Chicago Premises Liability?: City Slows Down Porch Inspection Efforts
According to the Chicago Tribune, the city of Chicago has slowed down its efforts to make sure that the thousands of porches in the city are safe for use. While the city did initiate an inspections crackdown six years ago when 13 people died in a Lincoln Park porch collapse accident—500 bad porches were identified—the special inspection task force was disbanded in 2006 after the majority of repairs were fixed. Now, the lack of inspection manpower may be one the reason why dangerous porches are being discovered too late.
Just this May, 27-year-old Atit Mansuria and 20-year-old Caroline Manderos got hurt when a porch they were standing on broke. The two of them fell 20 feet to the concrete alley. Manderos fractured her neck while Mansuria, who sustained head injuries, is still in the hospital. The porch they were on hadn’t been inspected for years.
Currently, the city of Chicago has about 43 “conservation” inspectors. In addition to inspecting porches, their job entails checking for structural damage, rodents, and other dangers. Porches are inspected when new permits are issued or when someone files a complaint. However, not everyone knows when a porch may be hazardous, which means complaints aren’t filed until after an accident has happened.
Recent Chicago porch collapse accidents that have led to injuries:
• In August, 2-year-old Jermarih Cook fell six feet when a rotten step collapsed under her weight. Her tooth went through her lip, creating a large hole in her mouth. Although inspectors came to the scene a few days after the Chicago porch accident, a new porch wasn't installed until June.
• Last May, Douglas Ames filed a Chicago premises liability lawsuit against his landlord. Ames tore ligaments in his leg when he partially fell through a porch.
Repairs to some 500 dangerous porches have been delayed due to inspection and legal backlogs. Since January 2008, neighbors and tenants have made almost 2,500 phone complaints warning about possible injuries.
If you or someone you love was injured in a Chicago porch accident, you may have grounds for filing a Chicago premises liability lawsuit against the landlord or homeowner.
Porch safety: Chicago says it's up to you, Chicago Tribune, July 20, 2009
City Of Chicago Emphasizes Safe Porch Usage And Strategies, City of Chicago.org, July 3, 2003
Related Web Resources:
12 Die as Chicago Apartment Porch Gives Way, Los Angeles Times, June 30, 2003
Contact our Chicago personal injury law firm today.
