We are in a locality ripe for many different kinds of premises liability lawsuits. There are many buildings around Chicago that are in dilapidated shape and likely to fall down at anytime. Such a circumstance recently did occur on the South Side when a three-story building partially collapsed resulting in traffic being diverted and four people being taken to the hospital.

Five separate ambulances were called to the accident site where a portion of the roof of the building collapsed and fell onto the street. Three of the individuals injured were in fair to serious condition as a result of the collapse, and another individual taken to the hospital was listed in good condition. The accident occurred at 12:30 p.m. during the middle of the week when there were would have been a number of individuals in the vicinity.

Landlords, owners of property and caretakers of property are often neglectful in keeping premises safe and in good repair. A problem with unsafe premises is that often dangers presented are hidden, and those injured due to unsafe conditions usually had no connection with the care of the property to begin with.

Unfortunately, building codes for various premises are often are not met or merely ignored. Sometimes the property is unsupervised and contains no warnings of potentially dangerous conditions. Since such dangers are disregarded, injured parties and their attorneys have little recourse but to sue those parties responsible for the disrepair. Such a lawsuit can send a message to other building owners that unsafe conditions can cost them more money than merely putting more money into the buildings for repair.

Source: Chicago Sun-Times, "Four injured in partial building collapse on the South Side," by Tina Sfondeles, Jan. 31, 2012