Fire safety and damage are among the biggest concerns for residents in Chicago. A single fire can cost thousands of dollars in damage and, in worse cases, your life.
Learning Chicago apartment fire safety is necessary if you’re living in an apartment or a multi-story building. Apartment fire safety extends further than fire extinguisher maintenance and other basic steps.
Instead, it requires planning, structural improvements, and several changes to the building. Most fires in Chicago apartments occur because of issues with the inspection systems. The big question is, who can be held accountable?
Chicago Apartment Fire Safety: Who can be Held Accountable?
Apartment fire safety is a big concern and may determine your life safety and property protection. First, you must learn that the landlord is responsible and can be held accountable for damages resulting from apartment fires.
The landlord is the legal caretaker of the building and needs to care for everything. However, the main question is, what should renters do if they become a victim? While there’s a slimmer chance you might be in a situation, you should know the details before advancing.
What Happens If The Renter Is The Fire Victim?
The landlord is responsible for maintaining the apartment premises and ensuring the safe conditions are complete. In case the landlords fail to do this, resulting in a tenant’s injury or financial loss, they are accountable in a court of law.
However, the liability may not apply in some cases. For instance, they might not be liable for damage if another tenant causes the issue, i.e., an apartment fire.
If you are a landlord, you must ensure the apartment’s fire safety, or you could file a lawsuit. There are a variety of different damages that a landlord can be accountable for legally. Here’s a quick look at these damages before we advance.
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of a normal life
- Activities are no longer available because of fire damage
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Surgical scars
- Other wounds
- Lost wages
- Loss of income
- Any financial losses resulting from the fire damages.
- Property damage
- Damage to personal belongings, such as:
- Water damage
- Smoke damage
- Breakage and burning
- Loss of affection and household services
A single apartment fire can turn a renter’s life upside down. It impacts every aspect of their lives, so ensuring the right safety protocols is important. It is more than timely fire extinguisher servicing. The Department of Chicago fire safety has clear instructions in this regard that all residents must pay attention to. It’s necessary to follow the guidelines set for apartment fire safety.
The risks of fire are much higher for high-rise buildings, which is why planning matters. For starters, the apartments should have fire exits unlocked and available at all times. The renters should have emergency contact means in case of a fire and should signal the authorities first.
Bottom Line
Chicago apartment fire safety is a major consideration for landlords and renters. A single fire can cost landlords thousands of dollars in lawsuit settlements.
Therefore, we recommend ensuring better apartment fire safety to avoid these issues. If you need more guidance, we recommend contacting Connected Fire services. It’s the quickest way of avoiding property damage.