Can You Sue a Landlord for a Slip and Fall Accident in Indiana?

When you rent an apartment or property from an Indiana landlord, you expect that they’ll keep up their end of the deal. When landlords don’t maintain the property, causing tenants to sustain injuries in slip and fall accidents, they can be held liable in a lawsuit.

Generally, Indiana slip and fall accident victims can sue a negligent landlord for injuries sustained in common areas and on a building’s property. Tenants can also sue for injuries sustained in their rental units, although this can be more challenging. That’s why it’s important to hire a skilled attorney. Your Indiana lawyer can give invaluable advice on what you should do in the aftermath of a slip and fall accident, like taking pictures and going to the hospital and help you recover the damages you deserve in a lawsuit against a negligent landlord.

We’re here to help Indiana slip and fall accident victims hold negligent landlords accountable. For a free case evaluation with the Indiana slip and fall accident attorneys at Wruck Paupore, call today at (219) 322-1166.

When Can I Sue a Landlord for a Slip and Fall Accident in Indiana?

If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident in your Indiana apartment or rented home, you may be wondering if your landlord is responsible. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may be able to sue a landlord in Indiana. Generally, Indiana slip and fall accident victims can sue a negligent landlord for injuries sustained in building common areas or outdoors on a building’s property. Victims may also be able to hold a negligent landlord accountable in a lawsuit for a slip and fall accident that happened within their rental unit, in some cases.

Injuries in Building Common Areas

Indiana landlords must maintain building common areas to ensure the space is safe for their tenants. If you were injured in a slip and fall accident in a stairwell or shared laundry room, for example, you may be able to hold a negligent landlord accountable in a lawsuit. Generally, to sue a landlord for injuries sustained in a common area, a victim does not have to have previously informed the landlord of hazards. That’s because it’s solely an Indiana landlord’s responsibility to maintain these common areas. However, the defect must be one that the landlord should reasonably have known about.

Injuries on Building Property

If you sustained injuries on your rental property’s sidewalk or parking lot, your Indiana landlord might be responsible. Many slip and fall accidents on Indiana properties are caused by ice. So, if a negligent Indiana landlord failed to properly salt and shovel sidewalks or parking lots, leading to your injuries, you may be able to sue them for compensation. While it may seem that any injuries sustained in a slip and fall accident on a landlord’s property are clearly the result of a negligent landlord, these cases are complicated and proving liability often requires skill and evaluation by experts in the area of building maintenance. Even if your case appears cut and dry, hire an Indiana slip and fall accident attorney to have the best chance of recovering damages.

Injuries within Rental Units

Perhaps the most difficult slip and fall accident lawsuit to prove a landlord’s negligence involves injuries that occur inside your apartment or rented home. Generally, injuries within your space are challenging to connect to a landlord’s negligence. However, if you informed your landlord of defects to your apartment, like a ceiling leak, and an Indiana landlord did not apply the necessary repairs in a reasonable timeframe, you may be able to recover damages in a lawsuit.

What Can I Do to Help My Slip and Fall Accident Lawsuit Against an Indiana Landlord?

It's important to do several things after sustaining injuries in a slip and fall accident at your Indiana rental. First, victims should take photos of the area to document the hazard that caused the injury. Then, go to the hospital so that you can get your injuries assessed. Keep any records of communications with your landlord, alerting them of a potential hazard, and inform them of your injuries. Finally, hire an Indianapolis slip and fall accident attorney to help you recover compensatory damages in a lawsuit.

Take Photos

Be sure to take pictures of the area in which you slipped and fell. Document the leaking roof, the icy pavement, or the uneven floors. Even if your landlord has security cameras throughout the building, don’t rely on the assumption that they’ll easily hand over footage that could ultimately prove their negligence. Take it upon yourself to snap some pictures. Such photographic evidence could be invaluable to your Fort Wayne slip and fall accident attorney during a lawsuit against a negligent landlord.

Go to the Hospital

It’s important that you go to the hospital immediately after sustaining injuries at your Indiana rental. Victims need to create medical records that attest to the severity of their injuries and their likely cause. These documents can be crucial in a lawsuit, especially when demanding payment of the full compensatory damages you’re entitled to.

Hire an Attorney

As soon as possible after a slip and fall accident in Indiana, hire an attorney. Your experienced lawyer will help you navigate the difficulties of suing your landlord for compensation. Suing a landlord can be uncomfortable and challenging, especially when a victim cannot move because of a current lease. Our Hammond personal injury attorneys can help you navigate any discomfort or issues during a lawsuit against a negligent landlord and help you recover the damages you deserve.

Keep Records

If, before your accident, you informed your Indiana landlord of hazards in the building or your unit, be sure to keep any records of such communication. This evidence can show that your landlord was indeed aware of the dangers on the property and failed to amend them, resulting in your injuries.

Report Injuries

Tell your Indiana landlord after you’ve sustained injuries in a slip and fall accident. Some landlords offer pathways for tenants to report injuries or other incidents, while others do not. If you’re unsure how to report your injuries to a landlord, ask your Indiana slip and fall accident attorney for guidance.

Call Our Indiana Attorneys for Help Suing Your Landlord for a Slip and Fall Accident

If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident in Indiana and believe your landlord is to blame, our lawyers can help. For a free case evaluation with the South Bend slip and fall accident attorneys at Wruck Paupore, call today at (219) 322-1166.