Were you injured in a slip and fall accident in Waukegan, IL?
At Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers, we are trusted slip and fall lawyers serving clients across Waukegan and the surrounding area.
If you fell and were hurt on a property in Waukegan, you may have a claim for your medical treatment, lost income, and the physical pain of your injuries. Our Waukegan, IL slip and fall lawyer can identify the owner responsible for the hazard, gather proof of the dangerous condition, and pursue the full value of your losses.
Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers handles fall injury claims against stores, landlords, and other property owners. Request a free consultation with our office.
Slip and Fall Lawyer Waukegan, IL
A slip and fall claim is a premises liability case brought against the owner or occupier of a property where a dangerous condition caused someone to fall. The Illinois Premises Liability Act requires owners to use reasonable care toward people lawfully on the property. Liability usually depends on notice: whether the owner was aware of the spill, ice, or defect, or would have discovered it through a reasonable inspection.
A Lake County Health Department report counted 4,336 emergency room visits for fall injuries among county residents 65 and older in 2012, up from 3,203 in 2009. Falls affect every age group, and a Waukegan slip and fall attorney handles claims involving shoppers, tenants, workers, and visitors.
Types of Slip and Fall Cases We Handle in Waukegan
Falls happen indoors and outdoors, on private property and on public land. Our slip and fall attorneys in Waukegan, IL handle claims involving the following conditions:
- Wet and slippery floors. Spilled liquids in grocery aisles, freshly mopped tile without warning signs, and leaking freezers cause many indoor falls. Cleaning logs and inspection schedules show whether employees had time to find and address the spill.
- Snow and ice. Ice at building entrances, unsalted parking lots, and refrozen meltwater from downspouts lead to falls throughout the winter. Weather records and snow removal contracts help establish what the owner did and when.
- Uneven sidewalks and parking lots. Raised concrete slabs, potholes, and crumbling curbs cause trip-and-fall injuries outside stores and apartment complexes. When the sidewalk belongs to the city, a shorter filing deadline applies.
- Stairway falls. Broken treads, loose handrails, and poor lighting in stairwells can cause fractures and head injuries. We review maintenance records and any prior complaints about the same stairs.
- Premises liability. Some falls are caused by conditions beyond a slippery surface, such as a collapsing deck, a missing guardrail, or a balcony that gives way. These claims examine whether the owner inspected and maintained the structure.
- Wrongful death. Falls are a leading cause of injury death among older adults, and a fall on a stairway or icy walkway can be fatal. The family may pursue a claim against the owner or manager responsible for the hazard.
- Construction accidents. Workers and passersby fall through unguarded openings, from scaffolding, or over debris at job sites. A claim against a contractor may be available in addition to any workplace benefits.
- Catastrophic injuries. A fall from a height or down a flight of stairs can cause spinal cord damage or a traumatic brain injury. We work with physicians to project the cost of long-term care.
Why Choose Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers as My Slip and Fall Lawyer in Waukegan, IL?
Documenting the Hazard Before It Is Cleaned Up
A wet floor gets mopped, ice melts, and a broken step gets repaired, often within hours of a fall. Our slip and fall attorneys request surveillance footage and incident reports, photograph the area, and identify the employees on duty while that evidence still exists. Prompt documentation of the scene is what injured clients need from a personal injury lawyer in Waukegan, IL.
Andrew Kass and Joel Moses have handled personal injury claims for more than 30 and 34 years, respectively. Andrew Kass was named a 2024 Elite Lawyer in brain injury, a credential that matters when a fall causes head trauma. Joel Moses also serves as a volunteer attorney for underserved clients. Both received their law degrees in 1991 from the University of Illinois Chicago, and the firm holds a 4.9 Google rating from its clients.
Case Results and Fee Terms
The firm’s total recoveries for clients exceed $125 million. Results the firm has obtained in other injury matters include:
- $280,000 in a motorcycle accident claim
- $100,000 for a motorcyclist hurt in a crash
- $64,500 for an injured cyclist
- $50,000 in a bicycle accident claim
We take slip and fall cases on a contingency basis. You owe no attorney fees if we do not recover compensation.
