It was reported on April 28 that an Illinois arcade submitted a case in which a customer claimed that she suffered a fall due to hazardous conditions to federal court. The lawsuit had initially been submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois on Jan. 15 but was removed on Feb. 17.
The injured person claimed that she was walking around the defendant’s building in Belleville in December 2013 when she slipped on a patch of ice. According to the lawsuit, the ice had formed from a downspout that had been dripping water, which then froze. She accused the company for causing the fall, failing to have the downspout fixed or replaced, failing to have the water drain elsewhere and for failing to warn employees of the hazard.
The woman alleged that she incurred medical costs due to the injuries she suffered in her fall. She also alleged that she suffered mental anguish. As such, she was reportedly seeking more than $50,000 in compensation for the incident plus court costs.
Businesses are required to maintain their property so that it is safe for their customers or other individuals who visit the premises. If there is a hazard that has not yet been fixed, the business must ensure that there is ample warning that the hazard is present. If a person suffers an injury due to a lack of warning signs, uneven pavement or even items placed too high to reach in a retail store, an attorney may help the injured person seek compensation for the damages by filing a lawsuit against the accused company.