Real Slip/Trip Injury Cases. Real Results.
$475,000
Slip and Fall
Grocery Store
St. Louis County, MO
A shopper slipped on a spill that wasn’t cleaned or marked. She suffered a serious injury requiring surgery. We proved the store violated its own safety policies and ignored industry standards.
$510,000
Trip and Fall
Uneven Sidewalk
St. Clair County, IL
A pedestrian tripped on a poorly maintained sidewalk outside a retail business. We held the property owner and commercial tenant jointly responsible.
$685,000
Fall Down Stairs
Apartment Complex
Madison County, IL
Our client fell down a poorly lit stairwell with a loose handrail. We recovered the full policy limits after exposing prior complaints about the hazard.
“After I slipped at a grocery store and broke my wrist, the store blamed me. Tom and Deme took my case seriously from day one. They handled everything and got me a settlement that covered my medical bills and more. I can’t recommend them enough.”
Why Choose Sotiriou Wilmowski for Your Fall Injury Case?
The Sotiriou Wilmowski Insider Advantage™
Before representing injury victims, we defended property owners, landlords, and insurers in slip and fall claims. We know how these cases are investigated—and how they’re denied. Now, we use that experience to your advantage.
Real Legal Experience
You’ll work directly with experienced attorneys who’ve litigated complex premises liability cases from both sides. We know what facts matter, what evidence wins, and how to build a strong case from the start.
Personalized Support
We take time to investigate what really happened—whether you slipped on a wet floor, tripped on a broken step, or fell due to unsafe conditions. We’ll keep you informed, explain your options, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
No Fee Unless We Win
You don’t pay anything upfront. We advance all costs and only get paid if we recover compensation for you.
We Understand How Property Owners Defend These Cases
Insurance companies often blame the victim. We push back with evidence and strategy, not guesswork. You shouldn’t be stuck with the bills because someone failed to maintain a safe space.
What Our Clients Say
The Sotiriou Wilmowski Insider Advantage™
We know how insurance companies think—because we used to work for them.
Deme Sotiriou represented landlords, retailers, restaurants, and insurance companies in countless fall injury cases. She understands how adjusters evaluate liability, what defense lawyers look for, and how to stay two steps ahead.
Tom Wilmowski defended major commercial property owners in premises liability cases involving code violations, maintenance issues, and more. He knows how to expose patterns of negligence and overcome common defense tactics like blame-shifting.
Why Our Experience Gives You the Edge
We’ve handled slip, trip, and fall cases involving wet floors, cracked sidewalks, broken steps, missing handrails, and more — in stores, restaurants, apartment complexes, and public places.
We understand how building codes, maintenance logs, and surveillance footage factor into these claims — because we used to build the defense.
We know which arguments work and which fall flat with juries. That gives you an edge from day one.
We’ve Been in Their War Room — Now We’re in Yours
Our background gives you an unmatched advantage at every stage of your case.
Put Our Experience to Work for You
This isn’t guesswork. It’s strategic legal advocacy built on insider knowledge.
If you were hurt on dangerous property, don’t go up against the insurance company alone. Get a team that knows both sides.
That’s the Sotiriou Wilmowski Insider Advantage™
Injured in a Fall?
Talk to former insurance lawyers who now fight for victims.
What Fall Injury Victims Ask Us Most
Answers to the Most Common Slip and Fall Legal Questions
Types of Fall Injury Cases We Handle
We don’t just take fall injury cases — we know how to prove them when property owners deny responsibility.
Before representing injury victims, Tom and Deme defended property owners and their insurance companies. We understand how they evaluate slip/trip and fall claims — what documentation makes them nervous, which arguments they use to avoid blame, and how to build a case that holds negligent owners accountable.
Grocery store slips
Slips and falls in grocery stores often happen when aisles are left wet, products spill, or floor mats are missing or misplaced. Shoppers don’t expect to encounter hidden hazards while running errands, and stores have a duty to keep their premises safe. When managers or staff fail to clean up spills quickly or warn customers with proper signage, the injuries can be serious—ranging from broken bones to head trauma. Our firm knows how grocery store insurance companies fight these claims, and we use our experience to prove negligence and secure compensation for victims of unsafe store conditions.
Uneven or cracked sidewalks
Sidewalks with cracks, gaps, or uneven slabs create dangerous tripping hazards that can cause serious injuries. These conditions often develop over time, yet many property owners ignore the problem or fail to repair it promptly. Municipalities and private owners may dispute responsibility, making claims more complicated than they appear. With our knowledge of how insurers evaluate these cases, we identify the responsible party, document the hazard, and prove how negligence contributed to your fall. We fight to ensure victims of unsafe sidewalks are fairly compensated for medical bills, lost wages, and the pain they suffer from preventable accidents.
