Atlanta Apartment Complex Negligence Lawyer

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Atlanta Apartment Complex Negligence Lawyer

Atlanta Apartment Complex Negligence Attorney

Property owners, including landlords, are legally responsible for ensuring their properties are reasonably safe and protected against hazards and security threats. Unfortunately, many landlords negligently maintain their premises or cut corners to save time and costs. This can significantly harm tenants, their guests, and their quality of life. If you have been injured because of a landlord’s failure to maintain your apartment premises, you need an Atlanta unsafe premises lawyer.

When you rent from an apartment complex, you pay for basic shelter and amenities. You also pay for any basic maintenance and security required to keep the building and property safe. When apartments are mismanaged and not maintained by slum lords who continue taking your rent, this can be incredibly frustrating. It becomes even more upsetting when you suffer serious physical injury or property damage because of negligent management.

Dangerous conditions in apartment complexes can result from improper maintenance and building code violations. These failures can result in broken-down appliances or unstable structures. Tenants can also be endangered by violent crimes. If landlords do not ensure necessary security measures, tenants and guests can be hurt. It is vital to enlist the help of an Atlanta apartment complex negligence attorney.

How Nichols Injury Law Can Help You

At Nichols Injury Law, we understand how scary and traumatizing it can be to face injury and criminal activity in a place where you should feel safe. Any personal injury can be painful and upsetting, but slum lord negligence and carelessness can worsen these feelings. We want to help you recover damages and get the help you need after apartment negligence impacts your life.

You may have been injured due to criminal assault, a slip and fall accident, or structural collapse. When these accidents occur, it is important that you find a team able to provide you with compassionate care and support and listen to your situation. The team at Nichols Injury Law is dedicated to our Atlanta community, and we want to help those who are wronged by landlords find justice.

We can investigate your case thoroughly and determine if your landlord acted negligently. As an experienced personal injury firm, we have the knowledge and resources necessary to improve your claim’s chances of success. A successful claim could provide you with the closure and financial recovery you need, as well as cover your losses for medical costs and lost income.

As our team investigates your claim and reviews evidence, you can rest and recover from your injuries. Our team has worked for years in personal injury, including security negligence and premises liability claims, and we can advocate for the justice you need.

What Is Georgia’s Premises Liability Law?

Under state law, business and property owners of both public and private buildings have the responsibility to protect those who are legally on their grounds from dangers and hazards. Customers in businesses, tenants in apartment buildings, and others visiting the grounds should have reasonable expectations of safety. Property owners must take reasonable steps to prevent and avoid harm and address any known hazards.

When an individual is injured or killed while on the premises because a property owner did not address known dangers or security breaches, the property owner can be held liable. A negligent security claim or apartment complex negligence claim could be filed against them.

Common Causes of Personal Injury in Unmaintained Apartments.

When landlords or property owners fail to maintain apartments safely or are negligent with security measures, tenants and guests can suffer harm. Some of the most common causes of personal injury include:

  • Slip and fall accidents. Uneven ground, low lighting, loose carpet, and broken hand railings can all lead to serious injury to guests and tenants. If a landlord fails to address these issues in a reasonable period of time, they can be held liable for slip and fall injuries that occur to tenants and their guests.
  • Floor and ceiling collapse. If an apartment building is not up to code, or damage from fires or water has not been properly addressed, there can be severe structural weaknesses. If these are issues that a landlord should know about but does not address, they can be held liable for collapses of tenants’ floors and ceilings. These accidents can result in property damage and minor injuries or crushing damage and other severe injuries.
  • Elevator crash. Apartment buildings with elevators must ensure maintenance of the elevator. Crashes and damage from a faulty elevator can cause serious injury and fatality.
  • Apartment fires. Landlords must ensure their properties meet fire codes and enforce any lease requirements to avoid fire danger from other tenants. Apartment fires can occur when landlords fail to take these measures and cause severe, debilitating, and disfiguring injuries.
  • Violent crime. Violent crimes include robbery, assaults, shootings, and homicide. A landlord or property owner is not always liable for criminal activity, but they are if they do not adequately protect their premises. To do so, they should follow steps such as security camera installation, proper lighting in alleys and parking lots, effectively locking doors and windows, and closing security gates.

Any accident or injury that should have been preventable with proper care from a landlord may qualify you to file a personal injury claim.

Proving that a property owner or landlord is responsible for crimes can be difficult, depending on the circumstances. You must prove that the landlord knew of a security threat or knew that there were similar crimes on the premises previously yet failed to take reasonable steps to prevent or solve the issue. Personal injury claims due to violent crime require an attorney with experience in both premises liability law and negligent security law.

What Is Negligent Security Premises Liability in Georgia?

Negligent security on apartment premises occurs when a landlord knows or should be aware of security risks or threats and fails to adequately and efficiently address the issue. This includes scenarios such as:

  1. Knowing about a specific security threat and not taking adequate steps to remove or prevent it
  2. Not ensuring the upkeep of an apartment complex, including lax security measures and protections
  3. Knowing that a location has significant crime or has seen an increase in criminal activity and failing to react accordingly

It can be difficult to legally determine what is considered a reasonable amount of time or a reasonable reaction to information. An experienced ATL Metro Area unsafe premises lawyer will be able to help investigate your unique situation and determine if you have a claim. They may be able to help you prove that your landlord was negligent in security or maintenance.

Common examples of lax security measures and negligent security include:

  • Inadequate or broken locks on doors
  • Broken or no locks on windows
  • Lack of security personnel or improperly trained personnel
  • No fences or gates to prevent criminal entry
  • No security cameras or improper upkeep of cameras
  • Low or no lighting in common areas, hallways, alleys, and parking lots
  • Failing to run background checks on tenants

Landlords can be held liable for injuries, deaths, emotional harm, and property damage that results from their negligence.

