When you rent a property, your landlord has a legal obligation to maintain the property in a safe condition and to take reasonable steps to protect you from accidents and injuries. If you’re injured on a rental property due to the landlord’s failure to meet this obligation, you may be able to sue them for damages. Here are some examples of less well-known incidents that you can sue a landlord for if you’re injured:
Slip and fall accidents: If you slip and fall on a wet or slippery surface on a rental property, your landlord may be liable if they failed to properly maintain the property or provide adequate warning of the hazard. This can include hazards such as icy sidewalks, wet floors, or loose carpeting.
Structural defects: If you’re injured due to a structural defect on a rental property, your landlord may be liable if they knew or should have known about the defect and failed to repair it. This can include hazards such as crumbling stairs, loose railings, or collapsing ceilings.
Inadequate security: If you’re injured due to a lack of adequate security on a rental property, your landlord may be liable if they failed to provide reasonable measures to protect you from foreseeable harm. This can include incidents such as break-ins or assaults that occurred due to inadequate lighting or security measures.
Lead paint: If you or a family member are injured due to exposure to lead paint on a rental property, your landlord may be liable if they knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to properly address it. This is especially important for children, as lead paint can cause serious health problems such as developmental delays, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems.
Pest infestations: If you’re injured due to a pest infestation on a rental property, your landlord may be liable if they knew or should have known about the infestation and failed to take reasonable steps to address it. This can include incidents such as being bitten by a rodent or insect, or falling due to tripping over a pest-related hazard.
Unsafe common areas: If you’re injured in a common area on a rental property, such as a stairwell or hallway, your landlord may be liable if they failed to maintain the area in a safe condition. This can include hazards such as inadequate lighting, broken steps, or loose railings.
- In Ohio, if a person witnesses an accident, they are not legally required to stop and provide assistance, but they are required to report the accident to law enforcement if the accident resulted in injury or death, or if the accident resulted in damage to property that is more than $400.
- Ohio law requires that the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident that resulted in injury or death of any person or damage to property of any one person to more than $400 shall immediately give notice of the accident to the local police department, county sheriff or Ohio State Highway Patrol.
- If a witness to an accident does not stay at the scene and provide their contact information, they may be charged with a hit-and-run, which is a criminal offense.
- Eyewitness testimony can be crucial in determining fault in an accident and can play an important role in any insurance claims or legal proceedings that may arise.
- If a person is unable to provide their contact information at the scene of the accident, they can still report the accident to the authorities within 24 hours.
- If a person is a witness to an accident and choose to stop and help, they should do so safely and not put themselves in harm’s way. They should wait for the emergency services to arrive and provide them with any information they need.
Did you know that Ohio has a Good Samaritan Law in place to protect individuals who provide emergency medical assistance? This means that if you come across someone who is injured and choose to help, you are protected from any potential liability as long as you act in good faith and don’t cause further harm. In a time of crisis, every second counts and this law encourages individuals to step in and potentially save a life without the fear of facing a personal injury lawsuit.
It is important to note that laws and regulations may vary depending on the circumstances, so if you are unsure of what to do if you witness an accident, it is best to contact the authorities. Also, if you are involved in an accident in Toledo, Ohio, it’s always a good idea to seek legal advice. Give us a call for a free case evaluation!
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