What To Do If You Fall While On Your Landlord’s Property

Generally speaking, a landlord has an obligation to keep their New York rental property free of hazards that could cause a slip, trip or fall accident. If you are injured while living in a home or apartment complex owned by another person, you may be entitled to compensation.

The elements of a successful premises liability lawsuit

To obtain a favorable outcome in your case, you’ll need to show that your landlord violated his or her duty to provide a safe living space. You’ll also need to show that your landlord’s negligence resulted in actual harm. Finally, it will be necessary to prove that your injuries would likely have been avoided if the property owner had fixed a cracked sidewalk, loose railing or leaking roof.

What should you do if you’re hurt on your landlord’s property?

Ideally, the first thing that you’ll do after a slip, trip or fall accident is to visit a medical professional for treatment. It’s also a good idea to take pictures of the accident scene or compile a witness statement. To prevail in a premises liability case, you will likely need to show that your landlord was aware of the hazard that caused your injuries. Therefore, you may want to keep copies of emails, text messages or voicemails informing this person that there was a safety issue that needed to be rectified.

If you are hurt because of another person’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, medical bills or other damages in a personal injury lawsuit. This might be done by submitting photos, videos and other evidence to bolster your assertion that an accident was the result of the landlord’s indifference.