Can Apartment Complex Owners Be Liable for Unsafe Staircases?
Tenants who live in duplexes, multi-story townhouses, or low-rise apartments rely on their landlords to keep staircases in working order and clear of debris. If you or a guest fell due to unsafe conditions, you may be able to sue your landlord. This will allow you to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses related to your fall. However, you must prove certain elements to recover damages or losses. At HGSK Injury Lawyers, our Lancaster slip-and-fall attorneys believe that injury victims should be informed of their rights.
Proving Liability in a Rental Property Slip-and-Fall
Lancaster landlords and property owners have a duty to maintain safe premises for tenants, visitors, or anyone who is legally allowed to use the property. A successful slip and fall claim involves proving the following:
- Duty of care: Landlords and apartment complex owners have a duty to keep a rental property free of hazards, to fix any defects, and to warn anyone who is legally using the property of potential dangers that cause a risk of harm. Landlords also have a duty to ensure that conditions are up to building code standards.
- Breach of duty: A landlord or owner who fails to maintain a reasonably safe condition for property users has failed to uphold their duty of care.
- Causation: You sustained injuries due to the defective property condition.
- Damages: As a result of the accident, you suffered physical, emotional, and financial damages. This may include permanent disability, emotional distress, and medical bills. You must suffer damages in order to file a lawsuit.
Duty to Warn
A landlord or apartment complex owner has a duty to post signage or to verbally communicate any known hazards that present a danger to others. If a property owner or landlord knows that a staircase has a broken step, uneven surface, or a loose handrail, they have a responsibility to inform you. Additionally, landlords and property owners have a duty to perform routine maintenance to ensure safe conditions. If the complex owner is neglecting the property, you may be able to take legal action.
Landlord Duties Under Pennsylvania Law
A Pennsylvania landlord has a responsibility to ensure that a property remains habitable for tenants and occupants. While your lease outlines your responsibilities as a tenant, it also outlines your landlord’s. The Commonwealth also outlines rental requirements and the responsibilities of a landlord, known as the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951. The Act requires that landlords inform tenants of their legal rights and what courts have jurisdiction over landlord-tenant disputes.
Why You Should Hire a Slip-and-Fall Attorney
Although tenants have a responsibility to pay rent when it is due, they also have a right to safe, sanitary, and livable conditions. If you were hurt due to an unsafe staircase or other hazard in your apartment building, our Lancaster slip and fall attorneys would like to speak with you. We will evaluate your case to determine the cause of your fall and what evidence can support a finding of liability. Our team of professionals will also investigate to see if prior slip and fall complaints were filed against the landlord or apartment owner. Knowing what claims deadlines apply, what supporting documentation should be submitted, and your legal options are all best left to our experienced team.
Contact Our Lancaster Slip-and-Fall Attorneys Today
If you have been injured due to an unsafe or poorly maintained staircase in your apartment building, do not hesitate to contact HGSK Injury Lawyers. Our Lancaster slip-and-fall lawyers have extensive experience in and out of the courtroom, knowing the challenges that come with each. You deserve full compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering, and our team of legal professionals is more than happy to help. To arrange your free consultation, our office can be reached online or by phone at (267) 551-8782 today.