Chicago Premises Liability Lawyers
You may be entitled to far more compensation than the insurance company wants you to believe.
At Ankin Law, we represent people who were hurt because a property owner failed to do one basic thing: keep their property reasonably safe. Slip and falls, negligent security, unsafe stores, broken staircases, icy sidewalks; these cases are not accidents. They are the result of preventable negligence.
We do not run a settlement mill. We build cases that insurance companies take seriously. And when they refuse to do the right thing, we take them to court.
Call Ankin Law at (312) 600-0000 for a FREE consultation.
- Our law firm has over 100 years of combined experience representing plaintiffs in personal injury lawsuits.
- We are available 24/7 to discuss your case
- If you can’t come to us, our attorneys will come to you.
- Consultations are free
- We won’t charge you any attorney fees unless we win your case.
“Premises liability cases are about accountability. Property owners cut corners, people get hurt, and then insurers try to blame the victim. We don’t allow that.”
— Howard Ankin
We Have Recovered Hundreds of Millions on Behalf of Injured Victims
Table of Contents
How Our Premises Liability Lawyers Can Help
Our premises liability lawyers have the experience, skill, and resources needed to significantly increase your chances of success and maximize your financial recovery.
We Work with Experts in Premises Liability Cases
Our injury attorneys work with accident reconstructionists, medical experts, architects, and other specialists to determine how your accident happened. Identifying the cause of your accident helps us pinpoint who can be sued for your injuries. In some cases, multiple parties may be held liable for dangerous property conditions.
We Conduct Our Own Investigations
Rather than rely upon police reports, the insurance company, or the investigations of other parties, we will conduct our own investigation into what happened. Our experience in premises liability cases enables us to identify details that less experienced attorneys might miss. These details sometimes mean the difference between winning or losing accident claims.
We Maximize Your Recovery
Our law firm combines various aspects of injury law to help you make the most of your accident case. We’ll determine whether you recover compensation through a premises liability lawsuit, a defective product claim, a workers’ compensation claim, a Social Security Disability claim, or all of the above.
We Front the Cost of Pursuing Compensation
You won’t have to drain your life savings or take out a loan to take legal action against the negligent property owner. When you hire us, we’ll cover the cost of the accident investigation, hiring experts, and filing your case in court. We won’t even charge you attorney fees until we win your claim or lawsuit, and you receive a check.
We Are Trial Lawyers
We are not a settlement mill at Ankin Law. We are experienced trial lawyers who don’t back down. If the insurance company fails to pay you a fair settlement for your losses, we will take your case to court and fight for your rights at trial.
We Are the Premises Liability Attorneys Chicago Trusts
Highly Recommended!!
Did an awesome job helping my Husband with his case. Very professional and always getting back to us with an answer. Karolina, thank you for all your help on always getting back to us when we had questions. Definitely will go back if I needed a lawyer again. Very patient with us and did not pressure us at all!
Ankin Law is one law firm that I would recommend anyone to use for cases of injuries. They are very thorough when working on your case and very professional. Their legal assistant Alex Quigley is a very polite and a pleasant person to work with. She is very thorough, very professional and very patient. If there were any problems that came about with your case, she would be right on it, and she would get the matter resolved. She cares about her/their clients, and she does her all to make you feel comfortable working with the law firm. Alex, continue to do what you do.
I was told to go to Ankin Law because they were the best, and they truly did not disappoint! Upon getting in contact with Ankin, I was introduced to one of their OUTSTANDING employees, Kat McHenry. Kat helped me get all the information I needed regarding my insurance issue and has helped me immensely with a plan to move forward. I would recommend both Kat McHenry and Ankin Law to anyone I know. Thanks for being so amazing!
I highly recommend! The whole process with Ankin Law was professional and required patience. The wait was well worth it and had a great outcome! I was not stressed with their help, they took care of everything and ensured I didn’t have to pay anything out of pocket. Thank you to everyone who helped me with my case and settled out my case, I Truly appreciate you all! If you were looking into trying them out, DO IT!
What Premises Liability Means Under Illinois Law
Premises liability is the legal responsibility property owners and operators have to maintain reasonably safe conditions for people who are lawfully on their property.
Under the Illinois Premises Liability Act, owners and managers can be held financially responsible when:
- A dangerous condition exists
- They knew or should have known about it
- They failed to fix it or warn about it
- Someone was injured as a result
Simply getting hurt on someone else’s property is not enough. These cases are won by proving negligence with evidence, timelines, and expert analysis.
