I sliped and fell down my back step about 5 months ago, I broke a ligment and encured a large hemetobin. I was unable to walk at all it was only this month that I was able to use cruches. I was on heavey pain medications. which I paid for out of pocket. The landlord had new steps and porch put on about 2 years ago out of deck wood. When it rains the proch and steps become like ice I live on the top floor. My neighbors and mysef have complained to the landlord several times about the condition of the porch they have and nothing was done. after my injury they sent someone out and put some non skid matirial on the steps. A little to late. I have over $ 5000.00 in medicaial bills that are not paid I have deleted my bank account paying for medications and for home health aides. I am still in therpy today. I have spoken to several lawyers and have learned that it is hard to sue for damages for slip and falls. I am being therened by the medicial bill collectors and my credit is being danmaged
jennyann 4
If the step was in need of repair the land lord pays but if not You pay
vgordon_90
When the accident happened, did you or the police or the ambulance driver or anyone for that matter make a report to the landlord?
If so, you have a pretty good case. After all, you're not suing the landlord himself, you are suing his company. Their Insurance should be able to help cover the cost of most or all of your medical.
If there was no written report taken and presented to the landlord, you might be out of luck, though.
Sorry to hear you are on hard times, I wish you the best of luck.
mykidsmom
I'm so sorry that your landlord is so unreasonable and that you have sustained such painful injuries.
To address your desire to sue your landlord, I presume all of those attorneys told you that the reason it would be difficult to prevail in a suit is because the Court would attribute most of the responsibility for this unfortunate accident to you because you are responsible for being careful in hazardous situations. The clincher is that you knew of the unsafe situation, and it was incumbent upon you to exercise extreme care when walking on those steps. AND granted the landlord knew, but you did also.
Any attorney will represent you in a case if you are willing to pay for all of his/her fees and expenses--just show them the money. I'm guessing, though, that you are trying to find an attorney to take this case contingency fee (that's where he/she will agree to take on the case and foot all of the fees and expenses and then take 30% of the judgment only if you win).
You have probably been told a $ 5000 case isn't big enough to take on--30% of an award of $ 5000 is only $ 1500 (at $ 300/hr that represents only 5 hours of representation) and this case would take at lot more that 5 hours to resolve, in fact most litigation cases take at least 2 years to resolve and you are talking about hours spent on discovery, depositions, motions, court filings, etc., etc., etc.
Yes, it's unfair, but at this juncture the only option you have is to let your feet do the walking right out of that rental and find another place to live that is more renter friendly.
Orignal From: What are the civil responsibilities of a landlord when a tenant is injured on his/her property?
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