When living in an apartment, we trust that our landlords will keep the grounds safe. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. If the grounds are not properly maintained, tenants and guests can sustain life-altering injuries. Read on to learn more about apartment accidents, how they are caused, and what to do if an injury occurs.
How do Apartment Accidents Occur?
If an apartment is not properly maintained, there are a number of ways a serious injury can occur. 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: If the property is slippery after a rainfall, serious injuries can occur. It is important that your landlord takes precautions to ensure that this does not occur.
- Damaged flooring: This can include protruding nails, loose floorboards, and torn carpeting, which can be serious tripping hazards.
- Apartment pools: Pools are incredibly dangerous. If a negligent pool owners fail to install all necessary barriers, fences, and take all other necessary safety precautions, life-altering accidents can occur. To combat this, landlords should always have “wet floor” and other hazard warning signs on hand.
- Broken smoke or carbon monoxide detectors: One of the most important things a landlord can do is to ensure that their tenants have working alert systems.
- Staircases in disrepair: If a handrail is not properly installed or secured, it may break loose from its fittings.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim in California?
If you sustain an injury due to another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to recover compensation. In order to recover the compensation you deserve, you will have to file your claim on time. This deadline is known as a statute of limitations. In California, the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim is two years from the date of the accident. This may seem like a long time, but if you are recovering from an injury, taking legal action may be the last thing on your mind. To avoid missing any important deadlines, contact an experienced personal injury attorney right away.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an apartment accident in California, contact our firm today to speak with a dedicated personal injury attorney.
CONTACT OUR FIRM
When someone is wrongly injured in an accident, they often require financial compensation to heal. That’s where we come in. Contact the Law Offices of Brian J. O’Grady today to learn more about what our firm can do for you.
