Fort Lauderdale Rental Property Injury Lawyer
Renters do not give up their rights to be free of unnecessary dangers. In fact, Florida personal injury law imposes duties on landlords to keep property reasonably safe for anyone they invite onto their property, including tenants. Unfortunately, many people are injured in common accidents, including falls or electrocution. Contact Spencer Morgan Law today to discuss whether you have a viable personal injury claim. Landlords should have liability insurance to pay settlements to victims, and a Fort Lauderdale rental property injury lawyer with our firm can seek damages in an injury claim.
Maintaining Safe Premises
Although a landlord rents out units, they are not relieved of their duty to keep the premises safe. In fact, the landlord maintains sole responsibility for the common areas, including laundry rooms, mail rooms, foyers, and the courtyard or backyard. That means the landlord must fix hazards they know about or any hazard they should discover if they were acting with reasonable care.
A property owner also has a duty to their tenants. They need to deliver a habitable unit and should fix obvious hazards before signing a lease. If the tenant discovers hazards—such as mold or faulty wiring—the landlord should also fix them in a reasonable amount of time.
Some landlords cut corners. To save money, they might delay repairs or hire someone to perform shoddy work. Consequently, many tenants or even visitors end up injured in certain accidents:
- Falls
- Electrocution
- Fires or explosions
- Toxic exposure (mold, lead, asbestos, etc.)
A landlord also might be legally liable if someone is attacked on the property, especially where the premises lack basic safety features like proper lighting or locks on doors and windows. Depending on the amount of crime, a landlord might also need to install locked fences around the perimeter or intercoms at the outside door.
At Spencer Morgan Law, we can represent tenants who are injured or even visitors who are hurt while stopping by. Ideally, you will reach out to an attorney quickly. There is a lot of evidence that needs to be gathered and not much time to do it. Further, some evidence is in the landlord’s possession or control.
After the accident, try to photograph or video record the hazard. That might be difficult if you were seriously hurt, but any type of documentation helps prove a hazard indeed existed. Our firm can then review whether the property owner took reasonable steps to protect you. If not, you can seek compensation.
Speak with a Fort Lauderdale Rental Property Injury Lawyer in a Consultation
Accident victims need personal representation when they are hurt. Spencer Morgan Law has represented accident victims for nearly 25 years, and we have recovered more than $100 million in settlements on behalf of our clients. We know premises liability law in detail, even though the law is constantly changing. If you have questions, call our office to connect with an experienced Fort Lauderdale rental property lawyer. Our consultations are free, and we don’t charge a fee until we win your case.