If you injure yourself in public, then you might find that there’s a responsible party upon whom blame might rest. But what if you’re injured in your home?
For renters, it might be that the landlord involved hasn’t taken reasonable steps that might have prevented the injury.
Let’s take a look at what to do when you’re in this situation.
Seek medical attention
Your first priority should be to remove everyone from the danger and to seek medical attention.
In some cases, this might be as simple as advising everyone that the danger exists, and to be aware of it.
Medical attention is essential for two reasons. Firstly, injuries that initially appear superficial might turn out to be serious. Secondly, the treatment you receive might help you to evidence any personal injury claim you later bring to court.
Report the incident to your landlord
Your landlord should be advised that the incident has taken place.
You can do this in person, or over the phone. However, it’s essential that a record exists of the notification, so be sure to follow up on these conversations with a written communication. This can be an email, a text, or a message on WhatsApp.
Provide as much detail as possible, and don’t be aggressive or rude. Remember that these messages might later be cited in a courtroom.
You should, where possible, take photos of the hazard that caused the injury. This might explain matters more clearly than any text message could.
Assess your legal options
It might be that you believe your landlord – or some other party – was negligent.
For this to result in compensation, however, you’ll need to demonstrate that the negligence was the ultimate source of your injury and that the landlord could reasonably have been expected to fix the problem before your accident.
If you’ve told your landlord repeatedly about the loose tile that fell on your foot, then they might be found negligent; if they were never made aware of it, your chances are lower.
The best approach is usually to get in touch with a specialist solicitor with experience in dealing with personal injury. They will be able to explain whether your case has merit and pursue it on your behalf.
Gather evidence
If you don’t have any evidence to back up your claim, then it is unlikely to be successful. Provide your solicitor with as much detail as you can find.
If there were witnesses to the accident, then make sure that you collect statements and contact details from them. Get medical records and reports, too.
You’ll also want to track any income you’ve lost as a result of your injury. This might help the court to decide how much to award you.
