Injury Claims Against Landlords Or Apartment Buildings For Unsafe Conditions
Landlords and apartment buildings in California have an obligation to keep their properties safe. Failure to meet these obligations can make a landlord or apartment building liable for any injuries to tenants or other parties who are injured on their property.
If you or someone you care about has been injured because a landlord or apartment building failed to repair an unsafe condition on their property, you may be entitled to file an injury claim to recover compensation. Call our law firm today for a free case evaluation.
When is a Landlord or Apartment Building Liable for Injuries Caused By Unsafe Conditions?
A landlord or apartment building in California can generally be held liable for injuries caused by unsafe conditions on their property. These are common situations:
1. Latent Unsafe Conditions
When someone was injured due to a latent (hidden) defect, such as bad plumbing or electrical wiring, or a defective heating or cooling system, that the landlord or apartment building knew or should have known about, and that the injured party did not know about.
2. Unsafe Conditions in Common Areas
When someone was injured due to an unsafe condition in a common area of a building, such as a stairway, lobby, hallway, passageway, or elevator that was used and shared by all tenants, and that the landlord or apartment building should have reasonably known about and repaired.
3. Public Use of the Property
If the landlord or apartment building allowed a tenant to invite members of the public onto the property for an event or concert, for example, they could be held liable when a member of the public is injured due to a dangerous condition that the landlord or apartment building knew or should have known about when the lease was signed.
4. Unsafe Conditions in Furnished Short-term Residences
When someone was injured due to an unsafe condition in a furnished short-term residence, such as a hotel room or short-term apartment rental, which existed at the time of the lease, and that the landlord or apartment building could have and should have discovered by reasonable inspection and routine maintenance.
5. Unsafe Conditions Caused by Negligent Repairs
When someone was injured due to a repair that:
- Was done negligently;
- Resulted in an increased danger that was unknown to the injured party; or
- Had the appearance of being sufficiently repaired but was not
This is the case, even if it was not the landlord’s responsibility to fix the defect in the first place, as well as when the landlord or apartment building hired someone else to do the repairs.
6. Breach of Duty
When someone was injured due to a failure on the part of a landlord or apartment building who had a legal duty to repair their property. This includes duties arising from legal contracts or that were required by law.
Any one of these six common scenarios may form the basis of an injury claim filed against a landlord or apartment building by a tenant, guest, or other party who was injured due to an unsafe condition on their property.
Contact An Experienced California Personal Injury Lawyer
Landlords and apartment buildings have a reasonable duty to keep their properties safe, and can be held liable for injuries caused by unsafe conditions that they knew or should have known about. If you need help holding a landlord or apartment building accountable for injuries you sustained on their property, call our law firm today at (562) 901-4664 or visit our contact page to arrange a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Christopher Montes de Oca is an experienced personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles. Chris is recognized as a “Super Lawyer Rising Star,” a recognition that only 2.5 percent of lawyers receive, because of the exceptional results he has seen and his dedication to his clients. Chris services clients throughout Los Angeles, including Echo Park, Maywood, Long Beach, Whittier, Glendale, La Mirada, Pico Rivera, Hacienda Heights, and Alhambra. Call him today for a free consultation at (562) 901-4664.