Chicago, IL Premises Liability Lawyers

Trusted Lawyers for Slip and Fall Accidents, Dog Bites, and Negligent Security in Chicago, Illinois

Injuries can occur in many different locations, including when shopping at a retail store, dining at a restaurant, visiting a friend's home, or staying at a hotel. People who visit properties owned by others, including public locations or private residences, should be able to expect that these properties will be reasonably safe. When a property owner has failed to address dangerous conditions, and someone suffers injuries as a result, the victim may take steps to hold the property owner liable and obtain compensation for the ways they have been affected.

At Gallagher & Kosner Law, our attorneys represent people who have been injured in locations throughout Chicago and its suburbs. We can investigate these cases to gather evidence showing that a property owner knew or should have known about hazardous conditions but failed to protect the safety of visitors. We can build compelling cases that demonstrate negligence by property owners and ensure that victims will be able to recover compensation that will fully address their losses.

When Property Owners May Be Held Liable for Injuries

Property owners or tenants who maintain control over property have a duty to protect the safety of visitors who have been invited to enter their premises. For customers in stores, patrons at restaurants, guests at hotels, clients visiting offices, and people visiting private homes, property owners must take reasonable steps to protect their safety. They will be required to correct dangerous conditions or warn people about potential dangers.

While property owners generally are not required to take steps to protect the safety of trespassers who enter their property without permission, there are some important exceptions involving children. On premises with an "attractive nuisance," a property owner may be liable for failing to take proper measures to limit entry by children. Swimming pools, construction equipment, and abandoned buildings may be considered attractive nuisances, and property owners could be liable for injuries if they did not maintain fencing or use other measures to prevent access.

In a premises liability claim, a victim will need to show that a property owner failed to maintain safe conditions or did not warn them about hazards, and the owner's negligence was directly responsible for their injuries. Our lawyers can work with clients to obtain evidence showing that a property owner knew about a dangerous condition or should have discovered it, but they did not take steps to correct it, and this led to an accident or injury.

Slip and Fall Accidents

Slips, trips, and falls can occur when property owners do not correct dangerous conditions or warn visitors about potential risks. Wet or slippery floors can lead to falls in grocery stores, restaurants, shopping malls, and other commercial properties. Spilled liquids, rain or snow tracked in through entrances, or leaking refrigeration units can create hazards. A person at a supermarket who slipped on a liquid spilled in an aisle may have a claim if the store's employees failed to clean the spill promptly.

Uneven walking surfaces, such as cracked sidewalks, broken pavement in parking lots, potholes, or damaged floors, can cause people to trip and fall. Property owners who do not repair damaged walking surfaces may be held liable for injuries caused by tripping hazards. A restaurant patron may trip on a raised section of concrete in a parking lot and break their wrist, and they may have a valid claim if the owner knew about the uneven surface but failed to repair it or place warning cones around the area.

Weather-related hazards may need to be addressed by property owners. They may need to take steps to clear walkways of snow, apply salt or sand, and warn people about slippery conditions. A property owner may be held liable if a fall accident occurred due to an unnatural accumulation of ice or snow. A tenant who fell on an icy sidewalk at an apartment building may have a claim if the landlord was aware of a drainage pipe that caused ice to build up.

Poor lighting in stairwells, parking garages, and building entrances can prevent people from seeing hazards, which can lead to falls. When falls occur because of burned-out bulbs, low lighting, or dark parking lots, a property owner may be held liable for failing to address these issues.

Dog Bites and Animal Attacks

Dog owners and property owners where animal attacks occur may face liability when animals injure people. Under Illinois law, a dog's owner or a person who was in control of a dog may be held liable for injuries suffered by victims due to dog bites or attacks. Liability will typically apply as long as the victim was not trespassing on the property where the attack occurred, and they were not provoking the animal. Even if the owner did not know that their dog was dangerous, or the dog had never bitten anyone before, they can still be held responsible.

Landlords who know tenants keep dangerous dogs on rental properties may share liability if those animals attack visitors or other tenants. A property owner who received complaints about a dog but did not take any action to require the tenant to remove the animal or secure it properly may be held responsible if the dog bites someone.

Dog bite injuries can range from puncture wounds and lacerations to severe tissue damage, broken or crushed bones, infections, scarring, and psychological trauma. Children may suffer facial injuries or other types of serious harm in dog attacks. Elderly people or others may be injured after being knocked down. Victims may take steps to recover compensation for medical expenses, emotional trauma, disfigurement, or other damages.

Swimming Pool Accidents and Drownings

Swimming pools can be dangerous, especially when they are used by children who are unsupervised. Property owners who maintain pools must make sure the proper safety measures are in place, including proper fencing, gates with latches or locks, and pool covers. They will also need to make sure equipment is maintained correctly to prevent injuries by people who use a pool.

Homeowners may be liable if people suffer injuries due to negligent maintenance or security. Apartment complexes, hotels, and public pools may be liable for injuries that occurred because lifeguards were not present, an imbalance of chemicals, inadequate lighting, or other safety issues. Premises liability claims may address drowning or other injuries that occurred due to diving board accidents, drain entrapment, or slip and falls on wet pool decks.

Inadequate Security and Criminal Acts

Property owners are required to provide reasonable security to protect visitors from criminal acts or other safety concerns. Negligent security claims may involve a failure to provide adequate lighting, working locks on building entrances, security cameras, security personnel, or other measures that could prevent criminal activity.

Other Premises Liability Cases

In retail stores, people may be injured by falling objects due to unsafe storage of merchandise or defective shelves. A customer hit by a heavy item that falls from a high shelf may suffer head injuries, fractures, or other types of serious harm.

Structural failures, including collapsing stairs, broken balcony railings, or ceiling tiles that fall, can cause injuries. Elevator and escalator malfunctions may occur if equipment is not maintained properly. Property owners may be liable for injuries that occurred because they did not perform the proper maintenance and repairs.

Toxic substances, including carbon monoxide from faulty heating systems, toxic mold due to water damage, or lead paint, can cause health problems for visitors or tenants. Landlords who knew about these hazards but failed to address them may be held liable for illnesses or other health issues that caused people to suffer harm.

Contact Our Chicago Premises Liability Lawyers

When injuries have occurred on someone else's property due to dangerous conditions, victims will need to understand what steps they can take to obtain compensation. The lawyers at Gallagher & Kosner Law have the knowledge and experience needed to hold negligent property owners accountable for injuries in cases involving slip and fall accidents, dog bites, negligent security, or other issues. Contact our Chicago, IL property owner liability attorneys at 312-910-5050 to schedule a free consultation about your premises liability claim.