Nursing home falls
Nursing homes are supposed to protect some of society’s most vulnerable individuals. Yet many falls in nursing homes happen because of poor supervision, unsafe flooring, inadequate staff training, or failure to provide mobility assistance. Elderly residents are at a particularly high risk of suffering severe or fatal injuries from falls. Facilities often deny responsibility, claiming residents “fell on their own,” but our experience proves otherwise. We know how to uncover evidence of negligence and hold nursing homes accountable when their carelessness leads to preventable falls. Families trust us to fight for justice and the dignity their loved ones deserve.
Restaurant spills
Restaurant owners must keep their dining areas, kitchens, and restrooms safe for guests. Slippery floors from spilled food, drinks, or cleaning supplies are common causes of falls that can leave patrons with painful injuries. Staff negligence, such as failing to promptly clean up hazards or ignoring safety procedures, often plays a key role. Because restaurants are quick to deny responsibility, proving your claim requires thorough documentation and a strategic legal approach. With our background defending businesses in these cases, we know what evidence makes insurers nervous—and we use that knowledge to hold negligent restaurants accountable.
Poor lighting and visibility
Adequate lighting is critical for safe walking conditions, especially in stairwells, parking garages, and apartment complexes. When property owners cut corners with lighting maintenance, they create dangerous conditions where visitors cannot see trip hazards or steps clearly. Falls caused by poor visibility can lead to devastating injuries, including fractures and head trauma. Insurers often try to downplay these cases, claiming victims “should have watched their step.” Our firm knows how to counter these tactics with evidence that proves negligent maintenance caused unsafe conditions. We hold property owners accountable when their failure to provide proper lighting results in serious injuries.
Falls at hotels or casinos
Hotels and casinos must provide safe conditions for guests, from polished lobbies to busy gaming floors. Slippery floors, poor lighting, torn carpets, and crowded walkways are just a few hazards that can cause serious falls. These businesses often have large insurers and legal teams working to protect their profits, not injured guests. Having previously defended businesses, we know the exact tactics they use to deny responsibility. Our firm gathers strong evidence, from maintenance records to surveillance footage, to prove negligence and secure fair compensation. If you fell at a hotel or casino, we’ll stand up against powerful opponents for you.
Snow/ice cases
Property owners and managers in Missouri and Illinois have a duty to keep walkways, parking lots, and entrances reasonably safe during winter weather. Falls caused by untreated snow or ice can result in severe injuries, especially for older adults. Insurance companies often argue that snow and ice are “open and obvious hazards,” making these cases especially complex. We understand how to counter those arguments with the right documentation and evidence, showing when property owners failed to take reasonable steps such as salting, shoveling, or using warning signs. Our firm builds strong cases that hold negligent owners accountable for icy conditions.
Broken stairs or railings
Stairways and railings are meant to keep people safe—not put them at risk. When a railing is loose, missing, or improperly installed, or when steps are broken, uneven, or poorly maintained, the result can be a devastating fall. Property owners have a duty to regularly inspect and repair stairs and handrails, especially in public places and rental properties. Too often, they ignore warning signs until someone is seriously injured. With our experience defending these claims in the past, we know how property owners try to shift blame. We build strong cases that prove negligence and secure justice for victims.
Sidewalk trip hazards
Sidewalks should be safe for pedestrians, but loose bricks, exposed tree roots, and raised concrete edges often create dangerous tripping hazards. These accidents can cause severe injuries, particularly to older adults or those with limited mobility. Determining who is responsible—whether it’s a homeowner, business, or municipality—can be complicated, and defendants often deny liability. With our prior experience representing property owners and insurers, we know how they argue against these claims. Our team uses precise documentation and expert testimony to prove negligence and ensure victims receive the compensation they need after being injured by unsafe sidewalk conditions.
Falls in apartment complexes
Tenants and visitors in apartment complexes rely on landlords and property managers to maintain safe living environments. Unfortunately, many apartment falls occur because owners fail to fix broken stairwells, neglect icy sidewalks, or ignore poor lighting in common areas. These preventable hazards can lead to life‑altering injuries. Apartment complex owners often have aggressive insurers who push back against claims, blaming tenants or suggesting the dangers were “obvious.” We know their strategies, and we counter them with strong evidence. Our firm ensures negligent landlords and property managers are held accountable when their failure to maintain safe premises causes serious injuries.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Every fall injury is different, but here’s what you may be able to recover:
Where We Handle Slip & Fall Injury Cases
We help injury victims across Missouri and Illinois from our St. Louis base.