Owners of property and buildings are legally liable when dangerous conditions on their property cause other people, including visitors, to be injured or killed. Illinois law requires that landowners, building owners, and businesses keep their property safe so that innocent people are not injured. When they fail in their duties to keep their properties safe and free of danger, the results can be tragic. If you or someone you love has been injured resulting from the negligence of a property owner, it is important to have an experienced Chicago premises liability lawyer by your side.
Negligent conditions on a property can arise from a variety of circumstances, including merchandise improperly placed on the floors or aisles of grocery stores, poor lighting and signs that fail to warn of dangerous conditions, uneven walking surfaces, building code violations, inadequate floor mats, floor mats that buckle and slide, and hazardous snow and ice conditions created by a property owner. Premises liability can also include inadequate security claims and claims against businesses that hire someone who is criminally dangerous.
Personal injury often results from the property owner’s negligence in these and other areas. Visitors, patrons and sometimes even employees suffer accidents that could have easily been prevented. Some of the common accidents and injuries suffered as a result of premises liability include:
- Falls, Dislocations & Fractures: Slips, trips and falls typically happen because of wet and slippery surfaces that are not clearly marked and/or are difficult to see. These can lead to fractures of all kinds with sometimes severe and permanent injury.
- Dog Bites: When an owner’s dog or animal attacks someone nearby without provocation, the resulting injuries can be serious and sometimes deadly.
- Electrical Injuries and Electrocution: Faulty wiring and other violations of building codes have been known to cause serious electrical injuries.
- Explosions: Burn injuries due to fires and explosions are also common when building maintenance is neglected.
- Drownings: Swimming pools that are open to the public should have lifeguards present to ensure the safety of guests. When no lifeguard is present during the pool’s open hours, tragic incidents such as drownings can occur.
The law on premises liability is complex. These cases can often involve large organizations such as homeowner associations and shopping mall owners with teams of attorneys working to minimize the damages paid out to victims of their negligence. At Hurley McKenna & Mertz, P.C., we have over 20 years of experience representing victims of premises liability accidents in Chicago, Cook County and throughout the country. If you were injured on someone else’s property, consult a Chicago premises liability attorney at HM&M immediately. The experienced trial attorneys at HM&M can help guide you and determine whether you have a case.
For a free consultation, contact Hurley McKenna & Mertz, P.C. today at 312-553-4900 or fill out our online form to have a lawyer contact you.
