Is the Landlord of an Apartment Building Liable for My Slip and Fall Accident?
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Slip-and-fall accidents are the leading cause of accident-related injury and death in the United States. Most such incidents occur in places that have dense foot traffic, including apartment buildings where there is a constant flux of guests and patrons.
Considering the busy nature of these locations and the legal responsibility of landlords to provide safety to their tenants and visitors, any safety hazard should be eliminated as soon as possible. However, not all landlords or apartment building managers are equally proactive, and any violation of public safety standards can result in a serious slip and fall incident.
If you or your loved one got injured in a slip and fall accident in an apartment building, you can sue the negligent property owner to recover compensation for your losses. A skilled personal injury lawyer can help you file a lawsuit against the negligent party and get you the justice you deserve for your slip and fall accident and subsequent injury.
Eligibility for Civil Lawsuits
If you slipped and fell in an apartment building and incurred physical injury, you can file a lawsuit against the negligent property owner provided that your claim fulfills a set of conditions related to liability. To be eligible for a claim, you must prove that you had permission to be on the premises, slipped and fell due to a safety hazard in an area under the guardianship of the landlord, and incurred physical injury due to the accident.
Additionally, you must file your claim within the statute of limitations outlined by your state. Any claims filed after the expiration of this legal deadline will be dismissed by the court.
Determining Landlord Liability
Property owners or managers are responsible for creating a safe environment for their patrons and addressing any safety hazards as they arise. For a successful personal injury claim, you must prove that your landlord or property manager had or should have had reasonable knowledge of a safety hazard and failed to address it in time.
You must also prove that the subsequent slip and fall accident resulted in serious physical injury and financial consequences for you. Depending on the area where the incident occurred and the circumstances of the accident, you might be able to file claims against multiple defendants. For instance, if you slipped and fell down a flight of stairs that were not built according to the local construction code, both the landlord and the construction company can be held liable for your losses.
In some cases, you might be partly responsible for the accident in addition to the negligence of the property owner or administration. In this situation, the amount you receive as compensation for your damages might get reduced according to the percentage of your fault, depending on your local contributory negligence laws.
Conclusion
If you suffered physical injury or property damage in an apartment slip-and-fall incident, you might seek legal damage against the landlord or apartment complex management. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, the amount you receive as compensation might vary. You must talk to a competent personal injury lawyer soon after the accident to formulate a winning legal strategy for your claim.
*This article is based on personal suggestions and/or experiences and is for informational purposes only. This should not be used as professional advice. Please consult a professional where applicable.
