Chicago Slip and Fall Lawyer
If you slipped or tripped and fell on someone else's property in Chicago or the surrounding Cook, DuPage, Will, and Kane County communities, Ori Law Group can help. A fall on ice, a wet floor, a broken stair, or a cracked sidewalk can leave you with a serious injury and a property owner insisting it wasn't their fault. Joe and Kristen Ori personally handle every slip-and-fall case from intake through trial — you will never be passed to a junior associate. With more than 40 years of combined trial experience and over $150 million recovered, we know how to prove the owner knew about the hazard and failed to fix it.
A slip and fall sounds minor until it isn’t. A fall on an icy store entrance or a wet supermarket floor can fracture a hip, herniate a disc, or cause a brain injury that changes your life — and the property owner’s first move is almost always to suggest it was your own fault. At Ori Law Group, Joe and Kristen Ori have spent decades proving otherwise. A slip-and-fall claim is a form of premises liability under the Illinois Premises Liability Act (740 ILCS 130), and winning one comes down to a single question: did the property owner know about the hazard, or should they have known, in time to fix it? That’s the issue of notice, and it’s where we focus from day one.
Two parts of Illinois law shape these cases more than any other. The first is the natural-accumulation rule for snow and ice: an owner generally owes no duty to clear ice the weather left naturally, but they can be liable when a clogged downspout, a grading defect, or a negligent plow job creates an unnatural accumulation. Proving that takes weather records, maintenance logs, and photographs of the drainage — evidence that vanishes with the next thaw. The second is modified comparative fault under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116: you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, but your award is reduced by your share, which is why owners push so hard to blame your footwear or your attention.
Because we’re a two-attorney boutique, Joe and Kristen personally handle every slip-and-fall case across Chicago and the Cook, DuPage, Will, and Kane County suburbs — and we move quickly to preserve the surveillance footage and cleaning logs that prove the owner’s notice before they’re overwritten. Slip and fall is one type of premises claim; for negligent security, pool accidents, dog bites, and the full duty-of-care framework, see our Chicago premises liability lawyer page. The consultation is free, there’s no upfront cost, and we work on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover for you. Call Joe or Kristen at (312) 621-0000 to talk through what happened and what comes next.
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What to Do After Your Accident
- Get medical attention right away, even if you feel fine — adrenaline hides serious injuries, and a gap in treatment becomes the owner's argument that you weren't really hurt.
- Photograph the exact hazard before it's cleaned up — the puddle, the ice, the broken step, the torn carpet, the missing 'wet floor' sign — and capture the surrounding area and lighting.
- Report the fall to the store manager, landlord, or property owner and ask for a written incident report, then get a copy with the report number.
- Get the names and numbers of anyone who saw you fall or saw the hazard before you did.
- Keep the shoes and clothing you were wearing exactly as they are — the insurer may blame your footwear, and the originals are your evidence.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the property owner's insurer, and talk to an attorney before accepting any settlement.
Common Causes & Types
- Snow and ice — untreated entrances, parking lots, and walkways, and ice from a clogged downspout or a re-frozen melt path.
- Wet and slippery floors — spills, freshly mopped floors, leaks, and tracked-in water with no warning sign.
- Broken stairs and missing handrails — uneven treads, cracked steps, and stairways that violate the building code.
- Cracked and uneven sidewalks — raised slabs, potholes, and crumbling pavement on public and private walkways.
- Poor lighting — dark stairwells, parking garages, and entryways that hide a hazard until it's too late.
- Frayed carpet, cluttered aisles, loose floor mats, and uneven thresholds that catch a foot.
