Bloomingdale Defective Sidewalks Attorneys

Lawyers for Sidewalk Injuries in DuPage County

Land owners and municipalities have a responsibility to keep sidewalks in reasonably safe condition. Though they are not required to eliminate every minor defect, they may be held liable if a defect presents an unreasonable risk of harm to pedestrians. If you or a loved one has suffered injury due to a defective sidewalk, it is important to speak with an experienced premises liability attorney to understand your rights.

For over 40 years, Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices has successfully represented clients injured by defective sidewalks in Chicagoland and throughout Illinois. Our award-winning lawyers have extensive experience with such cases, and we know what it takes to prove liability against negligent property owners, property managers, and public entities. We have been recognized by our peers not only for our skill and experience, but also for our aggressive advocacy on behalf of our clients.

Our attorneys are honest, compassionate, responsive, and down to earth. We understand that when you have suffered from a slip and fall injury on a defective sidewalk, it takes a major physical, emotional, and financial toll on you and your family. We work hard to make your experience with us as smooth and stress-free as possible. We offer free initial consultations and extended evening and weekend hours, and we keep you regularly informed on the progress of your case. In addition, all our personal injury cases are handled on a contingency basis, so you never have to pay upfront attorney fees to receive the experienced representation you deserve.

Proving Liability in Illinois Defective Sidewalks Cases

For a property owner or municipality to be held liable for a defective sidewalk injury, the following must be shown:

• The individual or entity owned the property through which the sidewalk runs or had custody of it at the time of the accident.
• The sidewalk contained a defect that created an unreasonable risk of harm to others.
• The owner or custodian of the property had prior knowledge (or should have known) about the defect and failed to take corrective action during a reasonable amount of time.

Typically, a thorough investigation must be conducted to determine if the above criteria have been met. This may involve collaboration with engineers, architects, and other professionals.

Defendants will usually attempt to use what is known as the de minimis exception, meaning if the defect is so small that a reasonably prudent person would not anticipate danger, the defendant may not be found liable. The de minimis exception does not tend to be applied equally in all cases. For example, municipalities with miles of sidewalks to maintain are far more likely to be successful with this defense compared to a situation where an accident took place on a small stretch of walkway near the entrance of a grocery or retail store due to a defect and/or snow or water left on the sidewalk.

In the latter case, because the defect is located near the entrance to a store, there is a higher anticipated level of traffic and therefore a greater risk of injury, even when the defect is smaller. In addition, because the store owner has only a small stretch of walkway to maintain, keeping it free of potentially harmful defects is not likely to be considered unreasonably burdensome.

Contact Our Naperville Sidewalk Injury Lawyers

Defective sidewalk cases can be challenging to pursue because of the numerous complexities involved. For this reason, it is essential to be represented by experienced legal counsel. We put our experience to work to build the strongest possible case and pursue full compensation for our clients. For a free consultation with one of our skilled defective sidewalks attorneys, contact Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices today at 630-932-9100.