Many people in Chicagoland or Aurora rent an apartment or work in an office owned by a landlord or management company. The nice part about living or working in a building owned by someone else is that there is someone to call when things need fixing. However, landlords who do not keep the property in good condition, fail to make repairs, or perform shoddy workmanship may be putting tenants and visitors at risk of an injury.
If you suffer a slip and fall, burn, or another injury because of an unsafe condition in an apartment, office building, or another property, you may be able to file a personal injury claim for damages. A personal injury lawsuit can help victims recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact the Cullotta Bravo Law Group in Aurora today.
Premises Liability in Illinois
Under the Illinois Premises Liability Act, property owners owe a duty of care to tenants and visitors. “The duty owed to such entrants is that of reasonable care under the circumstances regarding the state of the premises or acts done or omitted on them.”
The responsibility of keeping the property safe may fall on the landlord, property owner, building owner, or property management company. The landlord owes a duty to entrants to the property, which may include:
- – Renters
- – Tenants
- – Customers
- – Patients of medical offices
- – Visitors
- – Workers
Landlord Liability Accident Claims in Chicagoland & Aurora IL
The landlord may be liable for many types of accidents or injuries that happen on the property. Common landlord liability accident claims may include:
- – Slip and fall injuries
- – Stairway accidents
- – Tripping on broken concrete
- – Tripping over torn carpet
- – Slip or fall because of inadequate lighting
- – Elevator accident injuries
- – Parking lot/garage injuries
- – Unsecured railing falls
- – Illness from faulty ventilation
- – Burn injuries from faulty water heater
For example, an apartment building has worn carpeting that needs to be repaired. It is torn in many places. A tenant comes home carrying groceries and walks through the apartment hallway, tripping over torn carpet, falling and suffering a broken arm. The landlord may be liable for the tenant’s injuries if the landlord breached the duty of reasonable care by not repairing or replacing the torn carpeting.
Injuries Inside an Illinois Apartment or Office
A landlord generally has a duty to maintain the outside of the property and common areas, like hallways, stairways, elevators, and the access areas around the building. However, landlord liability generally does not extend to injuries inside an apartment unit or office suite. The landlord may be liable for injuries caused by the property owner’s improper repairs or faulty workmanship.
Example of Injury Liability
For example, a tenant is about to take a shower in her apartment. She slips while stepping into the shower and suffers a broken nose. The landlord would not likely be liable for this slip and fall accident.
However, the landlord installs a handlebar in the bathtub for security. The tenant grabs the handlebar for support and the handlebar falls off because it was not installed properly. In this case, the landlord may be liable for improperly installing the handlebar.
Damages in a Landlord Liability Accident in Illinois
Damages in a landlord liability accident can include the injury victim’s economic losses and non-economic losses caused by the accident. Damages in a personal injury claim may include:
- – Medical bills
- – Lost wages
- – Loss of future income
- – Continuing medical care
- – Loss of consortium
- – Pain and suffering
If a landlord liability accident is fatal, the surviving family members may be able to file a wrongful death claim. In a wrongful death claim, damages may include funeral costs, burial expenses, and loss of income the family would have received from the deceased.
How Much Time to File an Accident Claim in Chicagoland or Aurora IL?
There is a limited amount of time to file a claim against the landlord or property owner after an accident. The statute of limitations for most personal injury claims in Illinois is 2 years. This means the injury victim has 2 years from the date of the accident or injury to file a lawsuit, or the claim may be denied. However, the time limit may be shorter or longer in some situations, so do not wait too long to talk to an attorney.
The landlord may try and keep putting off responding to an accident hoping that the tenant will give up on trying to get compensation or the statute of limitations will run out. You should contact your Aurora personal injury attorney as soon as possible after an accident to make sure your claim is filed in time for you to recover compensation.
Aurora and Chicagoland Landlord Liability Accident Attorney
The landlord may try and blame you for an accident that was caused by their irresponsibility. Do not just accept the landlord’s word and get the advice of a premises liability attorney who knows the law.
At the Cullotta Bravo Law Group, our experienced attorneys have helped injury victims and their families deal with an accident to get compensation. We work tirelessly to ensure your needs are taken care of and those who caused the accident will be held responsible for their actions. Contact the Cullotta Bravo Law Group today at 630-898-7800 to schedule your free consultation.