Plainfield Slip and Fall Lawyer Asks:
Did You Get Injured?
Call The Plainfield Slip and Fall Lawyer ANY TIME!
312-500-4500
"My Injury Guy" Scott DeSalvo
Trial-Trained Slip and Fall Lawyer for Plainfield & Will County
Plainfield is a community of big shopping centers and even bigger subdivisions. That means falls happen in store aisles and parking lots along Route 59, but also on walkways, clubhouse steps, and mailbox areas in neighborhoods run by homeowners associations.
A fall can cause broken bones, head injuries, and back injuries that take months to heal, or never heal completely.
Here's what many Plainfield residents don't realize: in many subdivisions and townhome communities, common areas like sidewalks, parking areas, and clubhouses are the responsibility of a homeowners association and its property manager. When those areas aren't maintained, the HOA and its contractors can be held responsible.
I'm Scott DeSalvo, and I've handled injury cases for almost 30 years. For other injuries, see my Plainfield personal injury attorney page.
There's no money out of pocket and no fee unless we win. Call me any time at 312-500-4500.
When I was nine, my dad, a truck driver and Teamster, was hurt at work. His lawyer didn't take him seriously, and his case dragged for seventeen years.
Fall victims are often brushed off. I make sure the people responsible take your injury seriously.
Free. Not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by this chat. Prefer to talk? Call (312) 500-4500, answered 24/7.
Townhome and condo associations typically maintain shared walkways, steps, and parking areas. Many hire property managers and snow contractors. Their contracts and maintenance records can show who was responsible for the spot where you fell.
The stores and restaurants along Route 59 see heavy foot traffic. Spills, leaks, and loose mats near entrances cause many falls.
The Premises Liability Act requires owners and occupiers to use reasonable care toward people lawfully on their property (740 ILCS 130/2).
Illinois' Snow and Ice Removal Act (745 ILCS 75) protects residential owners who clear their own sidewalks, unless they act willfully or wantonly. That law is aimed at homeowners shoveling public sidewalks, not at businesses or associations managing their own property.
Bottom Line: In a subdivision, the HOA and its contractors may be responsible for that icy walkway.
Wet floors, spills, and unsafe entrances.
Ice, potholes, and broken curbs in retail lots.
Common walkways, steps, and mailbox areas.
Broken stairs, missing railings, and dark hallways.
Picture this. You live in a Plainfield townhome community. The association's snow contractor plows the shared parking area and piles snow next to the walkway. As it melts and refreezes, it creates an ice patch near the mailboxes. You fall and break your ankle. The association, its manager, and the contractor all may share responsibility.
Look, the defense playbook in fall cases rarely changes:
Here's what most lawyers won't tell you: HOA cases often have more than one insurance policy, one for the association and one for each contractor. Finding all the contracts is key.
Bottom Line: More responsible parties can mean more coverage.
Most fall cases settle. Insurers settle fairly when your lawyer is ready for trial.
I'm a graduate of Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyers College and the exclusive Keenan Trial Institute, with more than $100,000 invested in advanced trial training and more than 30 jury trials.
Nothing up front. I advance the costs and am paid only from the recovery.
Illinois doesn't cap pain and suffering, and you can recover if you were 50% or less at fault.
Find Out What YOUR Case Might Be Worth...for free.
Call for a free consultation. If you hire me, I identify every responsible party, request contracts and maintenance logs, and preserve video. When your treatment is complete, I negotiate. If needed, I file suit in Will or Kendall County.
Hurt in a fall in Plainfield? Call 312-500-4500 any time.
Evidence fades fast, and the insurance company has already started working on its side of the story. Call me for a free consultation, 24/7/365. No money out of pocket. No fee unless we win.
Nearest office: The Law Office of Scott D. DeSalvo, LLC, 116 N Chicago St, Suite 301 - Kendall, Joliet, IL 60432, about 20 minutes from Plainfield. Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., and by appointment.
Call me now: 312-500-4500
Nothing up front. I work on contingency, so there's no money out of pocket and I'm paid only from what I recover: 33⅓% for most cases, or 40% if we file a lawsuit. I advance the case costs. No recovery means no fee. Call 24/7/365 at 312-500-4500.
Possibly. If the association was responsible for maintaining the area where you fell and failed to use reasonable care, it may be liable. Its property manager and contractors may also be responsible, depending on their contracts.
Businesses generally aren't liable for natural snow and ice, but they can be if they caused or worsened it, such as through poor drainage, improper plowing, or a defective downspout. They may also be liable if they voluntarily undertook snow removal and did it negligently.
The Act (745 ILCS 75) protects residential property owners who clear sidewalks next to their homes. It generally doesn't protect businesses or associations from claims about their own lots and walkways.
Most Illinois fall claims must be filed within two years (735 ILCS 5/13-202). Claims against public bodies usually have one year.
Photos of the hazard, incident reports, witness names, video, weather records, and maintenance or snow removal logs.
Scott DeSalvo founded DeSalvo Law to help injured people throughout Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Licensed to practice law in Illinois since 1998, IARDC #6244452, Scott has represented over 3,000 clients in personal injury, workers compensation, and accident cases.
No Fee Unless You Win | Free Consultation | 24/7 Availability Call or Text: (312) 500-4500
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