Chicago Porch & Deck Collapse Lawyers
You may have heard that appearances can be deceiving, and when it comes to porches and decks constructed throughout Chicago, this couldn't be truer. It might be impossible to tell simply by looking at a deck or porch whether it will support an entire group of people or collapse when it bears the slightest weight.
The owners and management companies of buildings that incorporate these outdoor closures in their designs are responsible for ensuring that each deck or porch is up to par with Chicago building code and regularly maintained to prevent failure. Unfortunately, many of these buildings are owned or managed by people who skirt their responsibilities to keep costs low.
Hiring an Illinois Porch Collapse Accident Attorney
The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC represent clients with serious injuries who were harmed in porch collapse accidents. Our law firm has built cases to hold the property owner, apartment building management, and general contractor legally and financially responsible for the balcony collapse.
Our premises liability attorneys currently represent clients throughout the United States, Illinois, the city of Chicago, and other localities, including Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, Lake County, Will County, Aurora, Chicago, Elgin, Joliet, Lincoln Park, and Naperville.
Deck and Porch Collapse Injuries FAQs
Causes of Porch and Deck Collapses
Any outdoor enclosure such as a deck, balcony, or porch is subject to building code and Illinois laws that regulate weight loads and the routine inspection of the structure to ensure structural integrity. Causes of porch and deck collapses can occur as a result of the following circumstances.
- Poor building design not built following local building codes could be hazardous. The failure might include the use of subpar materials and fail due to low quality
- Termite infestations that cause the weakening of vital structural components
- Rotting wood (dry rot) or weakening of load-bearing components over time due to lack of regular maintenance
- Exceeding the occupancy for which the porch or deck was designed, resulting in the collapse of the structure under the added weight.
Injuries Caused by Deck and Porch Collapses
The severity of injuries sustained in a collapse depends on the location of the structure and its height from the ground. The most common injury cases reported in deck and porch collapses include:
- Broken and shattered bones caused by falls or collisions with objects
- Injuries to the neck and spine— mostly if the victim was under the deck or porch during the time of collapse and it fell on top of him or her
- Crushing injuries, broken bones, and internal injuries. Those who are caught beneath a porch or deck when it has collapsed may suffer from multiple injuries to internal organs caused by the weight of the structure landing on their bodies
- Lacerations and bleeding caused by collisions with the ground, components of the structure or objects on the ground or struck on the way down
- Paraplegia and quadriplegia if the structure crushes the victim's spine or he or she injures his or her spine during the fall
- Traumatic brain injuries caused when the structure or components of the structure strike the victim on the head
- Death due to injuries sustained in the collapse
Chicago Porch Collapse Injury Attorney
Were you or a loved one injured or killed in a deck or porch collapse in Illinois? If so, you could bring a porch collapse lawsuit against the building designer, construction company, owner, or management company seeking compensation. A personal injury attorney working on your behalf could recover compensation for medical bills, time away from work, emotional distress, ongoing medical treatment, pain, and suffering.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC is a leading personal injury law firm in the Chicago area. We represent the interests of victims who have been injured due to negligent acts of others. Contact our Chicago porch collapse lawyers today to arrange a risk-free consultation with one of our highly qualified and experienced attorneys.
Contact our law firm today at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone call) or through the contact form to schedule a free consultation. Please do not send sensitive information to our law office through voicemail, email, or text message. Our attorneys follow social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus).