When a landlord is responsible for injuries

When injuries happen in a rented space in New Jersey, it’s very important to know if the tenant or the landlord is responsible for those injuries. Each case is different, but there are a few key points that can indicate that the fault lies with the landlord, such as:

– If proper maintenance was not carried out or if repair jobs were neglected, and if those problems then led to the injury.

– If the landlord knew about some hidden dangers and did not tell the tenant about them. This can also apply if the landlord did not know of the dangers, but it is determined that he or she should have known about them.

– The landlord did something to create a dangerous situation for the tenant.

Essentially, it all comes back to a basic principle. As a tenant, you have a right to live in a safe space where you don’t need to worry about injuries. Naturally, you may do things to accidentally injure yourself, for which the landlord is not responsible, but you should never have to worry about negligence causing you to be hurt through no fault of your own. By signing the lease and paying the rent, you and the landlord enter into an arrangement under which the landlord has a basic duty of care to you, assisting you when needed to make sure that the apartment is not inherently dangerous. When he or she fails in this regard, you might be able to seek compensation for your injuries.

After a slip and fall accident, consider the things listed above to see if the landlord was at fault.

Source: FindLaw, “Liability for Tenant Injuries and Insurance for Landlords,” accessed July 07, 2015