What To Do After A Slip And Fall At A Naperville Restaurant

A slip and fall in a restaurant can be embarrassing, painful, and suddenly life-disrupting. Whether you’re visiting downtown Naperville for a night out or grabbing lunch near the train station, a fall on someone else’s property can lead to broken bones, head injuries, sprains, or long-term pain. In this blog, we walk you through what to do immediately after a fall, how to document the event, when to seek medical care, what Illinois law means for your claim, and how our experienced Naperville premises liability attorneys can help. The goal is straightforward: protect your health first, then preserve the evidence you’ll need if you decide to seek compensation.

First Priorities: Immediate Steps to Take at the Scene

Right after a slip and fall, your first priority is safety and health. Even if you feel “okay,” some injuries (head injury, internal bleeding, soft-tissue damage) may not be obvious for hours or days.

Stay still and assess: If you feel dizzy, confused, or have severe pain, try not to move until help arrives. If you’re able, slowly attempt to sit up and check for obvious injuries.
Call for help: Ask staff to call 911 or seek on-site medical attention. Restaurants typically have procedures for dealing with accidents. Ask to speak with a manager and request that an incident report be completed.
Get emergency care for red flags: If you have loss of consciousness, severe head pain, vomiting, numbness, neck/back pain, difficulty breathing, or uncontrolled bleeding, call 911 or go to an emergency room right away. Delays in treatment can make injuries worse and complicate future legal claims.
If you can, take photos: Photograph the floor surface, any spill or obstruction, lighting, footwear, your clothing and injuries, and the broader restaurant area. Photos taken while the scene still looks the same are some of the strongest evidence in a premises liability case.
Ask for names and contact info: Get the names and contact information of the manager, witnesses, and any staff who saw or responded to the fall. Record where and when the incident occurred (date, time, table/booth number, server on duty).

Taking these steps protects health and creates documentation that will be critical later if you file an insurance claim or lawsuit.

Documentation You Must Preserve

Insurance companies and courts rely heavily on documentation for personal injury claims. Without it, even serious injuries can be discounted.

Incident/accident report: Request that the restaurant complete their official incident report and ask for a signed copy. If they refuse, at least get the manager’s name and the time the report was made.
Photographs and video: Keep every photo and video you took (phone metadata helps prove timing). If nearby surveillance cameras may have recorded the fall, note where the cameras are and request preservation immediately (a lawyer can issue a formal preservation letter).
Medical records: Seek medical attention and preserve all ER notes, imaging (X-rays, CT scans), clinic notes, prescriptions, and physical therapy records. Even delayed symptoms are important to document.
Lost wages and expenses: Keep records of missed work, pay stubs, bills, receipts for medical expenses, transportation, and any out-of-pocket costs related to the fall.
Witness statements: Obtain written or recorded statements from witnesses if possible, at minimum collect names and phone numbers.

A well-documented chain of evidence makes it much harder for an insurer to deny responsibility or claim the injury was unrelated to the fall.

Medical Follow-Up: Don’t Minimize Symptoms

Many people downplay pain after a fall because they don’t want to make a fuss. That can be costly.

See a medical professional promptly: Even if you think your injuries are minor, a medical evaluation within 24–72 hours helps connect your injuries to the fall and generates an official record. Some injuries (concussion, hairline fractures, internal injuries, soft-tissue damage) may present with delayed symptoms.
Follow through with recommended care: Attend all follow-ups, imaging, physical therapy, and specialist appointments. Skipping care makes recovery harder and weakens a legal claim later.
Keep symptom notes: Maintain a daily journal of symptoms, pain levels, mobility changes, and emotional effects. Personal journals are useful to show how the injury affected your daily life.

Falls are not only common but serious: according to the CDC, falls are a leading cause of injury, particularly for older adults, and emergency visits for fall-related injuries number in the millions annually. Documenting care from the start protects both your health and your claim.

Common Injuries in Restaurant Slip and Fall Cases

Slip and falls can cause a range of injuries, and the severity depends on many factors (height of fall, surface, whether the head strikes an object, age and health of the victim).

