Landlords can only be held responsible for an injury if they have been negligent in maintaining a safe environment. There are many aspects that must be proven before a landlord can be found liable. When it comes to Florida personal injury law, it must be proven that it was the landlord’s responsibility to maintain the area where the injury occurred. It has to be shown that the landlord did not take reasonable care to prevent the accident. Giving warning and fixing the problems were injury occurred has to be within reason. The injury must be linked directly to the unsafe environment.
An example would be falling on a doorstep. The landlord must be shown to not have taken reasonable care when maintaining the common areas where the accident occurred. The repair would have been easy and inexpensive. The step was the cause of the injury and the tenant was really hurt.
Florida personal injury law allows a tenant to file a lawsuit against the landlord’s insurance company for pain, suffering, lost earnings, medical bills, and so on. A tenant can also sue for damage to property.
Landlords can prevent personal injury claims by following a standard of safety. It is advised to write a list and inspect the premises before new tenants move in. Fix anything that needs to be fixed. Encourage tenants to report problems immediately. Keep a log of complaints and repairs that need to take place. Make sure to handle urgent repairs as soon as you possibly can. Make sure to give tenants a checklist a couple times a year in order to report safety hazards that they have noticed.
It is advised that a landlord have comprehensive general liability insurance. This will cover losses and injuries that tenants may suffer as a result of unsafe property. This insurance will usually cover the cost of defending yourself in court with a Florida personal injury law attorney.
There are tips to choosing insurance. Make sure your insurance provides enough coverage to protect the value of all property and assets. Make sure that you have coverage for physical injury, slander, libel, discrimination, invasion of privacy, and unlawful eviction.
If you are a tenant who has suffered injury at your place of living, make sure to find a good attorney that is experienced in Florida personal injury law. It can be hard to go up against major insurance companies. Our attorney will help you build a very solid case to get the compensation that you deserve. Injuries can be very serious and disrupt your lie. You need compensation that will help you get through it. Let Florida personal injury law work for you with an attorney that you are comfortable with.
If you are a landlord who has had a claim brought up against you, know your rights and responsibilities as to what you need to do to make your property safe. Make sure you can show that care has been taken to prevent injury. Things happen even when they aren’t intended.
This is not legal advice.
Additional Legal Information: The Law offices of Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley. Personal Injury Attorneys serving West Palm Beach and nationwide.