Every single year, over nine million people visit the famous lakefront promenade at Navy Pier. They come to see the Centennial Wheel, the Wednesday and Saturday fireworks, and the unparalleled views of the Chicago skyline over Lake Michigan. They do not come to see people slip and fall due to the negligence of others. That’s why the Navy Pier slip and fall lawyer team at Lerner and Rowe’s Chicago office has prepared this guide, so you and your family can be informed and protected.
Why Navy Pier and Chicago’s Major Attractions Are Slip-and-Fall Hot Spots
Chicago’s lakefront area sees an enormous number of people, especially during late spring, summer, and early fall. Chicago is well known for its weather extremes, often leading to an environment where slip and fall accidents are common. Some of the hazards that are present at Navy Pier and other attractions include:
- Wet, slippery surfaces on the dock and promenade due to Lake Michigan spray, rain, or ice
- Uneven pavement, cracked pavement, and deteriorating walkway joints
- Liquids on food court floors, restaurant floors, and drink stand floors, which are not cleaned up in a timely manner
- Poorly lit stairways, parking garages, and corridors
- Overcrowding at exits and entries, causing visitors to be pushed and/or trip
- Defects in handrails on ramps, stairs, and gangways
- Construction areas without adequate warning signs and cones
- Wet, slippery floors in the Festival Hall
These same hazards exist in other tourist destinations in Chicago. Accidents at Millennium Park, including the areas surrounding the Bean (Cloud Gate), the Crown Fountain, and the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, as well as the Chicago Riverwalk, Museum Campus, and Michigan Avenue, are surprisingly common.
Who Is Liable for a Slip and Fall at Navy Pier or Millennium Park?
Illinois premises liability law places a responsibility on property owners to conduct regular inspections, maintenance, and repairs on their properties. These owners are also required to warn visitors about potential dangers on their properties. The critical issue that will be evaluated in any Navy Pier slip and fall case is whether the property owner knew or should have known about the potential danger on their property.
Navy Pier Inc.
Navy Pier is managed by a not-for-profit organization known as Navy Pier Inc. When dealing with premises liability law at Navy Pier, immediate attention is required because Illinois has strict regulations regarding how to proceed against not-for-profit organizations that are affiliated with any governmental agency. A knowledgeable Chicago tourist accident attorney will be aware of these regulations to mitigate any potential time constraints.
The City of Chicago and Chicago Park District
Millennium Park is a city-owned park, which means the Chicago Park District is in charge. The Illinois Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act (745 ILCS 10) is the law that applies to personal injury claims against local governments. The time to file your Millennium Park injury claim against a local government is just one year, while it’s two years against private parties. Failure to file your claim in this time frame may result in your case being permanently barred. If your injury claim occurred on city-owned land in Millennium Park, you need to find a Navy Pier slip and fall lawyer with experience in handling claims against the government.
Tenants, Vendors, and Event Operators
Navy Pier has numerous vendors, restaurants, and event operators. In the event your injury happened in a space leased by a bar, store, or event tent, they may share or have total liability. More than one party may have liability at any given time, and this is important in seeking to recover damages.
How to Prove a Premises Liability Claim: What the Evidence Demonstrates
To prevail in your slip and fall claim, your attorney has to prove four elements, namely:
- The defendant had a duty of care to you.
- The defendant breached that duty.
- The defendant’s breach caused your injury.
- Your injury is compensable.
Here is what the evidence may show in a typical slip and fall claim against Navy Pier:
- Security cameras: Facilities like Navy Pier and Millennium Park have many cameras installed. This evidence may show when the hazard existed.
- Incident reports: If the incident report has been filled out, it’s powerful evidence. You should get a copy of this report right away.
- Witness statements: Statements from witnesses, like other visitors, may show what condition the facilities were in and if they were aware of the hazard.
- Maintenance and inspection records: These records show whether or not the property owner was complying with their own safety rules and regulations.
- Photographs and video from your phone: If you are able to take photographs and videos with your phone, take pictures of the hazardous condition, your injuries, and the area where you fell.
- Medical records: Seeking immediate medical attention helps create a chain of events and documentation directly connecting your injuries to your fall.
- Expert testimony: An expert in premises liability can provide information regarding what type of care was owed to you and how that was breached.
What Compensation Can a Navy Pier Slip and Fall Lawyer Recover?
In a successful premises liability claim, you have the potential to recover compensation for your economic as well as non-economic damages. The amount of damages you might recover will depend on the extent of your injuries. The damages might include:
- Past and future medical bills, including emergency treatment, surgeries, physical therapy, and other related treatment
- Past and future loss of wages if your injuries prevented you from working
- Pain and suffering, which includes compensation for your physical pain, emotional distress, and anxiety
- Cost of home health care, equipment, or alterations
- Cost of travel for medical treatment
- Loss of enjoyment of life, which includes compensation if your injuries prevent you from enjoying life as you did prior to the accident
- Wrongful death damages if a loved one died as a result of a premises liability accident
A skilled Navy Pier slip and fall lawyer will help you recover compensation for each of your damages.
A Navy Pier Slip and Fall Lawyer Team for You
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a slip and fall accident at Navy Pier, you don’t need to face what comes next on your own. Our Navy Pier slip and fall lawyer team is standing by and ready to help you with your case.
When you choose Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys, you’re choosing a team that has recovered significant settlements and verdicts for our many clients over the years. And you never have to pay any fees upfront, so you truly have everything to gain and nothing to lose. To get started now, give our team a call, fill out our online contact form, or simply use LiveChat.
The information on this blog is for general information purposes only. Nothing herein should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.