I recently fell into an open hole in the backyard of the house I’m renting. The landlord had septic work done but didn’t close the hole, and I wasn’t aware of it when I moved in. I’ve been injured, need neck surgery, and can’t afford it. When I asked the landlord about filing an insurance claim, she ignored my calls and texts. A lawyer I hired initially dropped the case, and I’m unsure what to do now. How can I find out if my landlord has insurance to cover this?
If your landlord has a mortgage on the property, they likely have some form of homeowners or landlord insurance, but you’d need legal help to confirm it. A lawyer can send a formal request to check.
Brady said:
If your landlord has a mortgage on the property, they likely have some form of homeowners or landlord insurance, but you’d need legal help to confirm it. A lawyer can send a formal request to check.
Agreed. There’s a process called a ‘statutory demand’ that lawyers use to request insurance info from the landlord.
Brady said:
If your landlord has a mortgage on the property, they likely have some form of homeowners or landlord insurance, but you’d need legal help to confirm it. A lawyer can send a formal request to check.
If the house is rented, they might need commercial or landlord insurance, not regular homeowners insurance. Make sure your lawyer checks for that.
It’s important to act quickly so your rights aren’t affected. A personal injury lawyer can preserve evidence and investigate if negligence was involved.
Quinlan said:
It’s important to act quickly so your rights aren’t affected. A personal injury lawyer can preserve evidence and investigate if negligence was involved.
Exactly. The lawyer can also help determine if the open hole was considered a dangerous condition caused by the landlord’s negligence.
Unfortunately, landlords are often unresponsive when it comes to injuries. Filing a lawsuit might be the only way to uncover insurance details and move forward.
Sage said:
Unfortunately, landlords are often unresponsive when it comes to injuries. Filing a lawsuit might be the only way to uncover insurance details and move forward.
Yes, but most personal injury lawyers work on contingency, so you don’t pay unless you win. Definitely worth a consultation.
Have you documented everything? Photos of the hole, your injuries, and communication attempts with the landlord will be crucial if you decide to pursue legal action.
I’d recommend consulting another personal injury lawyer in your area. It sounds like you have a strong case if the landlord failed to maintain the property safely.