When Property Owners Are Liable, and When They Aren’t
Most premises liability cases are decided on one issue: whether the property owner knew, or should have known, about a dangerous condition and failed to address it. Liability does not depend on how serious the injury is. It depends on notice, reasonableness, and whether the hazard was preventable. This is where insurance companies focus their defense, and where experienced premises liability lawyers focus their investigation.
Property owners are often liable when the hazard:
- Existed long enough that it should have been discovered
- Was recurring (leaks, ice buildup, loose flooring)
- Violated building or safety codes
- Had caused prior complaints or incidents
Liability can be disputed when:
- The hazard appeared moments before the injury
- The danger was truly unavoidable
- The injured person was trespassing
Illinois also follows comparative negligence, meaning you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault, as long as you were less than 51% responsible.
“One of the biggest myths is that if you didn’t see the hazard, you lose your case. That’s not the law. The question is whether the property owner did what they were supposed to do.”
If you suffered a severe injury, or your loved one died in the accident, you can recover compensation for your losses if you can prove that the property owner:
- had a duty of care
- breached that duty
- directly caused the injuries sustained
You’ll also need to show that you suffered actual harm because of the property owner’s negligence.
What Is Duty of Care?
Property owners owe a duty of care to maintain a reasonably safe premises for visitors, ensuring they take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm. The same standard of care applies whether the person is an invited guest or someone who legally has access to the premises.
What Is Breach of Duty?
A breach occurs when the property owner fails to uphold the duty of care by either not addressing hazards or not warning visitors about dangers that they knew or should have known about. Negligence might include failure to repair defects, inadequate maintenance, or ignoring safety regulations.
What Is Causation?
There must be a causal link between the property owner’s breach of duty and the injuries sustained. Establishing that the property owner’s negligence directly caused or significantly contributed to the accident or injuries is crucial for a successful claim.
What Are Damages?
Plaintiffs must demonstrate actual damages resulting from the injuries. This includes medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other tangible or intangible losses suffered due to the accident caused by the property owner’s negligence.
In a premises liability lawsuit, establishing these elements is fundamental to proving the property owner’s liability. Meeting these criteria forms the basis for a strong premises liability case seeking compensation for injuries sustained on the property owner’s premises.
Our experienced premises liability lawyers can help determine whether the defendant owed you a duty of care, whether the duty was breached, and whether the property owner’s negligence caused you to suffer damages.
Common Types of Premises Liability Cases We Handle
Premises liability cases encompass various scenarios where injuries occur due to unsafe conditions on someone's property. Common types of cases we handle include:
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents can happen almost anywhere in Chicago. Wet grocery store floors, icy sidewalks, parking garages, broken stairs, and uneven pavement are among the most common causes of serious injuries. These cases often come down to maintenance records, cleaning logs, and surveillance footage.
Inadequate Maintenance
Failure to maintain the property properly can result in various hazards such as broken stairs, loose handrails, crumbling structures, or malfunctioning elevators, leading to accidents.
Negligent Security
When a property owner fails to provide adequate security measures, it can result in crimes that cause severe injuries or deaths. Assaults, robberies, and shootings frequently occur in apartment buildings, parking structures, hotels, and bars with inadequate lighting, broken locks, or no security presence. These cases often involve multiple defendants.
Dog Bites and Animal Attacks
Owners are responsible for their pets’ actions. If a dog bites or attacks someone on their property, the owner might be held liable for the injuries sustained.
Swimming Pool Accidents
Swimming pool accidents can occur due to lack of barriers, insufficient warnings, or inadequate supervision, resulting in drowning or injuries.
Hazardous Conditions in Retail Stores
Customers might suffer injuries due to falling merchandise, poorly maintained aisles, or slippery floors in retail stores, making the store owner liable for neglecting safety measures.
Amusement Park Injuries
Defective rides, lack of proper maintenance, or insufficient safety measures in amusement parks can lead to accidents and injuries for which the park owners are responsible.
Why Insurance Companies Deny Premises Liability Claims
Insurance companies routinely deny premises liability claims by shifting blame away from the property owner and onto the injured person. These denials are not accidental. They follow predictable legal and insurance strategies designed to reduce or eliminate payouts.
The most common reasons insurers deny premises liability claims include:
- Claiming the property owner did not have notice of the dangerous condition
- Arguing the hazard was open and obvious and should have been avoided
- Alleging the injured person was distracted or partially at fault
- Disputing that the injuries were caused by the fall or incident
- Questioning the seriousness or medical necessity of treatment
In many Chicago premises liability cases, evidence becomes harder to obtain within days of the incident. Surveillance footage may be erased, incident reports may be altered, and witnesses may become unavailable. When that evidence is lost, insurance companies gain leverage.
