In premises liability cases, determining who the at-fault party was is one of the most critical aspects of the case. You have to know who to pursue compensation from, and not knowing who to hold liable can complicate your situation. One of the areas of law that can make the case more challenging is property manager vs. owner liability.
Property manager vs. owner liability often occurs in places such as apartment complexes, condos, shared commercial businesses, and more. No matter the situation, though, you should have a lawyer on your side to explain the differences and hold the correct party accountable.
When Is a Property Manager Liable?
A property manager may be considered liable for a premises liability case when they know of a danger on the grounds but do nothing to fix it. Here’s a scenario that would make a property manager liable for someone’s injury on their premises:
- An apartment resident trips and falls because of a broken handrail on a staircase.
- The handrail is a known danger, and the property manager was aware of its existence.
- The property manager never reported the problem to the owner and never took steps to fix it.
Because the property owner did know of the dangers, they may not be liable for the damages.
When Is a Property Owner Liable?
A property owner may hold liability when they know of the dangers as well, but they don’t provide the means to fix it. For instance, a property owner may try to save money and tell the property manager to ignore the problem or provide a quick fix. It can still cause a serious injury in these situations, and the property owner may hold responsibility.
At Burnetti, P.A., our Florida premises liability lawyers put you and your rights first. We will work to help you obtain compensation and justice whether a property owner or manager causes you harm because of their negligence. Let us give you a voice.