If you rent an apartment building, one of the things that you expect the landlord to check and maintain is your safety. Ideally, the landlord should ensure that the tenants live in safe premises so that they do not get injured as they undertake their normal activities in the immediate environment. However, there are instances when you may slip and fall in the rented premises. As a result, you may even break your arm, leg, or sustain serious injuries on other parts of the body. For you to get justice, there is a need for you to sue the landlord of the premises. The good news is that if you have experienced a slip and fall in an apartment building, a knowledgeable lawyer can help you out and ensure that you get the rightful compensation you need.
Safety hazards that can hold the landlord liable
According to Salamati Law, it is important to note that the landlord of your apartment will be liable for the slip and fall accident if at all they knew or ought to have known about the existing safety hazards in the apartment. If the injuries from these risks could be foreseen, and the landlord had a chance to fix them but failed to fix them, he or she should be liable for them. Some of these safety hazards include:
Snow and ice
In most cases, snow and ice will fall on the sidewalks, parking lots, and immediate vicinity of the apartment. If left unattended, they could result in serious slip and fall accidents of the tenants or individuals visiting the premises. However, some leases indicate that it’s the tenant’s responsibility to remove the ice and snow -which the landlord may use against the tenant.
In other cases, they may also argue that the tenant ought to have been aware of the slippery conditions and acted accordingly. With the help of a reputable apartment slip and fall attorney, you can still prevail and win such a case as they should have kept the area ‘fit for intended use’ as required by state laws.
Failure to maintain his or her property
Whereas a tenant may be liable for hazards such as personal spillages and loose rugs inside their apartments, they are not liable for interior conditions arising from irresponsible behavior on the landlord’s part.
The building you rent should be maintained so that it remains habitable and in a good living condition. For instance, if there is a leaking gutter or a protruding floorboard, it should be fixed as soon as possible. However, it’s important to note that the tenant is also responsible for informing the landlord of the prevailing hazardous conditions.
Violating the building code of conduct
If the landlord is aware of missing or lose handrails, broken floorboards, or has violated other building code violations, they can be held liable and can be sued if you slipped and fell. Ideally, the landlord should remove or fix the existing hazards so as to avoid such accidents from happening.
Conclusion
If the landlord’s breach of conduct resulted in a slip and fall accident, you can sue them and be rightfully compensated. To best pursue this, ensure that you hire an apartment building slip and fall lawyer so that you can get the best results. Remember that hiring the right attorneys is crucial as they will ensure you get compensated -not only for the physical damages but for the economic damages as well.