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Have you or a loved one suffered burn injuries as a result of a landlord’s negligence? If so, you may be wondering if you can pursue compensation to cover medical bills and other damages. This blog post will provide an overview of when a tenant can sue for burn injuries due to their landlord’s negligence, how they can prove that the landlord is liable, how landlords try to avoid liability, and how an experienced personal injury attorney can help.
Types of Negligent Acts That Lead to Burn Injuries
Burn injuries occur in many different ways. Some of these include:
- Electrical shocks from faulty wiring or appliances;
- Faulty stoves, furnaces, hot water heaters, or boilers causing fires;
- Chemical burns from hazardous materials such as asbestos;
- Inadequate maintenance leading to scalding water from water heaters or pipes.
In order for a tenant to have grounds for a lawsuit against their landlord for burn injuries, it must be proven that the landlord was negligent in some way.
Proving Negligence On The Landlord’s Part
In order to prove negligence on the part of the landlord, the injured tenant must show that the injury occurred due to unreasonably dangerous conditions on their rental property—conditions which should have been identified by either regular inspections or through responding reasonably quickly following a complaint by the tenant. The tenant must then also prove that they were unaware of these dangerous conditions prior to suffering their injuries. Additionally, tenants may also need evidence showing that their landlord failed to maintain the property according to local codes and standards.
Landlords Avoiding Liability
Landlords often use certain tactics in an attempt to avoid liability in cases like this. One common tactic is attempting to shift blame onto the tenant by claiming they knew about any potential hazards but failed to inform them.
Another tactic is trying to claim that any defects were caused by previous tenants rather than improper maintenance on behalf of the current landlord.
Burn Injury Attorneys in San Francisco, CA at Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn
No one should have to suffer burn injuries due to another party’s negligence—especially when it comes from someone who is responsible for maintaining safe living conditions, such as landlords. If you are considering filing a lawsuit against your current or former landlord for burn-related injuries sustained as a result of their neglect, it is important that you understand your rights and options before taking legal action. An experienced personal injury attorney can help protect your interests and ensure that all relevant evidence is gathered and presented effectively, so you get maximum compensation for your damages and losses.
If you’ve suffered a burn injury due to the negligence of a landlord, contact us today at (415) 940-7176 or fill out our form online.