Property owners have a duty to ensure their sidewalks are safe for pedestrians. If you’ve sustained an injury in a slip or trip and fall accident, please don’t hesitate to contact a Kane County sidewalk accident lawyer from O’Brien Law, LLC for guidance today.
We believe that accident victims deserve to be fully and fairly compensated for their injuries. If you’ve been hurt in a sidewalk accident due to no fault of your own, reach out to a dedicated Kane County slip and fall lawyer here at our firm.
Sidewalk accidents can occur for a multitude of reasons, though they are frequently a result of hazardous conditions. Some examples of the most common types of sidewalk hazards that can increase the likelihood of a slip or trip and fall accident are as follows:
Unfortunately, sidewalk accident victims can sustain a wide range of injuries as a result of slip or trip and fall accidents. Some of the most common injuries we see resulting from sidewalk accidents are as follows:
Under Illinois law, property owners, both private and commercial, have a duty to ensure their sidewalks are reasonably safe. This duty includes the timely removal of snow and ice to prevent accidents. However, the law also recognizes that constant removal might not always be feasible, considering the unpredictable and often severe weather conditions in Illinois.
In Kane County, the specifics of these responsibilities can vary depending on the municipality. Some areas may have ordinances requiring property owners to clear snow and ice within a certain time frame after a snowfall. For example, a specific city in Kane County may mandate that sidewalks must be cleared within 24 hours after a snowstorm ends.
When it comes to liability for slip and fall accidents due to snow and ice, Illinois follows the “natural accumulation rule.” This rule states that property owners are not typically liable for injuries resulting from natural accumulations of snow and ice. However, if the accumulation is due to an unnatural cause, like a faulty gutter causing ice to form on the sidewalk, the property owner may be held liable.
Moreover, if a property owner acts to remove snow or ice and does so negligently, resulting in an “unnatural accumulation,” they can be held liable for any accidents that occur as a result. For example, if a property owner in Kane County shovels snow but creates a hazardous ice patch in the process, they could be responsible for any resulting injuries.
Municipal Responsibilities and Exceptions
It’s important to note that some sidewalks in Kane County fall under municipal responsibility. In such cases, the municipality may be liable for accidents due to negligent snow and ice removal. However, suing a government entity in Illinois comes with specific procedural requirements and limitations on damages, making these cases more complex.
As long as you and your attorney can gather and present evidence to effectively satisfy the burden of proof in your personal injury claim, meaning you can prove you were injured due to a property owner’s negligence, you should qualify for compensation. This compensation can help you recover from the economic and non-economic damages you’ve incurred as a result of your accident, such as:
If you’ve been injured due to dangerous sidewalk conditions, look no further than O’Brien Law, LLC for help. Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation with our dedicated personal injury law firm.
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