6 Situations Where a Landlord Should Be Paying Injury Expenses
Landlords have a legal responsibility to keep their properties reasonably safe for tenants, customers, and visitors. When they fail to do so, and injuries happen, landlords may be held financially accountable.
Following an injury sustained on a poorly maintained property, have a conversation with a Port St. Lucie Personal Injury Lawyer. A landlord may be required to pay for injury-related costs.
#1 Broken or Unsafe Stairways
If a tenant or visitor falls due to loose handrails, crumbling steps, or inadequate lighting in stairwells, the landlord may be liable. Property owners are responsible for maintaining safe walkways and staircases. An example of this is when a tenant falls on a poorly lit, uneven apartment stairway that had been reported for months but never repaired.
#2. Slippery or Poorly Maintained Common Areas
Managers and owners must ensure that sidewalks, entryways, and lobbies are regularly cleaned and maintained. Wet floors without warning signs or cracked walkways can lead to injuries. So, a claim could be possible if a customer slips on a puddle in a commercial building’s lobby because a leaking pipe was never addressed.
#3. Negligent Security
Should a landlord fail to provide adequate security in an area known for criminal activity, they can be held responsible if someone is attacked or injured. Claims have moved forward when assaults happened in connection with broken security gates and inadequate lighting. Particularly when the property is in an area with a documented high crime rate.
#4. Faulty Locks or Lack of Proper Security Measures
Individuals and groups that own residential buildings must ensure doors and windows have working locks to prevent unauthorized entry. Should a break-in occur because an apartment’s front door lock was faulty, even after multiple repair requests, a landlord or manager could be deemed liable.
#5. Failure to Address Known Hazards
When landlords are aware of dangerous conditions and fail to take corrective action, they can be liable for injuries that occur as a result. This means if a tenant repeatedly reports an issue that is never dealt with and injury follows, legal action is possible.
#6. Poor Lighting in Common Areas or Parking Lots
Dim or non-functioning lighting in parking lots and hallways can increase the risk of falls and criminal attacks. Legal action will typically follow if a shopper is mugged in a dark parking lot where the landlord is ignoring maintenance requests to fix the lighting.
Both residential and commercial landlords can be held accountable when their negligence or recklessness directly leads to injury. Whether you are a tenant, a customer, or a visitor, you have the right to expect a reasonably safe environment. If you’ve been injured due to landlord negligence, contact a Port St. Lucie Personal Injury Lawyer today.
What questions do you have about an injury sustained on a Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Stuart, or Vero Beach property? The attorneys at Leifer & Ramirez can help you pursue the compensation you deserve and hold negligent property owners accountable. Call 561-660-9421 to schedule a confidential consultation.
