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Bolingbrook Slip and Fall Attorney
If you slipped and fell on someone else’s property in Bolingbrook, you may be dealing with real pain, mounting medical bills, and a lot of unanswered questions. Whether it happened at the Promenade Bolingbrook shopping center on Boughton Road, a parking lot near Route 53, or a restaurant along Weber Road, the law may be on your side. At Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, we help injury victims across the Chicago area hold negligent property owners accountable. You deserve answers, and we are here to help you get them.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Slip and Fall Claim Under Illinois Law?
- Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Bolingbrook
- Illinois Law and Your Right to Compensation
- The Real Cost of a Slip and Fall Injury
- Why Briskman Briskman & Greenberg Is the Right Choice for Your Case
- FAQs About Bolingbrook Slip and Fall Claims
What Is a Slip and Fall Claim Under Illinois Law?
A slip and fall claim falls under an area of law called premises liability. Under the Illinois Premises Liability Act (740 ILCS 130), property owners and those who control property have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors. When they fail to do that, and someone gets hurt as a result, the injured person has the right to pursue compensation.
Think about a common scenario. You walk into a grocery store near Bolingbrook’s Old Chicago area. There is a wet floor with no warning sign. You slip, fall, and break your wrist. The store knew, or should have known, about that hazard. That is the foundation of a premises liability claim.
To win a slip and fall case in Illinois, you generally need to prove four things. First, the property owner owed you a duty of care. Second, they breached that duty by failing to fix or warn you about a dangerous condition. Third, that breach caused your injury. Fourth, you suffered real, measurable damages as a result. Those damages can include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Illinois law treats different visitors differently. Customers at a store are called “invitees,” and they receive the highest level of protection. Invitees, such as customers and clients, are owed the highest duty to inspect, maintain, and warn of dangerous conditions. Social guests and others may have slightly different protections, but the core principle remains: property owners must take reasonable steps to keep people safe.
If you were hurt on someone else’s property in or around Bolingbrook, contact our team at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. As Chicago personal injury lawyers, we know how to build strong premises liability cases and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Bolingbrook
Bolingbrook is a busy suburb in Will County, with heavy foot traffic at shopping centers, restaurants, apartment complexes, and commercial properties along major roads like I-55 and Route 53. With that much activity comes a higher risk of slip and fall accidents.
Wet or icy floors are among the most common hazards. Illinois winters are brutal. Sidewalks near Bolingbrook’s business districts, parking lots off Boughton Road, and building entrances can become dangerously slick after snow or rain. Property owners are responsible for clearing these hazards in a timely manner.
Uneven pavement is another frequent cause of falls. Cracked sidewalks, potholes in parking lots, and broken curbs can catch your foot off guard, especially in poorly lit areas at night. Missing or broken handrails on stairs are also a serious risk, particularly in older commercial buildings and apartment complexes throughout the area.
Spills inside stores and restaurants are a classic hazard. A leaking refrigerator, a freshly mopped floor with no warning sign, or a drink knocked over in a busy aisle can all lead to a serious fall. Poor lighting in stairwells, parking garages, and hallways also contributes to accidents that could have been prevented.
Other common causes include torn carpeting, loose floor mats, cluttered aisles, and broken steps. Slip and fall accidents happen more often than most people realize, and they can result in serious, sometimes life-altering injuries. The injuries from these accidents are not minor. Broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and torn ligaments are all possible outcomes of a single fall.
No matter where your accident happened, whether at a Bolingbrook strip mall, a residential property near Lily Cache Road, or a commercial warehouse near the I-55 corridor, our team at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg is ready to review your case. We also serve clients in surrounding areas, and our Mundelein slip and fall lawyer team is available to help those north of the city as well.
Illinois Law and Your Right to Compensation
Illinois has specific laws that govern how fault and compensation are handled in slip and fall cases. Understanding these laws matters, because they directly affect how much you can recover.
Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. This means that if you were partly at fault for your own fall, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were found to be 20% at fault and your total damages were $100,000, you would recover $80,000. However, if you are found to be more than 50% at fault, you are barred from recovering anything at all. Insurance companies know this rule well, and they will often try to shift blame onto you to reduce what they owe.
Illinois also has joint and several liability rules under 735 ILCS 5/2-1117. This law is important when multiple parties share responsibility for your injuries. All defendants found liable are jointly and severally liable for your past and future medical expenses. If a defendant is found to be 25% or more at fault, they can be held jointly and severally liable for all other damages as well. This matters in cases where a property management company, a maintenance contractor, and a property owner all share some responsibility for the dangerous condition that caused your fall.
You also have a deadline to file your claim. In Illinois, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally two years from the date of the injury. Miss that deadline, and you likely lose your right to sue. Do not wait. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget details, and surveillance footage gets deleted.
Our team at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg understands these laws inside and out. We also help clients in other parts of the Chicago area, including through our Oak Lawn slip and fall lawyer team and our Orland Park slip and fall lawyer practice.
