Can Landlord be Held Liable for Injuries on Property?

Jan 25,2018

If you are a property owner, you have certain responsibilities to ensure your property is reasonably safe. If an injury occurs on your property, you could be held liable for the damages. This also goes for landlords who rent their homes to others. If your tenant or a guest of your tenant is injured, are you as the landlord responsible for their injuries?

Landlord Liability depends upon several factors, including:

Prior knowledge. Did the landlord know about the problem and neglect to address it? If the landlord was alerted to a danger, such as a faulty handrail on the stars, and failed to address it in a timely manner, he could be held liable for an injury that resulted from that issue.
Posted warning. If the landlord knows about a dangerous condition and is planning to repair it, and has posted a warning sign to warn of the hazard in the meantime, the landlord should be safe from liability. The warning sign should comply with state guidelines regarding liability notices.
Reasonable time. It is reasonable for a landlord to need a few days to arrange for repairs. However, if he allows an unreasonable amount of time to go by before addressing a hazard on the property, he could be found liable for resulting injuries.
Involvement. In some cases, a personal injury might occur because of negligent actions of the landlord’s tenant. A property owner is not liable for the actions of their tenant, unless he had knowledge of the tenant’s actions. For instance, if a landlord knew his tenant was using fireworks on the property, and did nothing to address the problem, he could possibly be liable for an injury to a third party caused by the fireworks.

“Property owners who rent their homes to tenants must ensure their property is safe. Before you decide to rent out your property, make sure you understand your responsibilities so you can avoid potential problems,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the California personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, and Yucca Valley and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.