Landlord Liability Lawsuit Lawyer
When you pay to rent or lease a residential or commercial space, you and your landlord agree on the terms of your lease. Regardless of what the rental agreement entails, there are stipulations under liability laws that affect both parties. The leased or rented apartment, house or commercial space must be maintained, both by you and the landlord. Under certain circumstances, injuries caused by unsafe premises can be the liability of the landlord.
It is important to understand that premises liability laws encompassing leased or rented property are complicated. The landlord does own the property and has certain responsibilities to maintain it and keep it safe. However, as a renter, you also have a responsibility to report unsafe conditions to your landlord. If the landlord is unaware of a broken stair tread or burned out security light, they may not be liable if someone is injured. In fact, renters can be held liable for injuries that occur due to unsafe conditions if they are found responsible.
Injury Claims Against Landlords
The landlord may be liable for injuries that occur due to unsafe premises. For homes and apartments, this can include broken stairs, unsafe wiring, poor security, fire hazards and other safety hazards that can cause injury. If a fire starts in an apartment building due to poor maintenance of appliances or unsafe wiring, the landlord could be liable for damages and injuries to their tenants. The same is true if someone falls on a broken stairway that was reported to the landlord but never fixed.
In the case of leased commercial spaces, both the tenant and landlord have a responsibility to maintain a safe environment for customers and employees. The landlord may be liable for injuries caused by safety issues that they are contracted to maintain. If a person slips and falls at a commercial space, the business tenant or the landlord could be liable, depending on the circumstance.
If you were injured due to unsafe conditions at your rental apartment or home, you may be able to make a claim to cover the cost of your injuries against your landlord. Contact Race Law Firm to schedule a consultation to discuss your case.