How a Premises Liability Lawyer Helps After a Store Accident 

Chicago is the third-most populous bustling metropolis in the country. You may already be aware of the architectural history, culture, and art scene of the city. It’s no wonder that in big cities like Chicago, accidents happen a lot. 

After motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall accidents trigger the most personal injury lawsuits. If you’re a store accident victim, you may wonder, “What lawyer should I call after being injured at a store in Chicago?” You need a premises liability lawyer to help you get the compensation. 

A premises liability lawyer investigates to know who is responsible for the accident to determine fault, collect evidence, and make sure they don’t disappear; calculate your damages; and negotiate with the insurers to ensure you secure a maximized payout. 

Investigate the Accident 

One of the first things a premises liability lawyer does is to investigate how the accident happened. Time matters a lot in store accident cases. A lawyer doesn’t allow the spoliation of evidence. 

The lawyer knows evidence can disappear unintentionally, or it can be destroyed or altered intentionally to bar you from suing them. They review your store accident report to understand the nature of your case. 

Secure the Evidence 

Gathering evidence follows the investigation process. The lawyer acts as quickly as they can to document the evidence. 

The crucial evidence for a store accident includes the following:

• Surveillance footage that captures the presence of hazards.
• Potential witnesses who may have seen what caused you to injure yourself.
• A lawyer can issue a subpoena to secure the maintenance and inspection records if the store is not cooperative. 
• Sometimes, the lawyer investigates further to see if there were any past similar accidents or complaints about the hazards in the store. 
• Produce expert testimonies to prove that the accident has affected the quality of your life (for non-economic damage evidence). 

Determine Fault 

The next step involves determining who is responsible for the accident. Proving negligence here is key because you will secure compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance. 

Your lawyer will analyze the available evidence to gain insight into how the accident happened. There are scenarios to draw here. They can be: 

• The store owner was directly aware that there were unsafe conditions on their property. This is called actual notice. 
• The hazards existed long enough under the store property, and the workers or the owner knew about it to take reasonable action. This is constructive notice. 

Apart from the store owner, there are other cases where a store manager, landlord, a cleaning company, or outside contractors may also share responsibility depending upon the nature of your case. 

A lawyer knows that identifying the right at-fault party is crucial because it affects both the strength of your claims and the sources of your compensation. 

Calculate Your Damages 

A lawyer’s job is to maximize your compensation as much as possible. Physical injuries aren’t the only compensable damages in your case. 

If the store accident has significantly affected your day-to-day life, the lawyer ensures it’s taken into account while calculating damages. 

Economic damages include the following:

• Medical bills 
• Future medical treatments 
• Lost wages 
• Loss of your future earning capacity 

Non-economic damages include the following:

• Emotional distress 
• Loss of consortium 
• Loss of enjoyment of life 

Occasionally, your lawyer knows if you’re eligible for punitive damages to punish the negligent owners, and it can add to your compensation. 

How Does a Lawyer Help You Handle the Insurers? 

As soon as you hire a lawyer, dealing with insurers and handling all the communication with them becomes their job. 

Insurance companies may seem friendly at first, but they try to settle your claim with early low-ball offers, delay the claim, or accuse you of sharing fault to reduce your compensation. 

Your lawyer makes sure: 

• You don’t accept early or low settlements under pressure. 
• No matter what the insurance company does, the lawyer argues with strong evidence to prove how much you deserve the compensation. 
• You don’t say anything that can be turned against you, such as apologizing or admitting to anything, while talking to the insurers. The lawyer trains you to talk in a neutral tone. 
• You don’t feel overwhelmed by the chaotic nature of these legal claims. 

Key Takeaways

• As a first step, your lawyer begins to investigate your store accident.
• The lawyer collects and preserves every crucial piece of evidence they can to prove fault and secure you fair compensation.
• Your lawyer determines who is responsible for your store accident based on the available evidence.
• They calculate your exact damages to draw your full compensation amount. 
• Your lawyer prevents you from accepting lowball offers or saying something that can affect you later.