Every premises liability case is different. But most victims share the same problems: they need money for medical bills, and any pain they’ve suffered. And more often than not, need time off work to recover. But above everything, they need straight answers and guidance from a law firm that is in their corner.
And our lawyers have successfully dealt with thousands of premises liability cases. What’s most important to us is that we take care of the heavy lifting so you can focus on healing. We will always keep you up to speed so you know where your case stands.
When you hire Staver, you’re not getting a lawyer who picks up your case with no care. In fact, you’re getting an advocate. A passionate lawyer who will speak on your behalf, with insurance companies, and in court. We’ve done it for thousands of clients who were once in your shoes, and we’ll do it for you.
We dedicate ourselves to client success and satisfaction. This shows in our 4.95 star Google rating 185+ reviews left by clients on Google.
I was very pleased with my experience with Staver Law Group. They assisted me when I wasn't sure what to do and did what they said they would do for me, without any stress on my part. Thanks for all your assistance!
Terri A.
At Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C., we fight hard for our clients. And our case history shows this. Over the years, we’ve seen just about every type of dog bite there is.
Sure, it feels like unfamiliar territory to you, but it’s all too familiar to us.
The outcome of an individual case depends on a variety of factors unique to that case. Case results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any similar or future case.
We’ve won awards for over 3,500 clients. And with every award we get, the more it proves our quality. Years of credibility, glowing ratings from the BBB and a place on the top 100 trial lawyers of America.
The recognition we’ve accumulated speaks for itself.
It can be tempting to try and handle the case yourself. But it’s a minefield. You’ll struggle because your insurance company simply won’t have your back, while homeowners and business owners are looking out for their best interest – not yours.
That’s where Staver comes in. We have years of experience with premises liability cases and will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. We’ll start by removing the financial burden that’s resulted from your accident.
If you choose to hire us, rest easy knowing that we work based on a contingency fee. Put simply, if you don’t receive compensation, you won’t owe us anything. We know that many victims are concerned about finances after an accident, and we don’t want those concerns to keep you from getting the legal representation you deserve.
Average Payout Amount*
w/attorney $1,600 on your own $1,600 Difference of $1,000.00*According to the 2017 Martindale-Nolo Research.
Our years of experience mean we can get you more money, in the quickest time. It all boils down to efficiency. And we’ve been honing that for years. With legal representation, the average payout is $77,600, while the average is $17,600 without.
If the first offer is not enough, your Staver lawyer will negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf to reach a fair and equitable solution. And if this is not reached, your lawyer won’t hesitate to fight for your case in court.
Our process is people-focused. It’s designed not only to win but to reduce stress levels and make the whole process easier.
The initial consultation is a chance to discuss your case with one of our attorneys and figure out what your next step is. Use this time to figure out if an attorney is a good fit for your case and how you want to handle it.
When you meet with a personal injury lawyer, you should bring several things to help tell the story of your dog bite or other premises liability case. These will essentially be used as evidence to determine the value of your case.
| Next Step: Determine the Value of Your CaseWhen you decide to work with us, we won’t waste time.
Staver will get straight to work. We’ll help with medical bills and insurance claims so you can rest easy and focus on healing.
We look to the long-term, assessing all types of damages to determine the value of your case. There are four types of damages that you may be entitled to, depending on the circumstances you’ve experienced after your premises liability accident: special damages, punitive damages, general damages, and lastly, survival damages.
For a full run-down of types of damages, take a look here.
| Next Step: Collect EvidenceYou can back up damages with a variety of evidence, including bills, photographs, or expert testimony asserting expected future damages.
This stage is vital. It’s simple really, the better your proof, the more compensation you’ll get.
For example, to prove that you’ve experienced pain and suffering, a testimony from your doctor explaining that you appeared to be in pain during office visits will be helpful. Keeping a diary or a ‘day in the life’ video recording showing how much your pain has affected your life could come in handy too.
| Next Step: SettlementAfter we’ve looked over the damages, we’ll put our research system into action. Following the investigation stage, the insurer may reach out with a settlement offer. But usually, the first offer is too low.
