Boy Injured In Window Fall Accident At New Englewood Terrace Apartments In Chicago
Wrongful Death - June 17, 2022
One-Year-Old Child Critically Injured In Chicago Window Fall Accident At The New Englewood Terrace Apartments
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (June 17, 2022) – A one-year-old child was seriously injured in a Chicago window fall accident at the New Englewood Terrace apartments.
Cook County police officials are saying that the accident took place on Thursday morning. A boy at the New Englewood Terrace apartments fell through a screen and struck a patio below.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the accident in order to help the child. He was transported to the Comer Children’s Hospital with critical injuries.
Residents at the New Englewood Terrace apartments in Chicago are saying that they’ve had safety concerns for years. They also told ABC 7 news that they believed the building was not being managed well.
They said that many windows are damaged or lack air conditioning. It remains unclear if the Chicago Department of Buildings has issued any citations for the building.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Chicago Window Fall Accidents
Falls are one of the leading causes of serious injury for small children in the United States. According to one study published in the American Academy of Pediatrics, “An estimated 98 415 children (95% confidence interval [CI]: 82 416–114 419) were treated in US hospital EDs for window fall–related injuries during the 19-year study period (average: 5180 patients per year [95% CI: 4828–5531]). The mean age of children was 5.1 years, and boys accounted for 58.1% of cases. ” Many falls occur at playgrounds, while others may occur in a home setting. There are a number of steps that apartment owners can take in order to prevent children from falling out of windows.
- Apartment owners can limit window openings to 4 inches or less.
- Apartment owners can install window guards on their windows.
- Apartment owners can install air conditioners with non-removable screws.
All property owners in Illinois have a legal responsibility to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. This includes taking steps to protect tenants and their children from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. Pursuant to Illinois Civil Code (740 ILCS 130/1), when a property owner has actual or constructive notice of a dangerous condition, they must take corrective action to remove or remedy that dangerous condition. Failure to remove a dangerous condition on their premises prior to an accident could form the basis of a negligence claim. There are a number of items that should be investigated after any apartment window fall.
- Did the tenant where the accident happened ask the landlord to repair the window?
- Is there a history of similar accidents at the property?
- Did the window involved in the accident have safety guards?
- Was the property owner aware that a child lived at the location where the accident took place.
The family of any child that is injured from falling out of an apartment window may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help with lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Sadly, though, property owners will often fight hard to deny liability for any injury that takes on their property. A premises liability attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Chicago Window Fall Accident
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the family of the child injured at the New Englewood Terrace apartments. It is our sincere hope that he will be able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the Chicago Department of Buildings. Residents who live here have expressed safety concerns. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent other tragedies like this.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured at a Chicago apartment complex? Our team of tenant safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need more information about an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.