Understanding Slip and Fall Cases
What Are Important Aspects of a Slip and Fall Case?
Insurers defending fall claims usually concentrate on four questions. Each must be answered with evidence, not only the injured person’s account.
- Notice of the hazard. The claim depends on whether the owner created the condition, knew about it, or had enough time to discover it through routine inspection.
- Control of the area. A store, landlord, property manager, or snow removal contractor may be responsible. If a city or park district owns the property, the one-year filing deadline for claims against local governments applies.
- Visibility of the condition. Insurers often argue that a hazard was obvious. Lighting, signage, and photographs of the scene address that argument.
- Your share of fault. Under the comparative fault statute, compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault and barred if your share exceeds 50%.
What Is the Slip and Fall Case Timeline?
Most fall claims move through the same stages, although the length of each depends on the injury.
- First weeks: We take scene photographs, send preservation requests, collect witness statements, and make sure you have a medical evaluation.
- Treatment period: The claim waits until your doctors can describe your recovery and any lasting limitations. Head injuries need particular attention, because concussion symptoms can appear days after a fall.
- Demand and negotiation: We submit the documented claim to the property owner’s insurer.
- Lawsuit: If negotiation fails, the case is filed in the Circuit Court of Lake County. Illinois sets a two-year limit for most injury suits.
- Resolution: The case ends in settlement, mediation, or trial.
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Slip and Fall Cases
Fall injuries range from sprained wrists to hip fractures and brain trauma, and compensation follows the severity of the harm. Recoverable economic losses include medical bills, rehabilitation, lost wages, and the cost of help at home during recovery. Non-economic damages compensate for pain, emotional distress, and the loss of activities you can no longer enjoy.
When a fall leaves a lasting impairment, such as limited mobility after a hip fracture, the claim should account for future treatment and any permanent disability.
These claims rest on ordinary negligence principles, and more than one party can share liability. A grocery chain may operate the store while a landlord owns the parking lot and a contractor handles snow removal. Each may have its own insurer.
What Should You Bring to Your Slip and Fall Consultation?
The more you bring, the more specific a slip and fall attorney’s assessment can be:
- Photographs of the spot where you fell and of your injuries
- The shoes you were wearing, or a photo of them
- The incident report, or the name of the manager you notified
- Medical records, discharge papers, and bills
- Contact information for anyone who saw the fall
The consultation is free, and you leave it with a clear recommendation on whether to pursue a claim.
Most Dangerous Locations for Slip and Falls in Waukegan
Heavy foot traffic and surfaces exposed to the weather both increase the risk of a fall. The following Waukegan locations combine the two.
Shopping centers and walkable areas
- Fountain Square of Waukegan. A large retail center on Belvidere Road at Waukegan Road, built on the former Lakehurst Mall site, with wide parking fields and many storefront entrances.
- Waukegan Plaza. A shopping center at Lewis Avenue and Glen Flora Avenue with more than 1,000 parking spaces along half a mile of frontage.
- Downtown Waukegan. Sidewalks on Genesee Street and Washington Street that fill with pedestrians during events at the Genesee Theatre.
- Waukegan Metra station. Commuter platforms, stairs, and parking areas near the lakefront that are exposed to snow and freezing rain.
Parks, beaches, and recreation
- Waukegan Municipal Beach. About a mile of sand, the Stiner Pavilion, and walkways that stay open to the public year-round.
- Waukegan Harbor and Marina. A 1,000-slip marina whose docks and ramps stay wet throughout the boating season.
- Bowen Park. A wooded park along Sheridan Road with a ravine, trails, and the Jack Benny Center for the Arts.
Lake County residents are also injured at regional attractions such as Gurnee’s Six Flags park, where the water park adds wet surfaces and crowded walkways.
Reach Out to Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers to Schedule a Consultation
Our Waukegan slip and fall lawyer can tell you who may be responsible for the condition that caused your fall and what evidence the claim will require. There is no charge for the first meeting. Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers is paid only if we recover compensation for you. Contact us to set up a meeting.
