When you are injured in a building, whether residential or commercial, you may assume that your injuries are just the result of an unfortunate accident. However, it’s important not to brush this off as an accident without inspecting the property further, as you may find that building code violations are the ultimate cause of your injuries. As such, connecting with an experienced Ouachita Parish, Louisiana personal injury lawyer is critical to fighting for the compensation you deserve during these challenging periods.
What Building Code Violations Can Lead to Injuries?
It’s important to understand the importance of building codes. These are regulations in place to help ensure the integrity of the building and that everyone inside is safe. Additionally, inspections are frequently conducted in commercial and some residential properties to ensure that the landlord responsible for maintaining the property is doing so. If there are issues, the state will help enforce the repair of this issue.
However, violations of these codes can result in serious injuries. For example, if there are structural integrity issues, such as improperly laying the foundation of the building or using defective or weak materials to save money can result in injuries if the building endures a collapse or partial collapse.
Other code violations include health and safety issues, like improper plumbing, faulty wiring, lack of exits, and inadequate lighting, all of which can lead to injury. For example, if you slip and fall because the stair treads in the building are not up to code, you can sustain serious injuries as a result of this negligence.
How Can I Hold the Landlord Liable for Injuries?
It’s important to understand that if you are injured on another person’s property, you must take the necessary steps to prove negligence on their behalf. Though it may seem as simple as showing that a building code violation directly leads to your injury, this is not always the case. You must also show that the property owner did not take reasonable measures to prevent an accident from happening.
For example, if there is a broken handrail in a staircase, a responsible landlord would block off that stairwell and direct those on the property to a different staircase, or post a warning to indicate that the handrail is broken. However, if they do not do this despite knowing the handrail is broken, and leave the staircase accessible with no measure to warn guests of the risk, they can be held liable.
As such, it’s in your best interest to connect with an experienced attorney who can help fight for the compensation you deserve when the negligence of another person leaves you injured. At Breitaupt, DuBos, & Wolleson, LLC, we will examine the circumstances of your case to help hold the landlord liable for their actions that led to your injuries. Connect with our team today if you’ve suffered because of another person’s failure to keep you safe on their property.
