Personal injury is a specific field of law that many people encounter during their lives. Rather than guiding individuals through contract legalities, real estate purchases, or estate planning procedures, lawyers in this field help injured victims claim compensation to cover damages that occurred as a result of their injuries.

The key to any personal injury case is the presence of negligence. Did someone else’s reckless or careless behavior lead to the incident that caused your injury? If you are mostly at fault for getting hurt, then you probably do not have grounds to file a personal injury claim.

While there are many types of personal injury cases, one category is called premises liability. In these claims, property owners are held responsible for failing to maintain a certain standard of safety on their property. But how can you know if you have grounds for a premises liability claim? Here are a few details to know about.

Owner’s Duty of Care

Many states have different laws regarding a property owner’s duty of care to visitors on their property. In the state of Illinois, visitors are classified into three categories; invitees, licensees, and trespassers. Invitees are those who have express permission from the owner to be on the property. Licensees also have permission to be on the property, but are entering the area for their own purposes. Trespassers, of course, do not have permission to be on-site. Owners have a duty of care to both invitees and licensees to maintain safety standards on their property so nobody gets hurt. If you got injured on a property and you belong to one of those two categories, then you may have the right to file a premises liability claim to earn compensation.

Type of Incident

There are many examples of premises liability cases. The most common is a slip and fall incident where a temporary or permanent hazard causes the victim to fall and get injured. Other cases include inadequate security to prevent assault, dog bites, toxic fumes, and inadequate maintenance on a property. The cause of your injury plays a big role in whether or not you could file a personal injury claim, as it determines if the property owner is responsible for the condition that caused the incident. When in doubt, talk to a Chicago premises liability lawyer to understand the status of your case.

Damages

Personal injury claims are filed to help victims recover from their injuries and secure their futures. But victims can only accomplish this if there are damages from the incident. Damages include things like medical expenses, lost income, property damage, funeral costs, and emotional suffering. If you have been injured on another person’s property and have suffered some of these consequences as a result, then you could file a claim to cover these losses. A lawyer can help assess the damages that you are facing and provide proof of them for your claim.

Evidence

Another item that is needed for a personal injury claim is evidence to back your claim. No premises liability case will result in the victim winning compensation if there is no way to prove that the property owner’s negligence led to the incident. The data you collect must support your claim that they are at fault for the hazard or risk factor that caused your injury. Plus, you also have to provide proof that there are damages after the incident. Evidence in a personal injury case can include doctor’s notes, medical bills, eyewitness accounts, security camera footage, images of the accident scene, and even maintenance reports.

Why Bother Filing a Claim?

Some injured victims may not want to deal with the hassle of this legal process. However, there are many reasons to pursue compensation after a personal injury. For one thing, it can support your mental health, knowing that you have the financial resources to move forward while you recover. Second, you are bringing justice to the property owner and making them pay for their negligence. Third, if you have a family that is dependent upon your income, you can ensure that this will not result in a huge setback for their financial status. To have the best chance of winning compensation, get in touch with a Chicago lawyer quickly.   

Do Your Research

There may be types of personal injury that you have never heard of but have experienced firsthand without realizing it. From dog bites to car accidents to icy sidewalks, you cannot control the actions of others, and the reality is that you are at risk of injury almost everywhere you go. By learning more about this particular field of law, you can protect yourself from a ruined future in the event of a bad injury that is caused by another party’s negligence. Learn what you can about personal injury and premises liability so that you are prepared if the worst should happen.