This is the next article in my series on whether landlords may be liable for accidents which occur on their property. My last post discussed when landlords may be liable for a dog bite which occurs on a rental premises. While not strictly liable for dog bites, a landlord may face liability if it is shown that they failed to take reasonable steps which would have prevented the accident. An attorney can assist you with determining whether or not you have a case against a potential landlord. In this article I will be addressing situations in which a landlord may be responsible for car accidents which occur on their property. If you are in need of assistance then contact my office today to speak with a personal injury lawyer.
Peoria landlords must take reasonable steps to ensure driving conditions on their property are safe
All landlords are required to keep their property reasonably safe. This includes apartment complexes in which cars will be driven. Ensuring that signage warns of dangerous conditions is one precaution which property owners may be required to take to keep the situation safe. Another example of a possible requirement would be to include speedbumps so that people do not drive through the complex in a reckless manner. If it is foreseeable that an accident could occur, without such precautions, then a landlord may be held liable if they fail to take action and someone is injured as a result. What precautions a property owner is required to take will always depend on the totality of the circumstances for a given situation.
The foregoing is best considered by way of example. Suppose Jack Landlord operates a forty-unit apartment complex in the Peoria area. There is a driving and parking area within the complex. All paved areas are considered two-way roads and there are no speed bumps. There are no signs warning drivers that traffic can go either way within the complex. Jill goes to make a left turn in the complex and is hit by an oncoming car that was moving too fast. It was Jill’s first day as a tenant and she had never driven in the complex before. Under this scenario, Jill may be able to claim that the landlord should have included signs warning of two-way traffic as well as speedbumps. She may also be able to claim that the accident would have been prevented if these precautions had been taken. If successful, she would have a claim against both the driver of the other car and the landlord.
A Peoria personal injury lawyer can determine whether a property owner owed a duty to tenants and guests
Whether or not an Illinois property owner owes a duty to tenants and guests is a fact-specific inquiry. A duty will only exist if some type of harm is foreseeable and if the actions needed to prevent the harm are not overly burdensome. The Court will determine whether a duty existed on a situation-by-situation basis. An experienced personal injury attorney can assist you with determining whether or not you have a claim worth pursuing.
If you have been injured in a car accident on private property then contact my office today to speak with a Peoria injury lawyer. I believe in standing up for the rights of individuals over those of large companies and my office will give your case the attention it deserves. We pride ourselves on providing a high level of service and we look forward to speaking with you. Contact us online or by telephone today. Our firm also serves clients in the Illinois cities of Bloomington, Eureka, Galesburg, Morton, Normal, Pekin, Springfield, and Washington.
