Slip and fall injuries are devastating and unexpected injuries. Depending on the extent of your injury, you may find yourself unable to work and trying to find some way to support your family and pay off your costly medical bills. If you’ve fallen at your apartment through no fault of your own, then you might be eligible to file a premises liability lawsuit.
However, because premises liability suits have their own specific requirements that can differ from other sorts of personal injury laws, it’s important to examine these cases more closely. Learn about what you should do after you’ve fallen at your apartment complex and how you can get help from a local premises liability lawyer.
What Type of Evidence Do You Need?
The one common thread in all personal injury lawsuits, including premises liability cases, is the need to prove negligence. In order to receive any form of compensation, you will need to prove that your slip and fall was the result of the negligence of another. In a premises liability case involving apartment complexes, that at-fault party is almost always your landlord, who is the person that is legally responsible for providing a safe living environment.
When gathering evidence in your personal injury suit, it’s important that you collect any proof that demonstrates that your landlord was aware of unsafe conditions and that they either did nothing to correct it or were directly responsible for causing the unsafe situation in the first place.
Falls that Happen in Common Areas
After touching on the basics, it’s time to look at one of the most common forms of slip and fall injuries related to apartment complexes: Falls in common areas. Common areas can refer to anywhere in the apartment complex that is not your apartment, including park lots, sidewalks and pool areas.
Slip and fall accident in common areas usually occur more often in the winter time due to the presence of ice and snow. However, an icy sidewalk that leads to an injury is not always grounds for a lawsuit. For example, not all apartment leases provide for the maintenance of common areas, and if your landlord is not bound by your lease to keep common areas clear from hazards, it will be difficult for you to win a premises liability suit.
Falling in Your Apartment
It’s possible that your apartment complex fall occurred inside of your apartment, and if this is the case, then it can be very difficult for you to prove fault to the extent you would need for a premises liability suit. Generally speaking, a person is responsible for their own safety in their own home, which means you would need to be able to demonstrate a gross level of negligence for your landlord to be responsible for your injuries.
A perfect instance of falls in your apartment that your landlord might be responsible for is if you’ve been experiencing a water leak. If a pipe in your apartment has been leaking water and your landlord was notified but failed to do anything about it, then they may be responsible for your fall and the resulting injuries. If you’re unsure about the presence of fault in your case, it’s a good idea to consult a premises liability lawyer for help.
Seek Advice from a Premises Liability Lawyer
Before you file your personal injury lawsuit, you should consult with an experienced premises liability attorney from Lowry & Associates. Our legal team has the experience and knowledge necessary to effectively try your case and get you the compensation that you deserve. Contact us today at 207-775-3819 or fill out our free case review form.