Who is responsible for an accident in a condo or apartment building?

Traditionally, property owners are one of the most common defendants in premises liability cases. If a property owner’s negligence caused an accident, he or she may be legally at fault for the accident victim’s injuries. In a condo or apartment building, however, other parties may also be liable for an accident.

Personal injury claimants may be able to pursue damages from more than one person or business entity. Here are a couple of other potential defendants in personal injury claims involving condo or apartment buildings.

Property managers

A property management company is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of many condo and apartment buildings. When a person sustains an injury in a common area, the property manager could be at fault.

Cleaning companies

Some buildings contract out janitorial services. A cleaning company may be liable for a dangerous condition such as a wet surface that leads to a slip and fall.

Residents

Even if the owner of a rental unit failed to keep it in reasonably safe condition, the unit’s tenant may be liable to guests for their injuries. Knowing about a dangerous condition and failing to warn a guest could constitute negligence. If a tenant was responsible for the dangerous condition or did not report it to a landlord, an injured guest may not have a strong cause of action against a landlord.

Ultimately, personal injury plaintiffs need to choose carefully when they decide whom to pursue for a legal remedy. The decision will likely depend on where and how an injury happened in a building.