Most people sign a lease with the expectation that the property they are moving into is reasonably safe. After all, whether you are renting an apartment, a condominium, or another type of residential property, you should not have to worry that a dangerous condition will cause you or a loved one to suffer a serious injury. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, as hazards sometimes develop over time, repairs are occasionally ignored, and accidents happen when they probably never should have happened in the first place. If you were injured on rental property, you may wonder whether the landlord can be held liable for your injuries. Read on and reach out to a seasoned Union County apartment accident lawyer from The Mark Law Firm to learn more. Here are some of the questions you may have:
Is a landlord responsible for keeping a rental property safe?
Generally speaking, yes. Though tenants are responsible for keeping the areas they control reasonably safe and reporting certain problems as they arise, landlords also have important legal obligations. Simply put, landlords are generally expected to maintain rental properties in a reasonably safe condition, particularly when it comes to common areas and other portions of the property that remain under their control. Some of the responsibilities a landlord may have are as follows:
- Repairing dangerous conditions within a reasonable amount of time after becoming aware of them.
- Performing routine maintenance on common areas.
- Maintaining stairways, sidewalks, walkways, and handrails.
- Providing adequate lighting in hallways, entrances, and parking areas.
- Removing snow and ice when required.
- Addressing structural issues that create an unreasonable risk of injury.
That being said, simply because you were injured on rental property does not automatically mean that your landlord is legally liable. In many cases, it must first be shown that the landlord either knew, or reasonably should have known, that a dangerous condition existed and failed to repair it or provide an adequate warning before someone was hurt.
Some common examples of landlord negligence may include the following:
- Broken staircases.
- Loose or damaged handrails.
- Uneven sidewalks.
- Cracked walkways.
- Wet floors caused by unrepaired leaks.
- Defective lighting in common areas.
- Damaged flooring or carpeting that creates a tripping hazard.
What kinds of injuries can result from unsafe rental properties?
Unfortunately, unsafe rental properties can lead to a wide range of injuries. Some of the more common injuries sustained in rental property accidents are as follows:
- Broken bones.
- Traumatic brain injuries.
- Neck injuries.
- Back injuries.
- Torn ligaments.
- Shoulder injuries.
- Knee injuries.
- Spinal cord injuries.
- Deep cuts and lacerations.
What should you do after being injured on a rental property?
If you have been injured on rental property, there are several steps you should take to help protect both your health and your potential legal claim. Quite simply, the actions you take immediately following an accident can make a significant difference later on, especially if evidence disappears or repairs are made shortly after the incident. Generally speaking, some of the most important things you can do include the following:
- Seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
- Report the dangerous condition to your landlord or property manager.
- Take photographs of the area where the accident occurred before anything is changed.
- Obtain the names and contact information of any witnesses.
- Save copies of medical records, repair requests, emails, text messages, and any other communications regarding the dangerous condition.
- Avoid making statements regarding fault before all of the facts are known.
Ultimately, if a landlord failed to maintain reasonably safe premises and that failure directly resulted in your injuries, our firm is here to help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact The Mark Law Firm for a free initial consultation today.
