Although Chicago’s sidewalk weather fines ranging from $50 to $1000 may not be enforced on a regular basis, one Cook County tenant is taking an ice accident to task. After ice accumulated as a result of a pipe regularly flushing water into the parking lot, she filed a lawsuit against her condo complex owners and homeowners association for negligence.
In a recent report, the defendant claims to have injuries from the ice fall. The monetary amount she’s requesting is $100,000 plus court costs.
While Chicago does have a Snow Corps program to help residents voluntarily shovel snow on a sidewalk or a block after huge snowfalls, it is the homeowner’s or landlord’s primary responsibility to keep their properties safe from both snow and ice. Water slips could have happened during any season, but because her alleged injuries are ice-related, winter-weather safety could be the main focus in this case. In order for the pipe water to freeze into ice, chances are higher that it would have had to accumulate over a lengthy period of time or leaked continuously on a particularly cold day.
Landlords and homeowners who are concerned about the safety of their property for tenants and visitors may want to consult a lawyer to research the basics of renters insurance, landlord insurance and tips on property lawsuits. Real estate owners should be prepared to discuss possible set falls and any possible concerns about tenants or property concerns, including liability concerns for all seasons. If a landlord fails to fulfill his duties to upkeep the property that he rents, he can be held accountable for his negligent behavior.