Girl Died In Chicago Balcony Fall Accident At Lake Meadow Apartments

Unsafe Premises - July 26, 2023

Three-Year-Old Girl Died In Lake Meadow Apartments Balcony Accident In Chicago’s South Side

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (July 26, 2023) – A 3-year-old girl has tragically died after falling from a balcony at the Lake Meadow Apartments in Chicago’s South Side.

Cook County officials are saying that the accident took place around 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday. A girl was on a 9th-floor balcony when she fell.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help her. She was taken to the Comer Children’s Hospital in critical condition.

Despite life-saving measures, she was pronounced dead at the hospital. A full investigation into the balcony fall at the Lake Meadow Apartments remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For Chicago Balcony Fall Accidents

Falls are one of the main causes of serious injury and death for small children. According to Stanford Children’s Hospital, “It is estimated that more than 2.2 million children ages 14 and under are treated annually at hospital emergency rooms for fall-related injuries. Reports show falls kill about 100 children ages 14 and under every year.” There are a number of steps that can be taken in order to prevent balcony falls.

• Balconies should always be the appropriate height. By law, balconies in Chicago must be at least 42 inches in height.
• Furniture should never be placed up against a balcony wall as this could create a hazard for children.
• Balconies should be regularly inspected to ensure that they are safe.

All property owners in Illinois have a legal obligation to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. This must be done to protect guests and tenants from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. Pursuant to Illinois Civil Code (740 ILCS 130/1), property owners must act when they have actual or constructive notice that their property is in a dangerous condition. If a balcony was in a dangerous condition and a child was injured, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any balcony accident.

• Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
• Medical records should be preserved.
• Surveillance footage should be sought.
• A thorough investigation should be conducted.

It can be hard to know where to begin after any incident. It is important for accident victims to know that they do have rights. The family of any person that died in a balcony accident may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. It is important that all evidence is properly preserved after any incident. Evidence is what will ultimately be used to determine liability.

Investigating Chicago Balcony Fall Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of the child that died in this accident. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent other tragedies like this.

Do you need more information about any accident at the Lake Meadow Apartments? Our team of apartment safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that apartments are doing everything in their power to keep tenets safe. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.