Illinois Personal Injury Attorney

Can I Sue a Movie Theater if I Was Injured on the Premises?

Free Evaluation
100% Secure & Confidential

When you go to see the latest blockbuster hit at your local movie theater, you can hardly anticipate having a serious accident while inside the theater. After all, theaters tend to be fairly tame places as far as entertainment goes – you buy a snack, find your seat, and get up to leave after the movie is over.

Surprisingly, however, movie theaters are rife with opportunities for customers to get seriously injured. If you were hurt in a movie theater, it is important to take your injuries seriously. You deserve to be compensated for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages if the theater was responsible for causing or contributing to your injuries. To learn more, read this blog and then contact an experienced Illinois premises liability to learn more about your options.

Common Injuries in Illinois Movie Theaters

Many things in movie theaters can cause unsuspecting patrons to get hurt. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Improperly lit stairs, hallways, and parking lots
  • Slippery surfaces in the bathrooms and by the concession stands
  • Loose carpeting that can easily make someone trip
  • Burns or scalds from food that is too hot or from drinks with poorly-fitting lids
  • Food poisoning
  • Broken theater chairs
  • Damaged steps or ramps
  • Assault and battery from other customers

While the average trip, slip, or fall may not result in serious injury, many do. Falls are especially dangerous for disabled and elderly people and can cause catastrophic head injuries, back injuries, fractured or broken bones, and more.

Was the Movie Theater Responsible for My Injury?

To prove that a theater is responsible for your injuries, you must overcome significant legal hurdles. These include:

  • Proving that the movie theater owed you a duty of care – All commercial and private premises owe something called a “duty of care” to visitors and customers. This means, for example, that legal visitors have a reasonable expectation of safety on the premises of a movie theater. If you were trespassing on the theater’s property, or if you were injured because of your own actions, the theater may not be responsible or may be less responsible for your injuries.
  • Proving that the movie theater breached its duty of care – If a manager, employee, or business owner knew or should have known about a hazardous condition and failed to remedy it (such as by fixing it, putting up signs to warn customers, or closing the area), the theater may have breached its duty of care to you.
  • Proving causation – You must further prove that the theater’s breach of its duty of care directly or indirectly resulted in your injury.
  • Proving damages – Someone who falls and does not get hurt has no case. You need to prove that you suffered something that can be compensated as a result of your injury, such as medical expenses, lost wages, reduced mobility, etc.

An experienced personal injury attorney can help with all of this. You do not need to worry about making a strong legal argument – you simply need to make sure you get your case to a competent, aggressive personal injury lawyer who can take it from there.

Call a Will County Premises Liability Attorney

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured by an avoidable accident that happened as a result of the negligence of a movie theater, call an experienced Joliet, IL premises liability lawyer with Michael J. Lichner – Will County Personal Injury Lawyer. Our team acts with speed and assertiveness to conduct a complete investigation into the circumstances of your accident and will strive to bring the responsible party to justice so you can get the compensation to which you are entitled. Call us today at 815-730-1977 and schedule a free, confidential consultation.

 

Source:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2048&ChapterID=57

Have Any Questions?

We know that you have important questions when you’re looking for an attorney. We’re always here to answer questions. There’s no cost or obligation to talk to our legal team. Learn more about your case and our legal services. Please contact us!
Free Evaluation
100% Secure & Confidential
How do I know if I have a case?

The most basic grounds for a case are that you’re hurt and it’s someone else’s fault, legally. There are multiple legal standards that may apply.

Most cases are accidents. The party responsible doesn’t necessarily have to have hurt you on purpose. Simple negligence, which is just an unreasonable absence of care, can be enough for the victim to have the right to compensation. In other words, you might have a case, even if it was an accident.

Ask us for your personal consultation. We can learn about what happened in your case and explain how the law may apply.

How will the value of my case be determined?

The purpose of a personal injury case is to compensate you fairly for the losses that you have suffered. That includes financial losses, plus the physical and emotional suffering that goes along with injuries. The question to answer is – What has the personal injury cost you, financially and personally?

There are other factors that may impact the value of a case. Comparative negligence may apply, for example. Punitive damages may be awarded, subject to statutory limitations and requirements for pretrial motion and hearing to amend the complaint. The legal strength of the case may also impact its value.

At your consultation, we look at your specific case and explain how the value of your case may be determined.

Will I have to go to court for my personal injury case?

Most Personal Injury cases don’t go to court, but we’re always ready just in case. In fact, aggressively preparing your case can be exactly what’s needed to reach a fair settlement. We’re always ready to pursue your interests as long as necessary for you to get justice.

It’s normal to be nervous about court. Many people ask us if their case will go to court, hoping that the answer is no. Rest assured that you’re hiring us to represent you. We’ll speak for you to the court. If it’s your turn to testify, we’ll make sure that you’re fully prepared and that you know what to expect.

As your legal representative, Michael L. Lichner works to understand your goals for litigation. He’ll discuss the pros and cons of going to court and help you make the right decisions for your case.

What types of damages can I recover in a personal injury lawsuit?

In a personal injury lawsuit, you can recover damages for the losses you have – financially and personally. You’ll have direct financial losses which may include medical bills, physical therapy, lost wages, and damaged property. You can put in a claim for these expenses.

In addition, when you have a personal injury, you suffer in a lot of ways that can’t be measured directly. For example, you will have physical pain. Injuries may cause mental injury and emotional anguish. Your lifestyle may change. These are real losses, too.

How can I have attorney Michael J. Lichner represent me?

If you’re interested in hiring Michael J. Lichner, contact us. Call or message us, and we’ll take it from there. We offer free consultations and no fee unless we win.

We’ll start with a consultation, answer your questions, and explain how representation works. When you pick us as your representation we’ll get right to work!

Don’t wait, contact us today!

Call 815-258-7877

Free Evaluation

Available 24 Hours a Day

"*" indicates required fields