Broken bones and fractures: wrists, hips, and arms are common when people brace for a fall.
Head injuries and concussion: even a mild blow to the head can cause concussion symptoms that may be delayed.
Soft-tissue injuries: sprains, strains, and contusions that can cause chronic pain.
Spinal injuries: herniated discs or compression fractures in older adults.
Emotional/psychological effects: anxiety about returning to public places, sleep disturbance, and depression.

Restaurants in the U.S. face thousands of slip and fall incidents each year. Industry sources estimate millions of incidents across foodservice venues annually, which translates to substantial injuries and costs to victims and businesses alike. Prompt treatment and documentation help ensure injuries are not minimized by insurers.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Restaurant Slip and Fall?

Illinois law requires property owners and those who control premises (like restaurants) to keep the property reasonably safe. That duty includes cleaning spills, warning customers about hazards, and addressing unsafe floor conditions.

Notice is often key: To hold a restaurant responsible, you generally must show the owner/manager knew or should have known about the dangerous condition (for example, a spill that sat unattended) and failed to correct or warn of it.
Comparative fault in Illinois: Illinois uses a comparative-fault rule: if you are partially at fault, your recoverable damages may be reduced in proportion to your share of the fault, and some thresholds apply. It’s important to get legal advice promptly because how fault is allocated can determine whether you recover anything and how much.

Because premises liability law has time limits and procedural rules, contacting a Naperville slip and fall accident lawyer early helps preserve evidence (surveillance footage, incident reports) and protect legal rights.

Practical Checklist: What To Do in the Days After the Fall

Seek and follow medical care. If you were told you were “fine” at the scene but later feel pain, return to a doctor and describe the fall and insist your new symptoms be recorded.
Preserve evidence. Ask the restaurant to preserve video and any physical evidence; document your attempts in writing.
Write down what happened. As soon as you can, write a detailed account of the fall: the time, what you stepped on, conversation with staff, what you remember.
Collect witness info. Reach out to witnesses and ask them to put their recollection in writing.
Don’t give recorded statements to the insurer without counsel. Insurance companies may request a recorded or signed statement, consult a lawyer first.
Avoid posting about the fall on social media. Public posts can be used by the defense to argue your injuries are less severe.
Talk to a Naperville personal injury lawyer. A lawyer can issue preservation letters (protecting video evidence), coordinate medical experts, and negotiate with insurers.

These steps minimize the risk that crucial evidence disappears and give you the best chance of fair compensation.

Why Local Experience Matters

At John J. Malm & Associates, our Naperville and DuPage County-area attorneys know local courts, typical insurance responses in the region, and where surveillance cameras are likely to be located (restaurant layouts, downtown camera networks). Local counsel can move quickly to preserve perishable evidence and advise you on Illinois-specific rules about fault and damages.

Premises liability cases in restaurants often depend on the restaurant’s maintenance logs, employee training records, and surveillance footage, the sort of evidence that disappears if not preserved.

When to Call a Naperville Injury Lawyer

Contact an experienced Naperville premises liability attorney if any of these apply:

You required medical treatment beyond basic first aid (ER visit, stitches, imaging, physical therapy).
You missed work or have significant out-of-pocket expenses.
The restaurant contests responsibility or denies having notice of the hazardous condition.
Surveillance footage may exist and you’re concerned it will be overwritten.
Your injuries are serious, or you’re uncertain how to communicate with the insurance company.

A lawyer can help preserve evidence, explain Illinois liability rules, negotiate with insurers, and, if needed, file suit within the legal deadline.

Contact the Experienced Naperville Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers at John J. Malm & Associates

A slip and fall at a Naperville restaurant can have consequences that show up long after you leave the building. Protect your health first: get medical attention, follow up on new or worsening symptoms, and keep careful records. Protect your claim second: photograph the scene, get witness information, preserve evidence, and consult a lawyer before giving recorded statements to insurers. Local legal counsel can act quickly to preserve surveillance, obtain maintenance logs, and assemble the medical documentation that proves your case.

If you or a loved one were injured in a slip and fall at a Naperville restaurant, we can help. Our firm has experience handling restaurant premises liability cases in DuPage County and nearby courts. We’ll review your medical records, secure and preserve evidence like surveillance video, and explain your legal options at no upfront cost. Call us today for a free consultation so we can protect your health and your right to fair compensation, don’t let crucial evidence disappear or let insurers undervalue your injuries.