Early involvement by an experienced Chicago premises liability lawyer helps preserve evidence, counter these defenses, and protect the value of your claim.
Strong premises liability claims are built on evidence, not assumptions. The most important evidence often includes:
- Surveillance video showing the hazard or the fall
- Incident reports and internal maintenance logs
- Inspection and repair records for the property
- Prior complaints or similar accidents
- Weather records in ice and snow cases
- Medical records that document injuries promptly
Waiting too long can make this evidence harder or impossible to obtain.
How Long Do You Have to File a Premises Liability Lawsuit in Chicago?
Generally, you must file a lawsuit within two years from the date the accident occurred to recover compensation for your losses. Exceptions may apply to your case, and the timeframe to sue may be shorter or longer than two years. If you fail to act before the deadline is up, you may lose your right to recover compensation. Consulting with our premises liability lawyers right away helps ensure you file your lawsuit on time.
Were you hurt on someone else’s property? Call Ankin Law at (312) 600-0000 to recover full compensation.
What Damages Can You Recover in a Premises Liability Lawsuit?
The damages that are available in your premises liability claim will depend on the types of losses you suffered, and those you are expected to continue to suffer. If your premises liability lawsuit is successful, our attorneys can help you recover compensation for your:
- Lost wages
- Medical bills
- Future medical treatment
- Lost earning opportunities
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
If you lost a loved one in an accident that was caused by dangerous property conditions, we can help you file a wrongful death lawsuit. If your suit is successful, you can recover additional types of compensation for losses like:
- Lost benefits
- Loss of consortium
- Lost guidance
- Funeral and burial expenses
1. I Was Injured on Someone Else’s Property. Who Can I Sue?
You may be able to sue property owners, managers, tenants, maintenance companies, security contractors, and even product manufacturers. We can help you determine who may be liable for your injuries during your free case evaluation.
2. Do I Need a Lawyer for Premises Liability Claim?
Yes. You should hire a lawyer right away to help with your claim. Since municipal ordinances, state laws, and other regulations apply, and multiple parties may be liable, these types of cases are often more complicated than regular negligence cases.
Your attorney will help preserve evidence, make sure all applicable laws are applied, ensure you meet important deadlines, negotiate on your behalf, and represent you in court if necessary.
3. How Much Is My Premises Liability Claim Worth?
Since so many factors play a role in your recovery, it’s difficult to predict how much you may receive if your case is successful. At Ankin Law, we provide honest evaluations, not inflated promises.
During your free case evaluation, our lawyers will consider the severity of your injuries, who you can sue, the role you played in causing the accident, and the insurance coverages available. This will enable us to provide you with an estimate of how much your case is worth.
4. How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Premise Liability Attorney?
Hiring a premises liability attorney at Ankin Law won’t cost you anything up front. Our lawyers accept injury cases on a contingency basis to ensure that people have access to quality legal representation regardless of their ability to pay. With this type of arrangement, you only pay attorney fees if our law firm recovers compensation on your behalf. When you receive your settlement check, we will subtract a percentage to cover the cost of legal services and other costs.
5. What Is the Difference Between Premises Liability and Negligence?
Premises liability is a specific subset of negligence law. While negligence refers to a broader concept of failing to exercise reasonable care resulting in harm, premises liability specifically pertains to injuries caused by hazardous conditions on someone’s property. It involves holding property owners accountable for injuries sustained due to unsafe conditions they knew or should have known about, showcasing their failure to uphold the duty of care owed to visitors or guests.
Frequently Asked Questions About Premises Liability Cases
Testimonial:
I highly recommend! The whole process with Ankin Law was professional and required patience. The wait was well worth it and had a great outcome! I was not stressed with their help, they took care of everything and ensured I didn’t have to pay anything out of pocket. Thank you to everyone who helped me with my case and settled out my case, I Truly appreciate you all! If you were looking into trying them out, DO IT!
Why Choose Ankin Law
We have over 100 years of combined experience, a record of hundreds of millions recovered, and a reputation insurers respect.
“We prepare every premises liability case like it’s going to trial. That’s why insurers know they can’t push us around.”
If you were injured because a property owner failed to keep their property safe, you deserve answers and accountability.
Call (312) 600-0000 today for Ankin Law. FREE consultation.