Who Can Be Held Liable
- Property owners who failed to keep their premises reasonably safe
- Businesses and store operators who created or ignored a hazard on the floor
- Landlords responsible for unsafe stairs, walkways, and common areas in a rental
- Municipalities and government entities responsible for an unsafe public sidewalk or building
- Maintenance and snow-removal contractors hired to address the hazard
Injuries We Handle
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions from striking the ground
- Spinal cord and back injuries
- Hip fractures, especially in older adults
- Broken wrists, arms, and ankles from breaking a fall
- Knee and shoulder injuries
- Lacerations and facial injuries
- Catastrophic and permanently disabling injuries
Illinois Law & Deadlines
Damages You Can Recover
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and loss of a normal life
- Costs of rehabilitation and in-home care
- Loss of consortium for a spouse
How the Legal Process Works
- Free consultation & investigation
We review your fall, document the hazard, identify every owner and contractor in play, and explain your options at no cost.
- Proving notice
We preserve surveillance footage, incident reports, cleaning logs, and weather data to show the owner knew or should have known about the hazard.
- Demand & negotiation
We build the claim around the owner's notice and your full damages and negotiate with the insurer for fair value.
- Litigation, if needed
If the insurer won't be fair, Joe or Kristen files suit and prepares your case for trial in the county where it belongs.
| Natural accumulation | Unnatural accumulation | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Ice or snow left by the weather itself | Ice or snow created or worsened by the owner |
| Examples | A general snowfall coating a parking lot | A clogged downspout dripping onto a walkway that re-freezes, or a defectively graded entrance that channels melt |
| Owner's duty | Generally no duty to remove natural accumulation | An owner can be liable when their own conduct created the hazard |
| What we prove | Whether the accumulation was truly natural | How the owner's act or defect made the surface dangerous |
How Illinois Law Treats a Slip and Fall
A slip-and-fall claim is a form of premises liability. Under the Illinois Premises Liability Act (740 ILCS 130), a property owner or occupier owes people lawfully on the premises a duty of reasonable care — including a reasonable effort to find and fix dangerous conditions, or to warn of them.
But a duty alone isn't enough to win. The heart of nearly every slip-and-fall case is notice: you generally must prove the owner knew about the hazard (actual notice) or that it existed long enough that a reasonable owner should have discovered and addressed it (constructive notice). A puddle that formed seconds before you arrived is different from one that sat unattended for an hour while employees walked past — and the difference often decides the case.
Illinois also follows modified comparative fault under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. You can recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault for your own fall, but your award is reduced by your share of fault. If you're found 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing — which is exactly why owners and insurers work so hard to argue you weren't watching where you were going.
Slip-and-fall is one type of premises claim. For negligent security, pool accidents, dog bites, and the broader duty-of-care framework, see our Chicago premises liability lawyer page.
The Natural Accumulation Rule for Snow and Ice
Chicago winters produce a large share of slip-and-fall injuries, and Illinois has a specific rule for them. Under the long-standing natural-accumulation rule, a property owner generally has no duty to remove snow or ice that the weather deposited naturally. A general snowfall coating a parking lot, on its own, usually isn't enough.
The case turns on the unnatural-accumulation exception. When the owner's own conduct or a defect on the property creates or worsens the ice — a clogged or misdirected downspout that drips onto a walkway and re-freezes, a defectively graded entrance that channels meltwater into a low spot, or a botched plowing job that piles snow where it melts and re-freezes across a path — the owner can be held liable. There's also a separate rule for voluntary undertakings: once an owner chooses to clear snow or ice, they must do it with reasonable care and can be liable for doing it negligently.
Proving an unnatural accumulation takes work — weather records, maintenance and plowing logs, photographs of the drainage and grade, and sometimes an engineering expert. It's the kind of evidence that disappears the moment the next thaw arrives, which is why these cases reward acting fast.
Proving the Owner Knew About the Hazard
Notice is where slip-and-fall cases are won and lost. We move quickly to build the record that shows the owner knew, or should have known, about the danger before you fell.
- Surveillance footage — video can show how long a spill or hazard sat there, and how many employees walked past it — but many systems overwrite within days.
- Incident reports and cleaning logs — the owner's own records often reveal the last time the area was inspected or the spill was reported.
- Witness accounts — a shopper or employee who saw the hazard earlier helps establish how long it existed.
