Property Management Liability For Burn Injuries
Living in an apartment complex has its benefits. If you ever need help or have an emergency, your neighbors are only a door away if you need them. There’s a sense of community in an apartment complex because of the proximity.
Living in an apartment saves you money. Because you’re not paying property taxes, making payments on a mortgage loan, or paying other fees associated with owning a home, living in an apartment allows you to save thousands of dollars a year.
Like living anywhere, there are risks involved living in an apartment complex. Fires, natural disasters, gas leaks, and other dangerous situations could cause injuries to you and your family.
If you suffered injuries related to fire-related burns, electrical burns, or any other burn injuries on the property, due to no fault of your own, the property management company may be liable and you may be compensated.
There are certain steps you must take to seek legal justice and the compensation you deserve.
Filing A Claim
The first step to a lawsuit is filing a claim. You must file a claim for your injuries. You only have so much time to file a claim and must provide the details of the event.
Legal Terminology
Before filing a claim for your burn injuries, there are important legal terms you should know. Understanding the definition of these terms will also help you understand the court proceedings better and further enable you to understand the process of your case.
Defendant
The property management company is the defendant in this type of case.
Liability
Liability refers to the legal term that defines the defendant’s legal responsibility for their actions.
Plaintiff
If you sue the property management company that owns the apartment complex you live in and received injuries from, you are the plaintiff.
Statute Of Limitations
The statute of limitations is the law that sets the maximum time one can wait before suing or filing a claim, depending on their claim or case.
The statute of limitations varies in each state. For example, the statute of limitations in California is one to three years, depending on the crime or case.
Remember, each state’s statute of limitations may differ, so research the state’s statute of limitations you wish to file a claim in before filing a claim and speaking with an attorney.
Lawyer
A lawyer or attorney is a state certified legal representative that will handle your case. You will need a burn injury lawyer to represent you in court. It’s a lot easier to win your case with legal representation versus representing yourself. A lawyer will help you through the court process and speak on your behalf.
To find the best attorney for your specific case, research different burn injury law firms in your area. For example, if you live in California and are filing a claim to be compensated for your injuries, search “burn injury attorneys Los Angeles” and find the most reputable and experienced law firm available to you.
Damages
Damages, like a settlement, refer to the monetary rewards given to the plaintiff for the injuries caused by the defendant.
Tort
A tort is an act that causes harm or injury to another party and is considered a civil wrong by the courts. The courts impose a tort as a liability and the defendant is responsible for that liability.
Negligence
Negligence is considered a tort law and responsibility falls on the defendant. Negligence is defined as the failure to provide a duty of care.
A duty of care is a legal term that refers to the legal obligation that is imposed. For example, a property management company has a duty of care imposed on them and a legal obligation to provide that duty of care.
If they fail to comply with this law, it is considered negligence. If the property management company is negligent, they are prone to get sued and could be liable for paying monetary rewards to all the defendants they harmed.
In an instance where an apartment complex catches fire and the reason the building started on fire was because of faulty wires, the property management would be found guilty of negligence and all the tenants who were injured would receive compensation.
