Landlord Liability for Injuries to Renters in Lake County, Illinois

 Posted on February 15, 2022 in Premises Liability

When you rent a house or apartment, you are expected to pay rent and fulfill any other responsibilities outlined in your lease. In turn, your landlord is expected to maintain the property and keep it in a safe condition. Unfortunately, as many renters can attest to, landlords and property owners do not always fulfill their end of the bargain. If you or a loved one were injured due to an unsafe condition in your rental property, you may be able to sue for damages. You could be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages from missed work, pain and suffering, and more.

Injury-Causing Accidents Caused by Landlord Negligence

Property owners, property managers, and landlords have certain legal obligations. One such obligation is to keep their properties in reasonably safe condition. This includes ensuring that any necessary maintenance is completed and warning tenants if an unsafe condition does exist.

Rental property injuries may involve:

• Insufficient snow and ice removal – In Illinois, property owners are not usually liable for snow and ice-related slip and fall accidents unless the accident was caused by an unnatural accumulation of snow or ice. However, property owners and managers may be liable for failure to properly remove snow and ice if doing so is promised in the lease or rental agreement.
• Electrical hazards – Improperly installed electrical appliances, lights, and wiring can cause electric shock.
• Inadequate security – Broken locks and insufficient security measures can increase the chances of a tenant being the victim of a violent crime.
• Swimming pool accidents – Swimming pools without gates and swimming pool chemicals that are not properly stored can cause severe or fatal injuries.
• Defective staircases – When a handrail is missing, broken, or loose, a tenant may fall down the stairs and be seriously injured. Uneven or broken steps can also lead to fall accidents.
• Parking lot defects – Potholes and other defects in the parking lot and walkways of an apartment complex can present trip and fall hazards.

Recovering Compensation After a Rental Property Injury

If you can prove that your landlord or property owner’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. Often, the question of liability in a rental property injury case hinges upon the foreseeability of the accident. For help proving that a landlord’s oversight or carelessness led to your injuries, contact an experienced premises liability attorney.

Contact a Lake County Premises Liability Lawyer

If you or a loved one were hurt on a rental property, contact Salvi & Maher, LLP to discuss your legal options. Call our team of skilled Waukegan personal injury attorneys at 847-662-3303 and set up your free consultation.

Source:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1InNc4VTBWIUTrZ6hEoex03q8W74vdS6eEU5Tj9oEAgo/edit#heading=h.tu0z10rd14vd