Posted in Wisconsin Workers Compensation Related News
If you have ever rented an apartment, you have likely experienced occasions where your landlord failed to address potentially dangerous conditions on your property in a timely manner. When personal injuries occur as the result of this type of negligence, you may be able to hold the property owner or the management teams legally accountable for your damages through a premises liability claim.
‘Accidents’ Resulting from Premises Liability
State laws make it clear that property owners and managers can be held liable for injuries that occur as the result of their negligence. This may include injuries that occur as the result of dangerous conditions that the person failed to repair, as well as injuries due to the property owner failing to warn visitors.
When it comes to landlord/tenant relations, this can become a murky area. Depending on the lease you sign, the tenant may be held responsible for making certain, common repairs to their living spaces on their own and for reporting more serious conditions to a management company. If you are injured as the result of torn carpeting in your home yet failed to alert the property manager, there is likely no way they could have known of the situation or the need for repairs.
Landlords are generally responsible for making needed repairs once they are reported, as well as for maintaining the safety of public areas. This means that you may be able to hold either your landlord or the property manager accountable for injuries, such as slips and falls or being struck by or against an object, due to the following conditions:
- Uneven sidewalks
- Cluttered or debris-strewn halls and walkways
- Inadequate lighting on paths and stairways
- Lack of handrails for steps and balconies
- Unsecured lighting or other fixtures
- General disrepair, resulting in loose bricks, ceiling tiles, or other building parts
Holding Property Owners Accountable for Security Risks
An additional type of dangerous condition that should give tenants cause for concern is the lack of security provided at apartment complexes. A property owner has the responsibility of providing a safe environment for tenants. For example, if tenants warn the owner of a potential danger, but the owner fails to take the steps to eliminate that danger and a tenant is injured or killed, there could be grounds for a claim. The same holds true for properties in violence-prone areas, where property owners have a duty to take the steps needed to keep tenants safe, such as installing alarms, requiring key code entrances, and hiring extra security guards.
Our Personal Injury Attorneys Are Here to Assist You
If you have been injured due to dangerous property conditions, call or a lawyer, like a personal injury attorney, and request a consultation with our personal injury attorneys. We can review the details of your situation and advise you on your rights to a claim. Get the professional legal representation you need to protect your rights.