- Weather and maintenance data — for snow-and-ice cases, weather records and plowing logs help separate a natural accumulation from one the owner created.
Why Choose Ori Law Group
Ori Law Group is a women-owned, two-attorney trial firm in Oak Brook. When you call, you reach Joe or Kristen — not a paralegal, not an intake AI, not a rotating cast of junior associates. Joe Ori has concentrated in personal injury for more than 25 years; Kristen Ori leads our litigation. Together they bring over 40 years of combined trial experience and more than $150 million recovered, and they prepare every slip-and-fall case to be tried, not just settled. Because we move on day one to preserve surveillance footage and cleaning logs — the evidence that proves the owner's notice of the hazard — insurers have to take our cases seriously instead of hiding behind 'you should have watched your step.' Our Oak Brook office is convenient to Chicago and the entire Cook, DuPage, Will, and Kane County region.
Case Results
Recovered for an Illinois resident injured in a parasailing accident out of state.
Recovered for a victim of an elevator malfunction that resulted in a shoulder injury requiring surgery.
Awarded to a minor who suffered head injuries due to day care negligence.
Awarded to a woman injured in a slip and fall at a Chicago office building.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See more results →
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a slip and fall claim in Illinois?
You generally have two years from the date of your fall under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. If you fell on a public sidewalk or other government property, the claim falls under the Tort Immunity Act (745 ILCS 10), which carries a shorter deadline — often one year — and a strict notice requirement. Deadlines for injured minors are generally tolled until age 18. Act well before any deadline so the surveillance footage and other evidence can be preserved.
Can I recover if I slipped on snow or ice?
It depends on whether the accumulation was natural or unnatural. Under Illinois's natural-accumulation rule, an owner generally has no duty to remove snow or ice the weather left behind. But if the owner's own conduct or a property defect — a clogged downspout that re-froze, poor grading, or a negligent plow job — created or worsened the ice, the unnatural-accumulation exception may make them liable. We investigate the drainage, grading, and maintenance records to find out.
What do I have to prove to win a slip and fall case?
You generally must show the property owner had a duty of care, that a hazardous condition existed, that the owner knew or should have known about it — actual or constructive notice — and failed to fix it or warn you, and that the hazard caused your injury. The notice question, especially how long the hazard existed before you fell, is usually the central issue.
What if I fell on a public sidewalk?
Falls on public sidewalks and other government property generally fall under the Illinois Tort Immunity Act (745 ILCS 10), which carries a one-year deadline and a strict notice requirement — far shorter than the usual two years. It's critical to act quickly. We help determine whether the city, a different government body, or an adjacent private owner is responsible for that stretch of walkway.
Can I still recover if I was partly at fault for my fall?
Often yes. Illinois follows modified comparative fault under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. If you were 50% or less at fault, you can recover, though your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you were 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing — which is why owners argue you weren't paying attention. Don't accept that conclusion before an attorney reviews the facts.
What does it cost to hire Ori Law Group?
There is no upfront cost. We handle slip-and-fall cases on a contingency basis — we are paid a percentage of your recovery only if we win or settle your case, and your consultation is free. You pay nothing out of pocket to get started.
Should I accept the property owner's first settlement offer?
Usually no. First offers are commonly far below the true value of a claim, and once you sign a release the case is closed for good. Insurance adjusters are trained to settle for the least amount possible, often before you know the full extent of your injuries. Talk to an attorney before signing anything.
Will Joe or Kristen personally handle my case?
Yes. As a two-attorney boutique firm, Joe and Kristen work directly with you from the first consultation through resolution. Your calls reach the lawyers actually working your file — never a paralegal or an intake screen.
Legally reviewed by Joseph and Kristen Ori · Last reviewed June 24, 2026. This page is attorney advertising and is for general information only — it is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship.
Hurt in a Slip and Fall in Chicago? Let's Talk.
Free, confidential consultation — call (312) 621-0000. No upfront cost, and Joe or Kristen handles your case personally.