Your Staver lawyer will never settle for an amount that will shortchange you. We’re relentless in the pursuit of the highest compensation possible. We’ll be going back and forth at the negotiation table for as long as it takes.
| Next Step: TrialIf a settlement can’t be reached, we won’t hesitate to take your case to trial. We’ll leave no stone unturned so we can get the most out of your case for you. Every piece of evidence we gather will have one goal: to support the damages suffered.
| Next Step: ConsultationIt all starts with a free consultation.
Every type of personal injury case is different. And although we have the legal side covered, it can be helpful to have a general understanding of some of the unique laws and guidelines, the obstacles and opportunities we may face along the way, and some of the additional details that may impact the outcome of your case.
‘If it can happen, it will’ – And pretty much any place where people go, a premises liability case is just waiting to happen. For example, on private property, business & government property, parking lots, worksites, apartments, daycares, grocery stores, public pools, and on someone else’s property – just to name a few.
While handling your case, your attorney may come up against insurance issues. These are not uncommon in premises liability cases, so your attorney will know what to do.
Determining insurance coverage could slow down your claim. While most homeowners and business property owners are forthcoming with their insurance information after someone is injured, some people refuse to provide this information, hoping that the victim will give up. When this happens, it may take longer to track down the insurance company, figure out how much coverage the other party has, and begin the claims process.
Communicating with insurance carriers poses another challenge. Insurance companies may delay their responses, either unintentionally or intentionally, making it difficult to move through negotiations quickly.
There are two main factors that complicate the processing of insurance claims. The first is the time limit imposed by Illinois law. If you wait longer than two years to file your claim, the insurance company will typically deny it outright.
Coverage limits impact how much compensation you may be owed. Regardless of how much your injury is worth, you are unlikely to recover more than the responsible party’s insurance policy permits.
Those named in injury cases can use several different defenses to avoid liability. Options in Illinois include:
One of the components of a premises liability case is proving that the property owner was liable. This is largely defined by the Premises Liability Act in Illinois.
The Premises Liability Act defines different types of visitors and a landowner’s obligation to each of these visitors.
A landowner is obligated to take reasonable steps to protect these visitors from harm. A landowner is not obligated to protect a trespasser from harm. However, they may not intentionally cause harm to a trespasser.
There is one exception: children. Even if a child is on the property uninvited, the owner must take steps to protect them from foreseeable harm. This is why pools and trampolines are so expensive for homeowners to insure. If a child enters the property and hurts themselves while swimming or playing, the homeowner could be liable.
A landlord may have an obligation to their residents and their residents’ guests if any of these individuals are harmed on the landlord’s property. The injured party must be able to prove that their injury was caused by landlord negligence and that there was not reasonable care taken of the property.
For example, if the handrails of stairs were not maintained, the icy sidewalk was not salted in an appropriate timeframe, or the landlord obstructed walkways, they may be liable for unsafe conditions.
If there is a hidden defect in the property, the landlord is responsible for telling the tenant about it before leasing to them.
Slips, trips, and falls are some of the most common premises liability claims. These claims are often related to property not well maintained or ice and snow. If the property owner was negligent, then you can win money to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
If you were hurt on someone else’s property, you should immediately call a Chicago premises liability lawyer. However, you can also notify Chicago 311 about building violations by calling 3-1-1 or using their online forms. If the dangerous property is public housing, you may notify the Chicago Housing Authority as well.
If you are injured on someone else’s property, you will likely make a personal injury claim through their insurance company. Insurance companies need proof of injuries and medical treatment will provide that proof. It’s important to seek emergency medical treatment as well as continued care so the insurance company will see the severity of your injuries.
You can receive emergency medical care at any ER or urgent care location, such as Chicago Urgent Care, which has many locations throughout the city.
Here are some additional resources that may be of help.
Types of Premises Liability Cases
When you’re fighting for maximum compensation, we know what it takes to get it.
