Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
Memorial Day weekend is treated as a three-day weekend for many workers in the Chicago area which provides them with an extra day in which to commemorate the holiday. A significant portion of the city’s population chooses to do so by gathering with friends and family, spending time outdoors, and maybe even barbecuing if the weather is nice. As Memorial Day marks the unofficial start to summer in the minds of many, summertime activities tend to predominate these celebrations.
Unfortunately, every year, several people in the Chicago area are injured in accidents around the Memorial Day weekend and some of those people are forced to seek medical help as a result. Expenses can accumulate quickly if you become an injury victim and other losses, like wages missed when you are unable to work, can add to the financial hardship you may endure. While these incidents cannot be undone once they occur, the laws in Chicago are designed to help victims by guaranteeing them protections and certain rights should those victims choose to take action. Among those rights is the ability to seek and obtain financial compensation if you are injured due to negligence or reckless conduct so that you can receive the money you need to help you move forward after an accident. When in doubt or confused about your rights, speaking with a personal injury attorney can help you realize what options may be available to you and whether you have a valid claim for your damages.
Last night, officials in Evanston confirmed that several people were injured in that city when a second story porch collapsed onto a first story porch, trapping some and sending other people falling to the ground. The cause of the collapse has not yet been revealed but the incident is being investigated at this time.
Police have confirmed that members of a family were celebrating last night at a home in the 1900 block of Darrow Avenue and that many people were outside on a second story porch as part of the party. A group of children left the porch and entered the home and, according to witnesses, just moments later, the porch collapsed, causing the wooden structure to fall unto the porch below. In addition to the twelve people on the porch, a grill and several chairs fell as well and the debris caused some of the victims to become trapped.
At least one witness who was not on the porch began to help the victims by moving debris and freeing those who were trapped. Emergency crews responded to the scene and transported four victims to area hospitals for additional treatment but it is not clear whether any additional people were hurt in the accident. At least one person escaped injuries.
Porch collapses and other premises liability accidents are too common of an occurrence in places like Evanston and Chicago where at least one such incident makes the news in a typical summer season. Victims tend to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and are unaware of any underlying conditions that may make the porches unsafe, leading them to use the porch without care or concern.
If you have been injured in a porch accident or if your loved one was hurt or killed, you may be entitled to bring a civil claim for relief so that you can recover for your damages. The personal injury attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. are standing by to help you understand your rights and your options when you call us toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575. We will speak to all injury victims who reach out to us and offer them a free case consultation without any obligation on their part, and for your convenience, we keep a licensed lawyer standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
If you have been hurt in Chicago and you need help, call Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let us get to work for you.
Prior Blog Entry:
Child Killed in Car Accident on I-94, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published May 25, 2015.
Resource:
Several Injured In Evanston Porch Collapse, by Ben Bradley, ABC7Chicago.com, published May 25, 2015.