slip & Fall Injury Lawyers, we specialize in these types of injuries and know what it takes to build a strong case.
With decades of experience, our slip and fall accident law firm in Chicago is equipped to help you pursue maximum compensation. Here are some past settlements we have recovered for clients in slip and fall accidents:
Michael was admitted to a Chicago hospital for hip replacement surgery when he slipped and fell, suffering a traumatic brain injury, which led to a fatal subdural hematoma. The claim centered on inadequate patient monitoring and failure to ensure a safe environment. His family pursued justice, arguing the incident was preventable with basic safeguards.
Luis, a construction worker in downtown Chicago, fell on an active job site and suffered severe knee injuries, requiring multiple surgeries. The case value reflected unsafe site conditions and the long-term impact on his ability to work.
Harold, an elderly tenant, fell down the stairs of his South Side apartment building when a defective railing gave way. The case emphasized building code violations and landlord negligence. His fall left him with lasting mobility issues that affected his daily independence.
Brian, an office worker, slipped on debris left by a carpeting crew in a Chicago high-rise. The claim highlighted negligent cleanup and the employer’s failure to maintain a safe workplace. He ultimately required medical treatment and missed work, which strengthened his case for damages.
A slip and fall accident lawyer from our firm has the backing of a top-rated team in Chicago. We maintain a 98% success rate with personal injury claims. Our head attorney is a contributing author for the National Law Review. We have also received a five-star rating from AVVO.
A slip and fall accident in Chicago can cause all types of damage to your body, from soft-tissue injuries to broken bones to dangerous head injuries. Let’s examine some of the consequences that may result from a bad fall that affects your back.
The spinal cord serves as a crucial foundation for the musculoskeletal system. A dislocation or broken bone along its length can cause significant mobility issues, pain, and other health complications, especially if your vertebrae are affected.
Soft tissues include muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Muscle sprains and torn ligaments can cause pain during movement. Milder soft tissue injuries may only cause contusions and swelling. However, if you suffer from bruising or inflammation of the muscles surrounding the spine, the long-term effects could be life-altering.
Between each vertebra in your spinal cord is a soft disc that provides lubrication and cushioning for the movement of your back. When you suffer a herniated disc or bulging disc, it can cause significant chronic pain and mobility concerns. These serious injuries can increase the final settlement amount for your claim.
Your back is interconnected with multiple joints, including the pelvis, the hips, and the individual vertebrae. An injury to the joint that connects your pelvis and spine could cause lower back pain and hip fractures. If the stabilizing joints between your vertebrae are injured, you may experience sharp, localized pain, inflammation, or spinal instability.
One of the worst slip and fall injuries you could experience is direct damage or compression to the spinal cord. These spinal injuries can affect the nervous system, causing weakness or paralysis. Radiculopathy, also known as nerve root compression, is a condition in which the nerve root in the spinal column is compressed or irritated.
The extent of your spinal injuries may not feel severe at first. However, postural changes caused by minor injuries could exacerbate the spinal column, causing chronic pain that affects you for years to come.
Although not every injury may require extensive medical treatment, many victims of someone else’s negligence can still sue for legal damages. Establishing liability will mean you must determine the cause of your slip and fall accident.
Here are some common slip and fall causes that could lead to financial compensation:
A slip and fall accident caused by someone else’s negligence could lead to compensation for the victim if they can prove liability. Here are some slip and fall damages that could influence your settlement:
If nerve damage, knee joint injuries, or other injuries are caused by gross negligence or intentional misconduct, a judge may award additional compensation to the victim to further punish the defendant.
Multiple factors will affect the final settlement value of your claim, including injury severity, evidence, liability, and insurance company policies. The average settlement for a slip and fall injury involving the back in Illinois is $1.01 million, with a range from $6,000 to $9 million.
In 2014, Scott Liszkiewicz was installing light fixtures on a second-floor balcony of an apartment complex. He leaned over the railing to hand a tool to a coworker when the railing collapsed and he fell 20 feet to the ground below, suffering head and back injuries. Eventually, Liszkiewicz succumbed to his injuries a few weeks later. His wife sued the construction company for failing to secure the railing after it had been repositioned for the project. The pre-trial settlement awarded the plaintiff $7.5 million.
In 2004, Rebecca Hess was visiting her sister at an apartment complex. When she attempted to exit the building using a rear porch, she fell off a stairway that lacked a handrail. This led to significant back injuries and other types of damage from the fall accident. Hess sued the building owner and the City of Chicago, and the investigation revealed that the owner had been aware of the railing’s condition for over a year.
Hazardous conditions can create tripping hazards all over Chicago. Determining who is at fault for your accident is a crucial step in the claims process. Potentially liable parties may include:
Slip and fall accidents often occur in work environments. During a 1999-2001 study of American workers, there were over 40,000 cases of slips or falls that led to back injuries each year. The shoulder and back were the most commonly damaged parts of the body in these fall accidents, accounting for approximately 36% of all cases.
Here are some locations where you could suffer a slip and fall injury in Chicago:
740 ILCS 130/ – A property owner is responsible for demonstrating reasonable care to prevent hazards on the premises.
820 ILCS 305/ – Employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance to cover lost income, medical expenses, and other related losses for workers who slip and fall on the job.
A property owner can use various defenses to undermine your claim for soft tissue injuries or fractures involving your back:
If you follow these steps, you can build a stronger compensation claim:
Under the personal injury statute of limitations, you have two years to pursue compensation after the date of the incident or the date of discovering your injuries (735 ILCS 5/13-202). Lawsuits involving government entities must file notice within a year of falling under state law 745 ILCS 10/.
Our personal injury lawyers, specialized in slip and fall injuries to the back or spinal cord, provide the following legal services:
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and explore your options for receiving fair compensation.