Lake Zurich Premises Liability Attorney

Premises Liability Lawyer in Lake Zurich

Premises liability is a complex area of personal injury law that holds property owners responsible for injuries that happen on their property. This includes private homeowners, apartment landlords, business owners, and even government building managers. Every one of these people is required by law to make sure those who legally come onto their property are safe from harm. Even people who trespass are still sometimes protected under the law. 

Property owners and managers are required to keep their property clean, safe, and maintained enough that a reasonable person would not get hurt simply by coming onto the property. If there is a dangerous situation, the owner or manager must promptly fix it or put up a sign warning people about the danger. If they do not do this, and someone gets hurt, the hurt person may be able to file a claim against the owner. 

If you were injured and you believe someone else may be responsible, it is important not to represent yourself in court or in negotiations with an insurance company. The law is complex and you may not have the time, money, and experience to find all the evidence you need to prove your case. Certain claims can be very complicated and may take expert witnesses, video evidence, and surveillance footage to succeed. Fortunately, the Lake Zurich premises liability attorneys with Premier Illinois Injury Lawyers are ready to help you, whatever your case may need. 

What Are the Three Categories of Individuals Who Can Enter a Property?

In Illinois, the law recognizes three types of people who can come onto property that is not their own: invitees, licensees, and trespassers. Each category carries different levels of responsibility for property owners or occupants.

• Invitees: Invitees are people who enter a property because they are invited by the property owner. This includes, for example, people who are shopping or eating at a restaurant. Property owners have the highest duty of care towards invitees and must take steps to make sure they are safe on the property. They are expected to inspect and quickly address any dangerous conditions. This may include fixing the dangerous condition, but it can also mean putting up a warning sign to ensure people know about the condition and stay alert. 
• Licensees: Licensees are people who enter a property for social reasons or with the property owner's permission. For example, someone going to a party in a private home is a licensee. Like invitees, property owners are obligated to warn licensees of known dangers.
• Trespassers: Trespassers are people who enter a property without permission. As such, they are given the lowest level of protection under Illinois premises liability law. Property owners are usually not responsible for injuries that happen to trespassers, except in certain circumstances where the property owner causes harm on purpose or is aware of a serious risk and fails to take appropriate action. One potential example of this is a child who sees a neighbor's unfenced swimming pool, enters without permission, and drowns.

It is important to note that Illinois follows something called a "comparative fault" system. This means that liability for injuries can be shared between the property owner and the injured person. If a case goes to court, a judge or jury will look at the facts and decide the percentage of fault of each party involved. If someone who gets hurt is partly responsible for their injuries, any money they are awarded could be reduced. 

Contact a Lake Zurich Premises Liability Lawyer

If you were hurt on someone else's property, you deserve to know whether you can be compensated for your injuries. At Premier Illinois Injury Lawyers, we are ready to pursue compensation on your behalf. Whether we win a settlement with an insurance company or take a case directly to court, we will be there for you every step of the way. We proudly serve Lake County, Lake Zurich, and Cook County. Call us at 847-721-2499 for a free consultation.