rental property in Brooklyn, NYC

Understanding the Liability of Landlords for Injuries on a Rental Property

Being a landlord can be a very challenging type of work because of ongoing property maintenance, dealing with tenants, and the potential of being held liable for various accidents. For example, landlords in New York can be held responsible for slip and fall injuries on a rental property and be sued for large sums of money if they fail to uphold their duties.

As a resource for landlords, tenants, and anyone who has suffered a personal injury on rental property, here’s what you should know about landlord liability and pursuing a lawsuit against a landlord.

Stair Injuries Due to Landlord Negligence

Among the most common types of landlord negligence cases that we see at the Law Office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum are stair injury cases. Many apartment buildings in New York City have stairs that have become worn down, broken, slippery, or unsafe for various reasons.

A tenant can pursue a lawsuit against the landlord by proving that the landlord was made aware of a stair hazard and ignored it, did not fix it in a timely way, or did not post warning signs about it.

Broken Floor Injury Due to Landlord Negligence

Many people in Brooklyn have been successful in pursuing slip and fall settlements after being injured because of a broken floor. Landlords have a responsibility to make reasonable repairs in the buildings they oversee. This includes repairing or replacing flooring that has become loose, cracked, peeling, broken, or poorly installed.

Meanwhile, tenants are responsible for notifying their landlords when they notice a problem with the flooring. But even if a tenant was partially to blame for a slip and fall on a rental property, it is possible for that tenant to still recover some monetary compensation for related injuries in New York.

Ceiling Collapse Due to Landlord Negligence

Ceiling collapses in rental properties happen more often in New York than you might expect, and landlords can be to blame for this type of structural failure. A collapsing ceiling can cause very serious injuries, including neck injuries, concussions, and brain damage.

The challenge with these cases is proving that the landlord knew about the warning signs of a potential ceiling collapse and did not take action to prevent an emergency situation. Photos to document the damage, copies of written requests asking for repairs, and statements from neighbors who also witnessed the situation can be very helpful for pursuing these cases.

Legal Help with Your Landlord Case

These are just three of the many types of situations in which you might suffer an injury on a rental property when someone else is to blame for your getting hurt. Our law firm specializes in handling landlord negligence cases and proving negligence based on the evidence and expert and witness testimony.

We are here to help you the process of investigating and pursuing a claim against the at-fault party or parties to help you pay for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. Contact us at 718-237-5586 or send us a message to get started and ask us any questions you have about the liability of landlords for injuries on rental properties.