Landlords who fail to secure and maintain the properties they rent to tenants can be held liable for the injuries and personal property damage their negligence causes. An injury attorney in Las Vegas knows how to prove landlord negligence. He or she can use evidence including signed lease agreements, email communications, repair records, and medical records to establish a landlord’s negligence and the impact of the landlord’s actions on a tenant’s health and safety.
What Is Landlord Negligence?
A landlord may be considered negligent if he or she fails to make repairs, does not perform maintenance, or otherwise allows dangerous conditions to exist on a property the landlord owns. For instance, a landlord can refuse to fix leaky faucets or repair water damage to roofing, flooring, or wall surfaces that subsequently leads to the growth of black mold and the development of respiratory problems. A landlord can fail to fix a sidewalk or repair a stair that leads to a trip and fall accident. Or, a landlord can ignore problems with electrical wiring, gas lines, etc. that lead to a fire that causes a tenant burn injuries. In some cases, a property may have features that are structurally unsafe.
The law requires landlords to fix dangerous conditions in a timely manner. It also requires that any repairs or remedies adhere to applicable building codes and acceptable standards of safety. Landlords are required by law to take reasonable steps to prevent personal injury to tenants or their guests as well as to prevent damage to a tenant’s personal property. Further, it does not matter what the cause of the danger was, whether it was Mother Nature or a tenant’s actions that created the hazard, landlords who have been notified that a danger is present are required to take reasonable steps to alleviate the danger.
How to Prove Landlord Negligence with a Paper Trail
“Get it in writing” is solid gold advice for any tenant in Las Vegas. Leases should clearly spell out responsibility for property maintenance and procedures for reporting and handling property damage and any unexpected issues that may arise. Further, all communications regarding damages regardless of cause should be conducted in writing. This creates a paper trail that is easy to follow and shows the progression of events leading up to a personal injury. Nevada law allows tenants to pursue compensation for the personal injuries they sustain, injuries sustained by their guests on the property, and for the personal property damage they experience. Documenting damages helps determine how much a slip and fall injury is worth. A Las Vegas personal injury lawyer can help you prove landlord negligence in court and recover fair damages.
Can I Sue a Landlord For Injuries?
Yes. You can sue a landlord for injuries you sustain as a tenant or a visitor on his or her property. Landlords have a legal duty to keep their tenants safe by conducting regular inspections to detect and repair any unsafe amenities on their property.
How to Sue a Landlord for Negligence
One of the first things you should do after sustaining an injury is to contact the landlord. The landlord should then initiate claim proceedings with the insurance company. If the at-fault party or the insurance company refuses to cooperate, you can sue the landlord in a court of law.
To increase your chances of success when you sue a landlord for injuries, you need to prove the following:
Degree of Control
Landlords are legally obligated to maintain and repair their property to avert any potential danger to the tenants or anybody visiting it. The landlord is liable if he or she had some degree of control over the situation but didn’t act before someone got hurt.
Knowledge of the Hazard
You must prove that the landlord knew of the hazard’s existence long before you got injured. Some tenants may have filed a complaint, or the caretaker notified the landlord of the tripping hazard. In some cases, the property owner is presumed to have prior knowledge because he or she is supposed to conduct regular inspections.
The Accident Was Foreseeable
You should also prove that the trip hazard or whatever caused your injury is something a regular person could have foreseen. An example is a loose balcony guardrail which the landlord should have repaired to prevent accidental falls. The landlord has no case to answer if you could judge that the area was unsafe but chose to proceed.
Failure to Act
You must prove how the landlord failed to exercise reasonable standards of care to prevent tenants from being injured. This doesn’t necessarily mean the landlord should have taken drastic measures to avert the situation. The landlord should have acted in a manner similar to what another responsible landlord would in similar circumstances.
For instance, the landlord might have ignored a broken handrail on a regularly used staircase for months in full knowledge of the potential harm it might cause. Even if the defendant could not conduct quick repairs, he or she should have offered an alternative staircase to ensure tenant safety.
The Hazard Caused the Injury
You must clearly link your injuries to the potential hazard the landlord ignored for months or failed to repair despite knowing it might cause harm. Sustaining an injury on the staircase is not enough to prove that the loose handrail caused it. To link cause and effect, you must show how you held to the loose handrail, which gave way in full expectation that it was firm enough to hold your body weight.
Get a Personal Injury Lawyer
Knowing how to sue a landlord is not enough due to the complex nature of such cases. A personal injury attorney can offer legal advice, handle communication and negotiate the full compensation you deserve.
