Tampa Apartment Premises Liability Lawyer
You should feel safe when you’re at your apartment complex. You shouldn’t have to worry about slips and falls or broken or defective conditions. You shouldn’t have to worry about getting bit by a dog or getting assaulted while entering your apartment late at night.
If you are injured on someone else’s property, this is called premises liability. Premises liability situations involve an unsafe condition on someone’s property. While landlords should take reasonable measures to keep the premises safe, not every injury is the fault of the landlord. There are situations in which the victim could actually be at fault. Since determining liability can be complex, seek the legal help of the Tampa apartment premises liability lawyers at Anderson & Anderson.
Types of Premises Liability Cases
When you think of premises liability, you may think of slips and falls. However, there are many other types of cases such as:
- Inadequate maintenance
- Defective conditions
- Poor lighting
- Dog bites
- Drownings/swimming pool accidents
- Broken stairs
- Elevator and escalator accidents
- Crimes such as assaults and rapes
- Fires
- Water leaks/floods
- Exposure to toxic chemicals
Apartment managers can also be held liable for dangerous conditions due to construction, such as hazardous construction, faulty design, shoddy building materials, or clutter.
Determining Liability
So who is at fault for an accident at an apartment complex? There are two main factors that determine the liability of property owners:
- The owner fails to provide safe premises. Landlords and apartment complex owners have the legal obligation to provide a safe environment for their tenants. Unlike visitors, owners have control over the safety of their premises, which is why the legal responsibility lies with them. They must fix dangerous conditions in a timely manner and ensure the premises are secure, which may require hiring security.
- The victim is injured due to a dangerous condition. To receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages, the victim must prove that the apartment property had a dangerous condition that caused them to become injured. The relationship between the condition and the subsequent injuries must be proven.
When it comes to slip and fall accidents, tenants are generally held liable for accidents that occur inside the rented apartment. Property owners are generally held liable for slips and falls that occur outside the apartments, as well as floors, walls, and ceilings inside apartments.
Contact Us Today
Property owners need to protect tenants and others who set foot onto the property to some degree. If a person is injured due to a landlord’s negligence, the landlord may be forced to compensate the victim for their damages.
If you have been injured on an apartment premises, seek legal help right away. The Tampa personal injury lawyers at Anderson & Anderson can help determine liability so you get compensation for your damages. Contact our office to schedule a consultation. Call 813-251-0072 or fill out the online form to get started.
