Neighbors say that friends and family were gathered in a Tinley Park, Illinois home on Saturday to celebrate a child’s birthday. The celebration turned tragic just after 9:00 p.m. when an outdoor deck attached to the home collapsed with about 35 people on it, sending them falling to the ground below.
The home is located in the 16700 block of Beverly Avenue in a residential area. The Tinley Park Fire Department responded to the incident, which has been described by one neighbor as the deck pulling away from the home and then collapsing. Adults and children were on the deck at the time and officials have reported that 14 were taken to area hospitals for treatment. No one is believed to have been trapped underneath the remains of the deck in the accident and an investigation into the incident continues.
With the cause of the deck collapse not yet known, it is unclear who caused the dangerous condition that led to the deck’s failure. It could have been due to inferior products used in the construction or substandard workmanship, or possibly a failure to maintain the deck by the home owner. What is clear is that a properly constructed and maintained deck should not suddenly collapse, injuring unsuspecting victims and causing them to incur medical expenses.
The law in Illinois requires landowners to keep their property in safe condition and to warn of any potential hazards when others are around. When an owner or possessor, such as a tenant or store owner, does not keep some condition of the property safe, that owner can be liable for any injuries that result.
For an owner to be liable for an accident, generally the owner must have been aware of the dangerous condition or should have been aware of it. This does not mean that the owner is not liable if there is no detailed inspection of every inch of the property; rather, the owner just needs to have some type of information that suggests a danger exists. Whether it is a support beam that is cracked, a missing bolt on a joint, or an ominous squeaking noise, it is the owner’s responsibility to fix any problems and warn others until the problems are fixed.
When an accident on someone else’s property leaves you injured, you may have a claim for your damages. Often people may think of accidents in super markets, malls, or restaurants when they think of injuries away from home but often these accidents occur while visiting a neighbor or friend. Many times, a policy of homeowner’s or other insurance is available to provide the injured person with compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
If you have been injured in an accident while on the property of someone else, including a landlord, you may have a claim. Call the Chicago premise liability lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. and let us help you understand your legal rights and what claims you may have. We are standing by 24 hours a day so that we can be available when you need us. Call us now at (312) 924-7575 or toll free at (855) 529-2442 and let us help you.
Prior Blog Entries:
First Guilty Plea for Felony Vehicular Manslaughter Charge From Bicycle versus Pedestrian Crash, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published July 27, 2013.
Guilty Plea from Burbank Man Charged with DUI Death, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published July 25, 2013.
Resources:
Deck collapse in Tinley Park sends 14 to hospital, WGNtv.com, published July 28, 2013.