If you’re a renter, you expect the unit that you live in and the property where you reside to be well maintained and safe. However, as you may well know, this isn’t always the case. In fact, there are a lot of rental properties in Connecticut that pose a hazard to residents. Sadly, these dangerous conditions sometimes lead to accidents that result in unsuspecting tenants suffering serious injuries.
And those who are hurt in one of these accidents can be left with a lot of damages. They may need expensive medical care that exceeds their insurance coverage, they may have to miss a significant amount of work that results in lost wages and they may be forced to deal with undeserved pain and suffering as well as mental anguish. Altogether, these damages can be challenging to cope with as you try to focus on recovering your health.
What are you to do if you’re injured on the premises of your rental property?
As stressful as the situation may be, you may take comfort in knowing that you have legal options at your disposal. Among them is pursuing a premises liability lawsuit against your landlord.
But when can you sue your landlord for your injuries? There are a number of situations that may warrant legal action, including the following:
- When the landlord has control over the dangerous condition that led to your injury: Your landlord has a duty to ensure that common areas are kept safe. Since your landlord is in control of maintaining those areas, any injuries you suffer as a result of a hazardous condition in those locations may be blamed on the landlord. For example, if you’re hurt on a broken exterior stair, you might be able to hold your landlord liable for your injuries.
- When your landlord knew or should’ve known about a dangerous condition: Your landlord has a duty to inform you of any dangerous conditions that exist on the premises. The landlord should also discover hazards within a reasonable amount of time. If they fail to do either of these things, you might be able to shift the legal blame for your injuries onto them.
- When the landlord fails to act to prevent injuries: Many hazardous conditions create a foreseeable risk of injury. But if your landlord fails to take action to avoid an accident in a timely fashion, liability may present.
- When the landlord fails to implement preventative measures: Often, there are a lot of low-cost ways to avoid dangerous situations. For example, a landlord may be able to paint lines on a curb step to bring it to the attention of tenants and reduce the probability of a trip-and-fall accident.
It’s important to know how to analyze a landlord’s behavior in light of your injuries. After all, doing so is the only way to truly assess whether you have an adequate legal claim.
Do you need assistance with your case?
Premises liability lawsuits, like those involving leased properties, can be difficult to understand and successfully navigate. But you don’t have to leave your future to chance. In fact, you may be able to maximize your chances of succeeding in your case by securing assistance from a skilled legal professional. Hopefully then you can find some accountability and recover the compensation you need to be stable while you focus on your recovery.
So, if you’d like to learn more about what firms like ours can do to help you with your case, please read our blog and research what you can do to start building your case now.