Legal Question in Personal Injury in Illinois
Protection of property
There is a house next door to my apartment building. A sidewalk runs in front of the house (as normal) and in between the house and my building. The person living in the house has a white rope protecting her yard tracing its boundary from the sidewalks. It's a thin (1/4 or 1/2 inch) white rope about a foot above the ground. I was standing at the corner of her yard, on the sidewalk, one evening, and I thought that I could use the sidewalk running in between the buildings to get to the back of the apartment building (the sidewalks look the same). I went to step over the corner of her yard to get to the sidewalk perpendicular to me, and I tripped over the rope, falling flat on my face, hurting both my knees, not in the yard, on the other sidewalk. I had water pockets for months and a year later, I still can't kneel on hard surfaces. I want to know if she's allowed to put up small white ropes in her yard. They're invisible at night, and she has no warning signs up about them. I wansn't even trying to step in her yard. I feel like they should be safer somehow. Is there any laws about protecting a yard in this fashion?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Protection of property
I know of no statute that covers your question. The use of that kind of fence does however seen likely to cause injury and may be negligence for which you can sue for your injury. You should consult with a local attorney who may consent to take the case on a contingent basis.
Re: Protection of property
You may have a case against your neighbor but more facts are needed including a plat of your property and your neighbor's property. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
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