Faulty Balcony May Have Contributed To Fall

Early Wednesday morning, officers of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety were on patrol to clear up numerous loud parties around Western Michigan University when they happened upon the Sigma Pi fraternity house.  The officers went to the back of the house where they found a large crowd gathered and a woman lying on the pavement, unresponsive.  It is believed that the 18-year-old woman fell from a second story balcony as the officers were walking up to the fraternity and struck the back of her head on the pavement.  She was taken to Bronson Methodist Hospital where she is in critical condition with a skull fracture.

It is being reported that police and city housing officials are investigating whether code violations may have contributed to the fall.  Apparently the balcony was missing a number of balusters that should have been there and the woman may have fallen through the gaps where the balusters should have been.  Assistant Chief Brian Uridge of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety indicated that the balusters may have been removed and used as firewood.

Slip and fall accidents due to building defects typically fall under the category of premises liability cla ims in the field of personal injury law. Premises liability claims involve those accidents and injuries that occur on another’s property due to the property owner’s negligence in maintaining property grounds or in taking reasonable caution to ensure the safety of customers, tenants or visitors.  At Freedman & Freedman, we represent clients in all types of slip and fall and trip and fall accident claims throughout Detroit, Troy, Rochester Hills and Southfield , Michigan . Talk to a Detroit slip and fall lawyerat our firm today to learn more about your legal rights and what responsibility the property owner may have had in your particular case.