How Do I Pursue a Claim for a Slip and Fall in a Rented Apartment in CA?

When you finally find an apartment after months of searching, you may feel as though a weight has been lifted from your shoulders. However, the last thing you expect when coming home after a long day at work is to slip and fall due to a hazard in your apartment. Unfortunately, many are unaware of their rights as injured tenants. As such, if this reflects your circumstances, the following blog can help explore the common causes of these accidents and the importance of working with our Irvine slip and fall lawyers to explore your legal options during these difficult times.

How Do Slips and Falls Happen in Apartment Complexes?

Familiarizing yourself with the conditions that can result in a slip and fall is critical to protecting yourself to the best of your abilities. As such, the following are some of the most common causes of slips, trips, and falls in an apartment building or complex:

• Loose carpeting, tiles, or floorboards
• Stairs without handrails
• Inadequate lighting
• Debris left on the ground
• Unsecured wires
• Wet spots on the floor from spills, cleaning, or leaking pipes
• Unsafe conditions in the parking lot or walkways

Unfortunately, you may underestimate the severity of injuries you can sustain as the victim of a slip and fall due to unsafe conditions in an apartment complex. Common injuries include traumatic brain injuries, neck and spinal cord damage, broken bones, and soft tissue injuries, among others. In the event you are injured, it is imperative to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. You should also ensure you report the incident to the property manager or landlord of the building.

Can I Seek Compensation for Damages Sustained in a Rented Apartment?

If you are injured in your apartment, understanding how liability is determined is critical. In the event that the actual injury happens in your unit, seeking compensation can be difficult. For example, if you slip and fall on a rug you laid or wires you left on the ground, you would be unable to seek compensation as you are responsible for these unsafe conditions in your unit. However, if the unsafe condition existed before you moved in and your landlord is aware of the hazard but fails to remedy it, they may face liability.

In the event you are injured on the property but outside of your unit, it is likely that you can hold your landlord or property manager responsible for the damages you have endured. It is their responsibility to ensure that shared spaces in the building, like hallways, common areas, stairwells, and parking lots, are free of hazards and safe for tenants to traverse.

Sustaining an injury in the place you live can be devastating and incredibly difficult to navigate. The dedicated team at California Personal Injury Law Firm, APC, is here to assist. Our firm will examine the circumstances of your accident to determine the best course of action for your unique situation. Contact our team today to discuss your case.