Landlords are responsible for maintaining a safe property. By doing so, the chance of a tenant or visitor being injured is greatly reduced.
Depending on the state in which you live and the rental agreement that is in place, landlords may be responsible for liability in the event that a tenant is injured on the property.
Here are some of the most important questions to address:
— Are landlords typically covered by an insurance policy? This isn’t always the case, but there are insurance policies that compensate landlords in the event of a loss related to a tenant lawsuit. These comprehensive general liability policies are not always cheap, but many landlords purchase coverage.
— Is the landlord always liable for injuries suffered by a tenant or visitor? The short answer is no. Instead, for the landlord to be liable, the tenant or visitor must be able to prove several things: that the landlord had a duty to repair a dangerous condition, that fixing the problem would have been reasonably affordable, that the injury was caused by the condition, and that the injury was both probable and serious.
If you’re injured and are interested in seeking compensation from a landlord, you may be able to receive money for:
— Medical bills
— Pain and suffering
— Lost wages
— Emotional distress
— Disfigurement or disability
— Personal property damage
You never know if you’ll be injured as a tenant, so it’s a good idea to understand your legal rights. This will help you move forward in the appropriate manner should something bad happen.
Source: FindLaw, “Liability for Tenant Injuries and Insurance for Landlords,” accessed Jan. 04, 2017
Subscribe To This Blog’s Feed