In Illinois, you generally have 2 years to sue for a hotel fall under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, and the key proof is evidence the hotel knew or should have known about the dangerous condition and did not fix it or warn you.

Exceptions and edge cases that make proof harder or easier:

• Notice is the central issue. You need photos or video of the exact hazard, the time of the fall, and proof it existed long enough for hotel staff to discover it. In a Chicago hotel, that can include surveillance footage, housekeeping logs, maintenance records, incident reports, and witness names. Send a preservation request immediately for lobby, elevator, entrance, and parking-area video before it is overwritten.

• Illinois follows the natural-accumulation rule for snow and ice. If you slipped on naturally tracked-in rainwater or naturally accumulated ice, the hotel often argues it is not liable. Your evidence then needs to show an unnatural accumulation or negligent maintenance: broken mats, missing warning signs, a leaking ceiling, poor drainage, a defective awning, or snow piled so melting refroze at the entrance.

• Comparative fault matters. Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, you recover nothing if you are found more than 50% at fault. Hotels use footwear, distraction, phone use, intoxication, and "open and obvious" arguments. Preserve your shoes, receipts, rideshare trip record, and any photos showing lighting, cones, or lack of cones.

• The Uber trip can create a second claim. If the driver stopped in an unsafe drop-off zone, blocked your path, or forced you into traffic or a damaged curb area, keep the app trip screen, driver messages, pickup/drop-off data, and vehicle photos. Liability may be split between the hotel and the driver.

• Building-code evidence can strengthen the case. In Chicago, missing handrails, uneven stairs, bad lighting, or noncompliant flooring can support negligence. Photos with measurements and any 311 complaint history can matter.