When you are injured in an accident, you may believe you have no option but to pay your hospital bills and medical expenses on your own. However, if your accident occurred on someone else’s property when the property owner failed to keep the premises safe., you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries.
An Aurora premises liability lawyer could help you understand your legal options for financial recovery and assist you in recouping your losses. Enlist the help of a hardworking personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of R.F. Wittmeyer, Ltd. today.
What is Premises Liability?
Premises liability refers to the area of Illinois law that allows you to recover compensation after sustaining an injury on someone else’s property. This area of law protects visitors by incentivizing landowners to keep their property safe, clean, and well-maintained.
Premises liability accidents can occur almost anywhere—generally, when visiting a business such as a store, office building, park, or another person’s home. Some of the common causes of premises liability include:
- Slips or falls due to leaks, moisture, or rainfall
- Defects in walkways, stairs, or elevators
- Falling objects
- Failing to perform adequate maintenance
- A lack of appropriate security
A skilled lawyer in Aurora could help you determine whether a premises liability claim is a viable option to recover the costs of your injury.
When Can a Person Recover Compensation for a Premises Liability Accident?
Landowners are responsible for ensuring their property is safe, given the type of property and the activities that occur on it.
Therefore, you must prove the following to recover financial compensation for your injuries:
- The property’s condition was unreasonably dangerous for visitors
- The owner either knew about the danger or would have known if they had adequately inspected and maintained the property
- It was not reasonable for the owner to assume that visitors would notice the danger on their own
- The owner failed to take reasonable measures to fix or correct the dangerous condition
- The owner’s failure caused your injuries
In some cases, premises liability might be easier or harder to prove. For example, when you are on another person’s property without permission, the owner has a lower standard for maintaining the land. On the other hand, according to 510 ILCS 5/16, when the owner has a dog on their property, they are held to a higher standard: the owner must pay for any injuries the animal inflicted on you, regardless of whether the dog had attacked anyone in the past or the owner had reason to believe the dog could be aggressive.
An attorney experienced with premises liability claims in Aurora could help you determine whether the property owner had a duty to keep you safe and collect the evidence needed to hold them responsible.
Call a Premises Liability Attorney in Aurora Today
Your injuries may be severe when you are hurt on someone else’s property. A legal representative could help you investigate and preserve evidence that would allow you to collect the compensation you deserve. Reach out to an Aurora premises liability lawyer to see how they can assist you.