Premises liability law refers to the category of cases in which one person is injured on another’s property due to an unsafe condition on the land.  In order to prevail in a premises liability case in Illinois, the injured person must establish a connection between his or her injury and negligence by the “possessor” of the land (usually the landowner).  This is not always a simple matter.  Hiring an attorney experienced in premises liability cases is essential to maximizing your potential for success.

Illinois landowners’ liability in this area of law is subject to certain restrictions.  For one, the injured person must establish that the landowner knew or should have known of both the condition and the risks that it posed to others on the property.  Even then, the landowner may escape liability if the evidence reveals that the injured party could have discovered and protected himself or herself against the dangerous condition.  Questions that will have to be answered in making these determinations will include how the hazardous condition was created, who created it, and how long it has been in existence.

In short, the fact that you were injured on another’s property, in and of itself, does not guarantee that you will be legally entitled to money damages.  The reality is that most slip-and-fall lawsuits or other types of premises liability cases entail legal struggles to establish negligence on the part of the property owner, manager or maintenance contractor, while at the same time minimizing any claim of comparative fault on the part of the injured person. 

At GWC, our personal injury attorneys understand the complexities of premises liability law. We know how to analyze the facts of the case and we are skilled at locating witnesses and taking thorough depositions to help prove our clients’ claims. And, as with all of our personal injury cases, we bring an unwavering commitment to help our clients recover the maximum compensation allowed by law.  If you were injured on someone else’s property and are thinking about pursuing a premises liability case, call for a free consultation with a GWC attorney today.