How to Prove Fault and Liability Due to Landlord Negligence

When you file a negligent security or premises liability claim against your landlord, you have the burden of proof in the case to show they failed in their legal responsibility for your safety. In order to have a successful claim, you must prove the following elements:

  1. You were on the premises legally as a tenant or an invited guest.
  2. The landlord had a duty of care to you as a tenant or guest.
  3. The landlord breached this duty through action or inaction.
  4. This breach caused the accident, injury, other incident, or resulted in criminal activity.
  5. Because of this incident, you suffered tangible losses that are recognized by the court, such as economic or non-economic damages.

An attorney can help find evidence for these elements. If you can prove that your landlord’s negligence contributed to your injuries, you can obtain financial compensation.

Can You Sue the City of Atlanta?

Whether you can sue the city of Atlanta depends on the circumstances surrounding a premises liability claim. If you were injured on public property, and this injury was directly caused by improper maintenance or a failure to address hazards, the property owner is liable. On public property, the owner may be a state or city government.

In these situations, you may have a valid claim against a governmental agency. However, it’s important to be aware that the time limit to file a claim against a governmental body is six months, which is much shorter than other timeframes.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Premises Liability in Georgia?

For premises liability, like other personal injury claims, the statute of limitations is two years from the date the injury occurs. The statute of limitations is the legal time limit that you have to file a claim. If you do not file within this time limit, you lose your right to recover damages and hold the at-fault party liable. It’s helpful to begin working with an attorney as soon as possible so you can give them time to investigate prior to filing the claim.

Dangerous Properties in the Atlanta Metro Area

These Atlanta Metro Area apartment complexes were listed in this recently published article as considered unsafe due to criminal activity, fire hazards, other safety hazards, and generally unsafe living conditions:

  • 1177 Joseph E. Boone Blvd. Apartments
  • 12th and James Luxury Apartments
  • 300 Riverside Apartments, formerly Concepts 21 Six Flags
  • 3112 Brookhaven, formerly Brookstone Crossing
  • 32Hundred Lenox
  • 33Ninety, formerly The Life at Marketplace
  • 4100 Glenwood, formerly Decatur Gardens, Peachcrest Gardens
  • 412 James P. Brawley Apts
  • 4371 Glenwood, formerly Austin Oaks, Glenwood Garden
  • 609 Allen Drive, Allen Drive Apartments
  • Adams House Apartments and 1890 Adams House
  • Adar at Golden Gate, formerly Terra Creek
  • Alexander at Stonecrest
  • Alexander at the District
  • Amani Place, formerly Edgewood Court
  • Amber Grove at Olley Creek, formerly Crescent Square
  • Apex West Midtown
  • Appletree Townhomes
  • Arbor Gardens
  • Arrowhead Townhomes by ICER, formerly Ashlar Townhomes
  • Ascent at Riverdale, formerly Noble Oaks and Twelve Oaks
  • Ashgrove Apartments
  • Ashley Cascade, formerly Ashley Courts
  • Ashley West End
  • 1177 Joseph E. Boone Blvd. Apartments
  • 12th and James Luxury Apartments
  • 300 Riverside Apartments, formerly Concepts 21 Six Flags
  • 3112 Brookhaven, formerly Brookstone Crossing
  • 32Hundred Lenox
  • 33Ninety, formerly The Life at Marketplace
  • 4100 Glenwood, formerly Decatur Gardens, Peachcrest Gardens
  • 412 James P. Brawley Apts
  • 4371 Glenwood, formerly Austin Oaks, Glenwood Garden
  • 609 Allen Drive, Allen Drive Apartments
  • Adams House Apartments and 1890 Adams House
  • Adar at Golden Gate, formerly Terra Creek
  • Alexander at Stonecrest
  • Alexander at the District
  • Amani Place, formerly Edgewood Court
  • Amber Grove at Olley Creek, formerly Crescent Square
  • Apex West Midtown
  • Appletree Townhomes
  • Arbor Gardens
  • Arrowhead Townhomes by ICER, formerly Ashlar Townhomes
  • Ascent at Riverdale, formerly Noble Oaks and Twelve Oaks
  • Ashgrove Apartments
  • Ashley Cascade, formerly Ashley Courts
  • Ashley West End
  • 1177 Joseph E. Boone Blvd. Apartments
  • 12th and James Luxury Apartments
  • 300 Riverside Apartments, formerly Concepts 21 Six Flags
  • 3112 Brookhaven, formerly Brookstone Crossing
  • 32Hundred Lenox
  • 33Ninety, formerly The Life at Marketplace
  • 4100 Glenwood, formerly Decatur Gardens, Peachcrest Gardens
  • 412 James P. Brawley Apts
  • 4371 Glenwood, formerly Austin Oaks, Glenwood Garden
  • 609 Allen Drive, Allen Drive Apartments
  • Adams House Apartments and 1890 Adams House
  • Adar at Golden Gate, formerly Terra Creek
  • Alexander at Stonecrest
  • Alexander at the District
  • Amani Place, formerly Edgewood Court
  • Amber Grove at Olley Creek, formerly Crescent Square
  • Apex West Midtown
  • Appletree Townhomes
  • Arbor Gardens
  • Arrowhead Townhomes by ICER, formerly Ashlar Townhomes
  • Ascent at Riverdale, formerly Noble Oaks and Twelve Oaks
  • Ashgrove Apartments
  • Ashley Cascade, formerly Ashley Courts
  • Ashley West End

Fight for Justice With Nichols Injury Law

At Nichols Injury Law, we want to give you the help and support you need to find closure after a premises injury. Contact our team today.

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