Illinois woman settles after fall on ice causes head injuries

A woman received a $300,000 settlement for head injuries she suffered after slipping on a slick surface at her apartment complex in Illinois, according to her attorney.

“It happened twice on two different areas of the same property within a 48-hour period,” said Amanda Hayden of The Hayden Law Firm. 

Hayden represented Irma Cummings, 73, who struck the back of her skull on the concrete last February during wintry conditions.

“She reported it to management, and they said they couldn’t do anything about that,” Hayden said. “The next day, she slipped and fell again in a different part of the apartment complex on ice and snow as she was walking from her apartment to her car. Same reason. Different location.”

After the second accident, Cummins visited urgent care complaining of a headache.

“She ended up having three seizures and suffered from a frontal right subarachnoid hemorrhage and was diagnosed with a seizure disorder,” Hayden said. “She was not allowed to drive for a minimum of six months.”

Hayden said her client went from being independent to requiring assistance with many basic activities of daily life. She said her client has since made a decent recovery and is able to drive and work but still has memory issues. 

Hayden said her client was reluctant to go to trial due to a language barrier. She said she believed the settlement was a good outcome, noting that liability in the matter was clear. 

“I don’t think they were interested in getting further into the discovery process,” she said of the defense. “They were under contract with a snow and ice removal company, and they either didn’t do it or they didn’t do it properly.” 

Ann Marie Piana of American Family represented the defendant. She did not respond to a message left for her with the insurance company’s legal department.  

RELATED: Click to search for and submit your Verdicts & Settlements