A property owner has a legal responsibility to keep their property safe and maintained. If you sustain an injury due to your landlord’s negligence, he or she may be held responsible for your accident. Read on to learn more about apartment accidents in New Jersey.
How do Apartment Accidents Occur?
Unfortunately, there are a lot of ways for an accident to occur in an apartment. Most accidents are due to:
- Inadequate lighting: When a landlord fails to keep his or her premises well-lit, tenants may trip and fall over the cracked pavement, potholes, or other safety hazards that they may have otherwise avoided.
- Poor weather conditions: Ice and snow can be extremely hazardous. As a result, ice and snow should be removed from the property within a certain amount of time. If your landlord is responsible for snow removal and does not perform this duty in time, serious accidents can occur.
- Damaged flooring: Protruding nails, loose floorboards, and torn carpeting are serious tripping hazards.
- Apartment pools: When negligent pool owners fail to install all necessary barriers, fences, and take other necessary safety measures, people can become seriously injured as a result. Landlords should always have “wet floor” and other hazard warning signs on hand.
- Broken smoke or carbon monoxide detectors: Landlords should always ensure their tenants have working alert systems. Failing to do so can be incredibly dangerous.
- Staircases in disrepair: If a handrail is not properly installed or secured, it may break loose from its fittings.
If any of the above occur, you may be entitled to recover compensation.
Fulfilling the Burden of Proof
If you have been injured due to another party’s negligence, you will have to provide proof that this negligence occurred. In order to do so, there are some important steps to take:
- Call 911. The police can send an ambulance, file an accident report, and more.
- Take photos and videos. One of the most important things you can do is document the scene of the accident.
- Seek medical attention. You should visit the doctor immediately after an accident occurs. This will ensure that your injuries are treated by a medical professional, while simultaneously providing you with proof of the origin and extent of your injuries.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an apartment accident in New Jersey, contact our firm to speak with a skilled and dedicated personal injury attorney today.
CONTACT OUR FIRM
Retaining an attorney after an injury-causing accident is the most effective way to ensure that you receive the compensation to which you are legally entitled. To learn more about how we can help you, call the Wilton Law Firm today at 732-275-9555 or send us an email through our online contact form.