We’ve all had that one landlord that refused to fix a leak or replace a broken window, but sometimes, landlords can be guilty of a lot more. Thousands of people every year suffer an injury on rental property, whether it’s a slip and fall, electrocution, illness caused by mold, or broken bones from ceiling cave-ins. At what point does a landlord become liable for the injuries you sustained while on their property?
When Is It the Landlord’s Fault?
In order for a landlord to be held responsible for an injury you suffered on their property, you have to show negligence on the part of the landlord. To do that, you must prove the following points to be true:
- You were genuinely injured
- The landlord is responsible for maintaining the area you in which were injured
- The landlord did not take reasonable action to prevent an accident
- An accident was a likely outcome of not fixing the issue
- Fixing the problem would not have been unreasonably difficult or expensive
- The landlord failing to fix the issue allowed the accident
For example, if a tenant is electrocuted by a faulty electrical wire that the landlord was aware of, but did not take action to fix in an appropriate and timely manner, the tenant may have a case against the landlord for premises liability.
A tenant injured due to landlord negligence may be able to sue for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering with the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer.