Brooklyn Apartment Building Accident Lawyer Helping Victims Recover

New York City, the most populous city in the U.S., has numerous apartment buildings to house nearly 8.5 million residents. However, when apartment buildings are not kept in a reasonably safe condition, accidents are bound to happen. Of more than 3.1 million occupied housing units in NYC, more than two-thirds are rented, and Brooklyn has the highest number of rental apartments in the city.  When renting an apartment, you put a lot of trust into your landlord to ensure the safety of the property. However, when your landlord fails to carry out regular inspections and/or make timely repairs to the property, you can suffer serious injuries.

If you or a family member has been injured in an apartment building accident in Brooklyn, you may be able to recover damages for the injury. At The O’Connor Law Firm, our Brooklyn apartment building accident lawyer can help you get the maximum compensation to which you are entitled under New York premises liability law.

Causes of Apartment Building Accidents

Unfortunately, some landlords and apartment building owners fail to comply with all applicable health, building, and safety codes in New York.

Failure to abide by safety codes and/or rental housing standards can make an apartment building a dangerous place to live. Common causes of apartment building accidents in Brooklyn and other boroughs of New York City include:

• Slip or trip and fall accidents on broken stairways
• Snow and ice on sidewalks or walkways
• Broken or missing railings or handrails
• Elevator accidents
• Collapsing balconies
• Assaults due to negligent security
• Use of inadequate or faulty building materials
• Faulty wiring
• Poor lighting
• Broken, missing, or loose steps
• Faulty or damaged stairs
• Improper maintenance of the building, sidewalks, and parking lots
• Faulty or broken locks or gates
• Bed bugs
• Exposure to lead paint
• Mold
• Faulty electric outlets
• Cracked or warped linoleum
• Uneven or damaged floor
• Torn or snagged carpets

Is My Landlord Responsible for My NYC Apartment Building Accident Injuries?

When a tenant gets injured in an apartment building, the accident may fall under New York’s premises liability law. Landlords have a legal duty to maintain the common areas in a reasonably safe condition. Common areas include:

• Lobbies
• Pool areas
• Stairwells
• Elevators
• Hallways
• Walkways
• Parking lots
• Laundry facilities
• Gym facilities
• Washrooms in lobby areas
• Common entrances and exits of the building

When a landlord fails to maintain the common areas in a reasonably safe condition, and a tenant or guest suffers an injury, the landlord may be held responsible for the apartment building accident injury.

It is advised to consult with a Brooklyn apartment building accident lawyer to investigate your case and determine if you have grounds to bring a lawsuit against your landlord, property owner, or another liable party.

Can I Sue My Landlord for Injuries Inside My Rental Unit?

In limited circumstances, tenants may be able to sue their landlord for accidents and injuries that occur inside the rental unit. While landlords are generally not responsible for injuries inside a rental unit occupied by a tenant, there are two exceptions:

1. You suffered an injury due to a landlord’s improper or inadequate repair;
2.  You were injured due to a dangerous condition that the landlord failed to remedy or fix promptly (as long as you notified the landlord of the condition prior to the accident).

New York has a series of “multiple dwelling” laws that address a landlord’s liability for tenants’ injuries in apartment buildings and rental units.

For example, Section 78 of the New York Multiple Dwelling Law mandates that every apartment building and other multiple dwellings are kept “in good repair.” The law states that the owner “shall be responsible for compliance” with the obligation to keep the property in good repair.

How Will My Brooklyn Apartment Building Accident Lawyer Establish Liability? 

In order to sue the landlord or the owner of the apartment building, you must prove the following three elements:

1. The apartment building or rental unit was not in a reasonably safe condition;
2. The landlord, owner or another liable party was negligent in failing to keep the apartment building or rental unit in a reasonably safe condition; and
3. This negligence resulted in your accident and injury.

You can prove your apartment building accident case by collecting the following types of evidence:

• Photos and videos of the hazardous condition that caused your injury;
• Medical records and documentation detailing the severity and nature of your injury;
• Contact information of any witnesses who saw your accident and can prove the existence of a dangerous condition; and
• Your letters or complaints notifying the landlord or property owner of the dangerous condition (or letters/complaints written by other tenants who alerted the owner/landlord of the condition before the accident).

Types of Injuries Caused by Apartment Building Accidents

There are different types of injuries that can occur as a result of apartment building accidents:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
• Concussions
• Back and neck injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken or fractured bones
• Soft tissue injuries
• Dislocations
• Lacerations
• Burn injuries
• Electric shock injuries
• Lead poisoning
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Smoke inhalation
• Wrongful death

Regardless of the type and severity of your injuries, you may be entitled to financial compensation from the landlord, property owner, or other liable parties. Speak with experienced Brooklyn apartment building accident attorney Brian J. O’Connor to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.

Getting the Full and Fair Compensation You Deserve with the Help of a Brooklyn Apartment Accident Attorney

The following types of damages are usually available to injury victims in apartment building accidents and other premises liability cases in New York:

• Medical expenses, including the cost of medical treatments, surgeries, rehabilitation, therapy, doctor visits, medications, and other health-related costs.
• Loss of income, including past and future lost wages, benefits, promotions, and employment opportunities.
• Pain and suffering, including compensation for physical pain, emotional suffering and distress, mental anguish, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, loss of quality of life, and other emotional and psychological trauma.

Contact The O’Connor Law Firm today to learn more about how we can help you to determine all available types of damages in your case. Our Brooklyn apartment building accident attorney at The O’Connor Law Firm will protect your best interests to ensure that you get the full and fair compensation for your injuries.

Schedule a free consultation with our experienced and results-driven lawyer by calling (718) 948-3500 or filling out our contact form.