Slip and fall accidents can lead to devastating consequences. Serious injuries are associated with outdoor Illinois slip and fall accidents, such as brain trauma, spinal injuries and broken bones. In some instances, a slip and fall can even be fatal. If you have been seriously injured in a slip and fall in Chicago, you should contact a Chicago injury lawyer.
If someone you love has been killed in an outdoor slip and fall accident, a Chicago wrongful death lawyer can help you file a Chicago wrongful death claim. Contact a Chicago injury lawyer who can help fight for your rights or the rights of a loved one.
Conditions That Can Lead to Outdoor Slip and Fall Accidents
If a property owner is found liable for conditions that have led to an outdoor slip and fall accident, you may be eligible to file a Chicago wrongful death lawsuit or personal injury lawsuit.
Chicago weather is notorious for tough wintery conditions, like snow and ice. This can be a contributing factor to outdoor slip and fall accidents. In each city or township, there may be specific laws pertaining to property owners removing ice or snow from outside a building.
Property owners aren’t generally held liable for the natural accumulation of snow or ice, but if the owners’ actions result in an “unnatural” accumulation of snow and ice, the owner may be found liable for any accidents that occur as a result.
Specific conditions that may lead to liability on behalf of the property owner include:
- Accumulation of ice on roof which then melts and drips off because the drain is clogged, resulting in the ice refreezing on the ground;
- Poor maintenance of a parking lot that results in melting ice turning into puddles and then refreezing into patches of ice; and
- Negligent removal of ice or snow.
Improper outdoor lighting can also lead to a slip and fall accident. If a person isn’t able to see where they are walking, they can easily fall. Property owners are responsible for making sure there is adequate lighting in parking lots or other areas around a building where a person could be injured.
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