The Real Cost of a Slip and Fall Injury
People sometimes underestimate how serious a slip and fall injury can be. The truth is, these accidents can change your life in ways you never expected. A single fall can result in a fractured hip, a traumatic brain injury, a torn ACL, or a herniated disc. Recovery from these injuries can take months or even years, and some people never fully recover.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that more than 800,000 people require hospitalization annually due to slip and fall injuries, such as a hip fracture or head wound. According to the CDC, over 95% of hip fractures are caused by falls, and these often lead to surgery, extended hospital stays, and sometimes permanent changes in mobility, especially for elderly individuals.
The financial toll is just as serious. Medical bills pile up fast. You may need emergency room care, imaging, surgery, physical therapy, and follow-up appointments. If your injury keeps you from working, lost wages add to the burden. Victims of slip and fall accidents miss an average of 11 days of work. For many people, that is more than a week and a half of lost income they cannot afford to lose.
In Illinois, you can pursue compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include your medical expenses, both past and future, lost wages, and out-of-pocket costs. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium for your family members.
Do not let an insurance company convince you that your case is worth less than it is. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts. They may call you quickly after your accident, offer a low settlement, and ask you to sign a release before you even know the full extent of your injuries. Once you sign, you give up your right to seek more compensation later. Talk to a lawyer first. Our Chicago slip and fall lawyer team at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg can review any offer and advise you on whether it is fair.
Why Briskman Briskman & Greenberg Is the Right Choice for Your Case
When you are hurt in a slip and fall accident, you need a legal team that takes your case seriously and fights for your best outcome. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg has been helping injury victims in the Chicago area for decades. We understand the local courts, including the Will County Courthouse in Joliet and the Richard J. Daley Center in downtown Chicago, where many of these cases are heard. We know how to prepare a case that holds up.
Our approach is straightforward. We listen to what happened. We investigate the scene, gather evidence, review surveillance footage, and identify all responsible parties. We work with medical professionals to document your injuries and calculate the full value of your claim. Then we fight for you, whether that means negotiating a strong settlement or taking your case to trial.
We handle slip and fall cases throughout the greater Chicago area, from Bolingbrook and the southwestern suburbs to the North Shore and beyond. Our clients in communities near Bolingbrook, from Romeoville to Woodridge, have relied on us when they needed someone in their corner. We also serve clients across Chicago’s neighborhoods, from Bridgeport to Wicker Park, and our personal injury attorneys in Chicago are ready to help you too.
We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. There is no upfront cost and no financial risk to you. If you or someone you love was hurt in a slip and fall accident in Bolingbrook or anywhere in the Chicago area, call Briskman Briskman & Greenberg today for a free consultation. You have rights, and we are here to protect them.
FAQs About Bolingbrook Slip and Fall Claims
How long do I have to file a slip and fall lawsuit in Illinois?
In most cases, you have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in Illinois. This deadline is set by the Illinois statute of limitations. If you wait too long, the court will likely dismiss your case, and you will lose your right to compensation. There are some exceptions, such as claims against government entities, which have shorter deadlines. Contact Briskman Briskman & Greenberg as soon as possible after your accident so we can protect your right to file.
What if I was partly at fault for my slip and fall accident?
You may still be able to recover compensation even if you were partly at fault. Under Illinois’ modified comparative negligence law (735 ILCS 5/2-1116), your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault. So if you were 25% at fault and your damages total $80,000, you would recover $60,000. You are only barred from recovery if you are found to be more than 50% at fault. Insurance companies often try to inflate your share of the blame to reduce what they owe, which is why having a lawyer on your side matters.
What types of damages can I recover in a Bolingbrook slip and fall case?
You can pursue both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include your past and future medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and any out-of-pocket expenses related to your injury. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium for your spouse or family. In some cases involving multiple defendants, Illinois’ joint and several liability rules under 735 ILCS 5/2-1117 may allow you to recover the full amount of your medical expenses from any one liable party.
Do I need a lawyer for a slip and fall case, or can I handle it on my own?
You are not required to hire a lawyer, but doing so significantly improves your chances of a fair outcome. Property owners and their insurance companies have experienced legal teams working to minimize what they pay you. A lawyer can investigate the scene, preserve evidence, identify all liable parties, calculate the true value of your claim, and negotiate or litigate on your behalf. At Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, we handle slip and fall cases on a contingency fee basis, so there is no cost to you unless we win your case.
What should I do right after a slip and fall accident in Bolingbrook?
The steps you take right after a fall can make or break your case. First, seek medical attention immediately, even if you think your injuries are minor. Some injuries, like traumatic brain injuries or internal damage, may not show symptoms right away. Second, report the accident to the property owner or manager and ask for a written incident report. Third, take photos of the hazard, the scene, and your injuries. Fourth, get the names and contact information of any witnesses. Fifth, do not give a recorded statement to the insurance company without first speaking to a lawyer. Call Briskman Briskman & Greenberg as soon as you are able.
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