Fatal Slip and Fall Cases in Chicago

Helping Families Pursue Justice in Wrongful Death Slip and Fall Cases in Chicago

While many slip and fall incidents lead to serious injuries in Chicago, some can turn fatal. After a fatal slip and fall on someone else’s property, surviving family members can seek compensation via a wrongful death claim based on premises liability if the fall occurred due to someone else’s negligence.

Slip & Fall Injury Lawyers can represent families who have lost loved ones to falls at apartment complexes, nursing homes, retail stores, public buildings, and construction sites.

Slip and Fall Settlements & Verdicts Recovered by Our Chicago Law Firm

  • $11.75 million – While framing a roof on a South Side job site, Carlos fell through an unguarded opening and died from his injuries. The general contractor failed to provide fall protection or guardrails. Testimony from safety experts played a key role in the settlement.
  • $5 million – Angela, a 29-year-old graphic designer, died after falling from the roof of her West Loop apartment building, which lacked safety railings. Witnesses confirmed the building routinely allowed access despite the hazard. The case value was driven by premises liability and the property owner’s prior citations.
  • $1.9 million – Edward, an 83-year-old resident of a senior living facility on the North Side, fell down a stairwell after a door was left open. Surveillance footage showed no warning signage or staff intervention. His family brought a wrongful death suit that highlighted inadequate supervision and building code violations.

Why Choose Us to File a Claim

Our firm is uniquely positioned to help with your personal injury lawsuit. We maintain a five-star rating from AVVO and an A+ grade from the Better Business Bureau. Our attorneys have experience handling emotionally charged cases, recovering compensation for survivors, and collaborating with experts to establish liability.

What Are the Most Common Fatal Injuries from Slips and Falls?

  • Head injury
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Brain hemorrhage
  • Cervical spine fracture
  • Hip fracture causing blood clots or infection
  • Broken bones
  • Internal bleeding
  • Organ rupture
  • Multi-system trauma from high-impact falls

What Compensation Can Families Recover in Wrongful Death Slip and Fall Cases?

Economic Damages

  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • Medical bills prior to death
  • Loss of financial support

Non-Economic Damages

  • Loss of companionship, guidance, and consortium
  • Emotional distress
  • Pain and suffering for the deceased before passing

What Is the Average Payout for Slip and Fall Cases with Fatal Outcomes?

Your settlement amount will be influenced by the extent of the damages, the available evidence, policy limits, and the effectiveness of your legal team. Per Law.com, the average payout for a slip and fall ending in fatality was roughly $8.4 million.

Example Cases

Juan was a truck driver who was replacing skylights on the roof of a shed when he stepped on an unprotected skylight and fell 12 feet, suffering fatal injuries. His widow sued the property owner for failing to implement preventative measures near the decayed skylight. She was awarded $18 million.

Nicholaus was a part-time care salesman who was walking to his car from a supermarket when he slipped on ice and fell. He died shortly after an injury lawsuit was filed. His stepdaughter sued the property management company and grocery store company for negligence and was awarded $3 million.

Why You Need a Lawyer

A deadly slip and fall accident comes with numerous challenges, such as proving liability without a victim’s testimony, navigating wrongful death laws, dealing with defendants who deny fault, and obtaining expert testimony.

Our firm helps families focus on healing while we build and litigate their case.

How Common Are Fatal Outcomes in Slip and Fall Accidents?

Worldwide, approximately 37 million falls result in victims seeking medical treatment. Around 684,000 of those falls result in fatal accidents.

Where Do Slip and Fall Fatalities Occur Most Often in Chicago?

  • Assisted living facilities (Edgewater, Hyde Park)
  • CTA platforms and stairwells
  • Apartment buildings
  • Grocery stores, hotels, and restaurants
  • Construction sites

What Laws Govern Fatal Injury Claims in Chicago?

State law 740 ILCS 180/ allows surviving family members to pursue financial compensation if their loved ones have been lost due to a property owner’s negligence. Under the Illinois Survival Act (755 ILCS 5/27-6), families can also seek damages that the deceased suffered before their passing.

Under 740 ILCS 180/2, the statute of limitations for wrongful death is two years. However, the timeline may be shorter if the death involves a government entity under state law 745 ILCS 10/.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim for a Slip and Fall in Chicago?

The personal representative of the deceased’s estate may file a wrongful death claim after a slip and fall accident. The order of priority for this type of lawsuit is spouse, children, parents, and then siblings.

Common Defenses in Fatal Slip and Fall Cases in Chicago

Common Defenses

  • The hazard was obvious
  • The victim was negligent
  • No prior complaints exist

Our Counters

  • Evidence of poor lighting or insufficient maintenance
  • Surveillance footage and photos of the environment to prove that the dangerous condition existed
  • Accident reconstruction and expert testimony

How to Strengthen Your Case

Here is what the family should do to prepare for a fatal accident claim:

  • Preserve security footage and physical evidence
  • Obtain the incident report
  • Keep all medical records from treatment
  • Open an estate to appoint a personal representative
  • Consult an experienced wrongful death lawyer from our firm

How a Lawyer Can Help

Slip & Fall Injury Lawyers will investigate the cause, secure evidence, handle estate setup, work with medical experts, prove liability, assess damages, and support the family through the legal process.

What Does It Cost to Hire an Attorney in Chicago?

We work on a contingency fee basis, so you owe nothing unless we win the case.

Book a Free Consultation

Our team has the experience, resources, and compassion to help you hold the property owner or other at-fault party accountable. Whether your loved one died from the fall or due to complications from fall injuries, we can build a strong case to prove the other person’s negligence.

Contact us today if your loved one has passed due to a slip and fall accident in Chicago. We offer a free consultation so you can ask questions about the claims process.

Client Reviews

I am thrilled with how the team handled my trip and fall case. They hired an investigator to go out to the scene and take photos of the area to demonstrate a defect with the stairs. I could tell from the start...

Anthony W.

Extremely professional group of attorneys. They answered my questions and always responded to my phone calls. At the end of the day, they definitely recovered more money for my case than I feel like I could...

Debbie R.

After breaking my leg at work, I thought I had a straightforward slip and fall case. I was very wrong. Mr. Rosenfeld and his associates really handled everything for me in terms of getting my medical treatment...

Sean C.

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