Apartment living is the norm in New York City. In the most populous city in the U.S., high-rise apartment buildings are necessary to accommodate residents. Renting an apartment is a more affordable alternative to homeownership for most as well. In 2014, there were 3,400,093 housing units in NYC. In the coming years, several high-budge construction projects will take place to add even more. There is one question that every apartment resident should know the answer to, even before an accident occurs – who is liable for property-related injuries? After such an accident, come to our firm for legal advice.
According to the law, property owners must maintain reasonably safe premises for visitors. This includes checking for unknown hazards, repairing known ones, and warning of existing dangers that visitors might not notice. The law is different for landlords who rent apartments out to tenants. There are some cases in which the landlord may be liable for injuries that stem from property hazards and some where liability rests with the tenant. Assigning liability will depend on the answers to three different questions:
If your accident occurred on property your landlord controls or because of an element within your landlord’s realm of responsibility, and it happened because of his or her act of negligence, you likely have a lawsuit.
Bringing a personal injury claim is important for your future and the safety of others. A lawsuit can shed light on safety violations the landlord may have been guilty of for years. It can penalize the landlord for his or her actions and lead to improvements in the future. A suit could also lead to compensation for your past and future medical costs relating to the accident, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. To talk to an attorney about your apartment accident, contact us.