Compensation After a Slip and Fall on a Broken Sidewalk

Representing Sidewalk Injury Victims in Chicago

If you get hurt in a slip and fall on a broken sidewalk, you could recover compensation if someone else is at fault for the accident. Slip & Fall Injury Lawyers can guide you through the lawsuit process to increase your chances of a fair settlement, whether you fell on a sidewalk in the West Loop, the South Side, or near a CTA stop.

Settlements & Verdicts Recovered by Our Chicago Law Firm

• $2 million – Emily, a 29-year-old preschool teacher, fractured her pelvis slipping on untreated ice outside a Logan Square church. Our attorneys showed that the church failed to salt the sidewalk despite recent snowfall.
• $835,100 – Linda, 60, was heading down the stairs just inside the front entrance of her Bronzeville apartment building, where poor lighting and a broken handrail caused her to fall. The stairwell opened directly off the sidewalk, where many tenants entered daily.
• $710,868 – Rachel, a 46-year-old assistant, tripped on loose carpet scraps left behind by contractors working in a River North office building undergoing lobby and sidewalk renovations. The crew had failed to secure the interior path as workers moved between the construction zone and the sidewalk.

Why Choose Us for Your Case

Our firm is the best injury team in Chicago. As a contributing author of the National Law Review, we maintain an A+ grade from the Better Business Bureau.

What Causes Slip and Fall Accidents on Sidewalks in Chicago?

A poorly maintained sidewalk can lead to a personal injury claim for several reasons:

• Tree roots push up panels
• Heavy vehicle traffic on non-reinforced surfaces
• Neglected maintenance by property owners
• Freeze-thaw cracks
• Lask or snow and ice removal
• Poor sidewalk design
• Aging infrastructure

Chicago winters can accelerate surface damage and pose secondary risks, including broken slabs, sunken panels, uneven sidewalk joints, damaged curbs, and missing pieces.

What Are Common Slip and Fall Injuries Occuring on Broken Sidewalk?

• Hip and wrist fractures
• Damaged ligaments and tendons
• Ankle sprains
• Facial and dental injuries
• Head injuries
• Concussions
• Herniated discs
• Back injuries
• Dislocated joints

What Damages Can Victims Seek?

Economic Damages

• Lost wages
• Medical bills (emergency, surgery, rehab, therapy, and follow-up)
• Future medical expenses

Non-Economic Damages

• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering
• Disability
• Loss of normal life

What Is the Average Payout for Sidewalk Slip and Fall Accidents in Chicago?

Your settlement will be affected by the extent of your injuries, legal damages, available evidence, and insurance policy limits. Between 2011 and 2017, the average payout for a sidewalk injury in Chicago was $522,692.

Example Cases Filed in Cook County

Michael was walking along North Orleans Street when he slipped and fell on a patch of black ice on the sidewalk. He sued a construction company for premises liability because they had plowed snow in a parking lot, which had melted and refrozen on the nearby sidewalk. He was awarded $2 million for disfigurement, medical costs, and loss of normal life.

Jorgen was on a pedestrian walkway connected to a parking garage owned by a condo association when he slipped in a puddle of water near a drain set. He sued the condo association and property manager for allowing a dangerous condition to exist due to a poorly designed drain. Both entities settled with Jorgen for a total of $250,000.

Why You Need an Experienced Lawyer

A professional lawyer from our firm can help overcome the following challenges:

• Determining liability when the sidewalk ownership is confusing
• Preserving time-sensitive evidence
• Pursuing compensation when government owners have stricter time limits
• Countering defense attorneys who argue the defects were minor or obvious

Where Do Broken Sidewalk Slips and Falls Occur Most Often in Chicago?

• Sidewalks near schools and parks
• Neighborhoods with old sidewalks
• Grocery stores, restaurants, and apartments
• CTA stations
• Downtown blocks
• Churches
• Public libraries
• Government buildings

What Laws Govern Sidewalk Injury Claims in Chicago?

Chicago municipal code 10-28-540 outlines who is the responsible party for sidewalk care. Under state law 740 ILCS 130/, property owners must take reasonable care to maintain safe premises for guests. Bubb v. Springfield School District helped establish the public duty regarding sidewalk maintenance.

How Long Do I Have to File a Sidewalk Injury Lawsuit in Illinois?

For private sidewalk injuries, you have two years to file your lawsuit under state law 735 ILCS 5/13-202. For public sidewalks, you may only have one year to pursue a lawsuit under state law 745 ILCS 10/.

Who Is Responsible for Maintaining Sidewalks in Chicago?

• Private property owners adjacent to the sidewalk
• Landlords
• Management companies
• Commercial tenants (restaurants, stores)
• City of Chicago
• Sidewalk repair contractors

Common Defenses in Sidewalk Slip and Fall Accident Fall Cases

• Claiming the crack wasn’t dangerous
• The injured victim should have seen the defect
• The owner had no prior notice
• The government has immunity

Our top legal team can defeat these arguments with photos of the hazard, maintenance logs, weather data, and witness testimony.

How to Strengthen Your Case

Here is what you should do immediately after your slip and fall accident on a broken sidewalk:

• Take photos of the hazard
• File a 311 report and keep a copy
• Seek medical attention right away
• Retain all medical records
• Record witness contacts
• Do not speak to insurance adjusters
• Consult one of our expert personal injury attorneys

How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

Sliip & Fall Injury Lawyers can investigate the owners, research maintenance responsibility, gather complaint reports, preserve surveillance footage, retain construction experts, file timely notices, and negotiate for a fair settlement.

Book a Free Consultation

Serious slip and fall accidents can have devastating consequences for the injured victims. Whether you fall on a patch of ice or an uneven sidewalk, our team can help you seek damages for the subsequent injuries caused by the hazardous condition. We will ensure the at-fault party in Cook County is held liable.

Contact our firm for a free consultation. Our team has decades of experience and works on a contingency fee basis, so you owe nothing unless we win.