If you recently slipped and fell on someone else’s property in Illinois, you could be entitled to compensation. One of the most common questions that injured victims ask is how much their case is worth. The reality is that there is no such thing as an average slip-and-fall settlement in Illinois. Every case involves unique factors that can influence case value, such as:
- The severity of the slip-and-fall injuries
- The cost of medical treatment
- The value of the victim’s lost income
- The victim’s pain and suffering
- The extent to which the property owner is at fault
While Illinois slip-and-fall settlement amounts vary from case to case, there are ways to get a general idea of what types of compensation you may be eligible for. Seeking guidance from an experienced attorney can help you understand your legal rights and how case amounts are evaluated.
Why Choose Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. for Your Slip-and-Fall Case?
At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we know that Illinois has no shortage of personal injury lawyers competing to handle your slip-and-fall claim. With more than $3.5 billion recovered for our clients, our attorneys are proven legal advocates and skilled trial lawyers. While every case is unique and past results cannot guarantee future outcomes, our history of successful case results demonstrates our command of personal injury law and our ability to apply that knowledge to build persuasive claims and secure compensation for our clients.
Clients choose Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. for:
- Our meticulous approach – Our lawyers work with highly qualified experts across a variety of fields to investigate and gain a thorough understanding of how slip-and-fall accidents occur and the extent of their impact. For example, our legal team includes a legal nurse consultant who helps us analyze slip-and-fall injuries and their impact on a victim’s long-term well-being.
- Our compassion – We know visiting an attorney’s office can be intimidating. Our slip-and-fall lawyers and support staff are compassionate, friendly, approachable, and upfront. We want you to feel comfortable talking to us and confident that we are doing everything we can to help.
- Our trial-ready mindset – While most personal injury cases settle out of court, we always prepare ours as if they will go to trial. This strategic approach puts pressure on the other side to offer fair compensation during settlement negotiations. If they refuse to do so, we will not hesitate to file a slip-and-fall lawsuit and go to court in pursuit of maximum compensation on behalf of our client.
- Our recognized results – We have been ranked the top firm in Chicago Lawyer’s Settlement Report in multiple years, secured a $115 million premises liability settlement, and have recovered over $3.5 billion for our clients, including over 400 verdicts and settlements of $1 million+.
Our firm takes cases on a contingency-fee basis, which means we do not charge you any upfront or surprise fees. Instead, our fee is a percentage of the compensation we recover on your behalf. Contact us to learn more during a free consultation.
Slip-and-Fall Settlement Ranges in Illinois
Slip-and-fall settlements vary in Illinois. Too many variables affect how much a claimant could be owed to provide a concrete answer or average, but some general principles apply.
For example, slip-and-fall settlements with surgery are generally larger than those where victims needed non-invasive medical treatments. More severe injuries could push a settlement figure much higher, but limitations such as available insurance coverage could impact how much you may be able to recover.
At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we conduct thorough investigations to determine liability and place an appropriate estimate on our clients’ cases.
How Much Are Slip-and-Fall Settlements Without Surgery in Illinois?
Slip-and-fall settlements in cases that do not require surgery are generally smaller than those that do. Having said that, every case is unique and involves its own set of circumstances. For example, a settlement for someone who did not need surgery but did require extensive therapy and rehabilitation may be larger than one for a personal injury victim who needed minor outpatient surgery with a short recovery time.
Factors That Affect Slip-and-Fall Settlement Amounts
Many factors can influence the value of an Illinois slip-and-fall settlement amount, including:
- The severity of the injuries – Serious injuries like compound fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries generally lead to higher settlements, especially when those injuries result in long-term disability. That is because they often involve greater medical costs, longer recovery periods, and lasting impacts on a victim’s life.
- Medical bills – The total cost of medical treatment can include emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, and medications. These costs are recoverable and can significantly influence settlement values.
- How much income is lost – Slip-and-fall injuries can cause a patient to miss work or affect their ability to earn income in the future. Any settlement should reflect lost wages and any reduced earning potential.
- Pain and suffering – Physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, and loss of enjoyment of life are very real losses, but they do not come with a price tag. Our experienced attorneys can review these intangible losses and account for them in a slip-and-fall case.
- Whether there is permanent impairment or scarring – A settlement should cover not just what a victim has already suffered, but also how the incident affects their future. Lasting physical limitations, chronic pain, permanent disability, or visible scarring may result in a higher settlement than in cases where victims make a full recovery.
- The quality of the evidence – It takes strong evidence to prove liability. Photographs of the hazard that caused the fall, surveillance footage, incident reports, witness statements, maintenance records, and prompt medical documentation can strengthen a slip-and-fall claim and improve a claimant’s bargaining position during settlement negotiations.
- Comparative negligence – Some cases involve an injured party who is partially at fault for a slip and fall, such as by overlooking warning signs or failing to exercise reasonable care. Under the Illinois modified comparative fault law, an injured person can still recover compensation even if they share fault for a slip-and-fall injury. However, an injured person must not be more than 50 percent at fault for the incident to obtain compensation.
- The extent of insurance coverage – Settlements typically derive from a property owner’s general liability or homeowner’s insurance. How much coverage they or other responsible parties carry will influence the practical amount available to settle a claim.
How Long Do Slip-and-Fall Settlements Take?
As with settlement figures, settlement timelines vary from case to case. A relatively straightforward case involving clear liability might take a few months to resolve. A case involving severe injuries with long-term consequences and disputes over liability might take several years. The dedicated legal team at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. can review your case and estimate how long it might take to settle. However, cases evolve, so no attorney can promise a favorable result or how long the legal process will take.
How Liability Is Determined in Illinois Slip-and-Fall Cases
The Illinois Premises Liability Act requires property owners and occupiers to exercise reasonable care to prevent harm to lawful visitors. Owners, landlords, and property management companies should regularly inspect their premises to identify dangerous conditions and address those hazards promptly. If their failure to do so causes someone to slip and fall while legally on their property, the property’s owner may be liable for the consequences. However, the law also specifies that property owners are generally not liable for injuries that result from open and obvious hazards (for example, a clearly visible hole in the floor) or from hazards they could not reasonably have known about or avoided.
You will need clear evidence to prove that a property owner or occupier is liable for your injuries. Examples include:
- Photographs of the hazardous condition and the surrounding area showing what caused the fall
- Surveillance footage that captured the fall or demonstrated how long the hazard existed
- Eyewitness testimony from people who saw the incident or knew about the dangerous condition
- Incident reports made by the property owner, manager, or employer confirming when and where the fall occurred
- Medical records connecting your injuries to the fall
- Maintenance and inspection records showing whether the property owner failed to inspect, repair, or maintain the premises
- Cleaning logs indicating that employees had not been looking for and correcting spills and other hazards
What Damages Can You Recover?
Slip-and-fall compensation in Illinois may cover the cost of your:
- Past medical expenses, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, rehabilitation, medications
- Future medical treatment, if expected
- Lost income, including wages, salary, bonuses, tips, commissions, and benefits you could not earn during your recovery
- Lost earning capacity if ongoing impairment affects your career prospects
- Pain and suffering, or the physical discomfort and emotional hardship your injuries cause you
- Loss of enjoyment of life if scarring, disfigurement, or impairment prevents you from performing daily activities or enjoying your favorite hobbies
- Out-of-pocket expenses like traveling to appointments or purchasing medical equipment
Contact Our Illinois Slip-and-Fall Attorneys
Seeking legal help after a fall can help you understand your legal rights and options. An Illinois slip-and-fall lawyer from Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. can review your case and give you a better idea of how much your claim could be worth. Call or contact us today to get started with a free, confidential consultation.
