After the chaos of an apartment building fire has subsided and the firefighters from the Chicago Fire Department have put out the flames, you may be left with serious injuries including smoke inhalation and burns. You might have lost all your belonging, or in an even greater tragedy, you may have lost a family member.
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in an apartment fire in Chicago, it is important to understand who can be held accountable. The answer will depend on the specific circumstances of your case.
In some cases, the building owner may be held liable if the fire started because of negligence on their part. For example, if the building owner knew there were hazardous and flammable materials present blocking fire exit access or endangering common areas but did not take steps to remove them, they could be held liable if a fire occurs.
In other cases, the person who started the fire may be held liable. If the fire was started intentionally, the person responsible may be charged with arson. If the fire was started accidentally, the person may be held liable if they were negligent in causing the fire. For example, if another tenant left a lit cigarette unattended and it started a fire that spread to your apartment and caused you serious burns, they could be held liable.
If you or a loved one have been injured in an apartment fire, it’s important to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your legal options. The attorneys at The Kryder Law Group, LLC have years of experience handling complex personal injury cases and will work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
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Landlords owe a duty to their tenants to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition. When they fail to do so and a tenant is injured, they may hold their landlord accountable in court. This rule generally does not apply when another tenant caused the unsafe condition.
The landlord’s duty to maintain extends to fire safety. When a landlord fails to provide fire prevention equipment or maintain the premises, they can be held liable for any injuries to a tenant, including:
Apartment fires fall under premises liability causes of action. To prove liability in a premises liability case, plaintiffs must show that: 1) the defendant controlled the area where the fire occurred, 2) the area was unreasonably dangerous, 3) the defendants either caused the unreasonably dangerous condition or should have known of the unreasonably dangerous condition, and 4) the defendants did not take adequate precautions to ameliorate it or warn people in the area.
Some common scenarios where a landlord can be held responsible include:
If a landlord does not cause the fire or allow the conditions that create a fire hazard, they cannot be held responsible. Some examples include:
As a renter in Chicago, there are some things you can do to protect yourself from apartment fires:
Taking these precautions can help you avoid becoming a victim of an apartment fire. If you have been injured in a fire, contact The Kryder Law Group, LLC today for a free consultation.
Our experienced personal injury lawyers will help you hold the responsible parties accountable and get the compensation you deserve.
Below is some fire prevention equipment that Chicago landlords must provide to their tenants:
Under the Chicago Landlord Tenant Ordinance, you have the right to demand, in writing, that they make repairs or replace broken or dangerous equipment. In order to leave a paper trail, you should either send the letter via email or by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can show proof in writing that the landlord received notice of the dangerous conditions in your apartment.
If your landlord fails to take remedial action, you should consider contacting the Chicago Department of Buildings or dialing 311 to make a formal report. In some instances, you have the option of withholding rent or taking remedial action yourself. For Chicago residents, it is imperative that you follow the Chicago Landlord Tenant Ordinance when taking action.
Apartment fires can be devastating. If you or a loved one has been injured in an apartment fire, it is important to know who can be held accountable. The compassionate personal injury lawyers at The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident & Injury Lawyers are here to help. We have the experience and knowledge to get you the compensation you deserve.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
Unless the fire was caused by someone, you likely will not be able to recover for your personal injuries in a fire. However, you can recover if someone else, including neighbors, caused the fire.
If a product defect caused a fire, you can also recover against the product designer and manufacturer. These are especially common in:
If you have been injured in a fire, the experienced personal injury lawyers at The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident & Injury Lawyers are here to help. We will evaluate your case for free to determine if a negligent party caused the fire and can be held responsible for your serious injuries.
Contact us today for a free consultation.