When you do not think you have any rights left, you find out that you have more rights then you though, especially when you become injured due to someone’s negligence.
The scenario is as follows.
You are renting your home. One day you get into the shower and receive a scalding burn injury in your shower when you turn on the faucet. The water coming from the faucet was much hotter then it should have been, and you find yourself in the emergency room for burn treatment. You wonder at this point if you can sue your landlord for negligence.
You have the right to sue your landlord for compensation for medical expenses, anxiety, pain, and suffering. Your settlement can go beyond these mentioned, depending on your condition and many other factors. This incident is considered neglect on the part of your landlord.
Your severe burns can come from many sources, such as but not limited to the temperature of the water heater turned up too high or a faulty water heater. We do not know the whole story, but you may have to take time off from work. Maybe you were admitted to the hospital. In any case, you will have a mound of medical bills you did not foresee coming when all you wanted to do was take a shower.
You may need help paying emergency room bills, hospital bills, disfigurement, disability, mental distress, physical distress, loss of quality of life, dressings, medicine, lost wages, and more. There are many forms of compensation depending on your case. It is up to your personal injury attorney to sort all issues out. You deserve compensation.
You have no doubt suffered burns at some point in your life. These burns are painful, and you experience temporary pain. These burns do not create long-term damage. We are not talking about these types of burns. The injuries we are talking about leave the mind and body in undue anguish for many months or possibly the rest of your life. First, second, and third-degree burns, each level becoming more severe, requires more intensive treatment and long-term care.
Severe burns from things such as a shower can be life-changing. These injuries may require rehabilitation and medical care. Examples of these severe burns in addition to shower mishaps are as follows, fire, steam, hot liquids, hot objects, chemicals, radiation, to name a few can be as severe.
Responsibility of the Landlord
- It is the landlord’s responsibility to randomly check water temperatures in their rental units and make sure the water does not exceed 120.2 degrees Fahrenheit.
- It is the responsibility of the landlord to install anti-scald devices on all hot water lines. These anti-scald devices prevent hot water above 120.2 degrees to enter the hot water lines. The water may seem comfortable when you first turn on the faucet, but the water is pumped from the bottom of the water heater and can come out of the faucet seconds later much hotter.
- It is the landlord’s responsibility to label all hot and cold faucets. The tenant must take some element of responsibility before entering a shower or before putting a child in the bathtub. The thumb rule is to check the water temperature by using a wrist or elbow before placing the child in the tub water. Ensure your child cannot reach the faucets and accidentally turn on the hot water and get burned. Never leave a child alone in the bathtub, even for a few seconds. If this were a senior or a child that received this scalding burn, it would have been worse as a child, and seniors’ skin is fragile.
- Before a landlord rents out a property, they must inspect the property to make sure that nothing will harm the tenant, including the hot water system. The landlord is bound by law to provide the safest possible environment possible for the tenant.
Responsibility of Tenants
The tenant has a responsibility to report dangerous conditions of their rental home to the landlord, and the landlord has the responsibility to fix these dangers. If the landlord fails to fix what is wrong they are being negligent.
If you suffer scalding burns in your shower, you can hold your landlord legally responsible. You can file your lawsuit claim against your landlord’s insurance company for compensation. You have the right to sue for compensation for damages to personal property. Contact your attorney to handle all of the particulars of your case. Never speak with insurance companies; let your attorney handle the insurance companies.
You may wonder if you have a personal injury claim and you need to think about a few issues and consider such as,
- Did you suffer a significant injury from a shower burn that caused severe pain and suffering?
- Did you experience this injury because of someone else’s negligence?
- Can you show that this injury resulted in a financial loss because it took away your ability to earn a living?
If you can prove these three things, then the chances are excellent that you can file a lawsuit. We know that everyday accidents do happen, and most accidents are quickly healed and chalked up to a life lesson.
When an injury causes a significant pause in your life, pain, suffering, and mounting medical bills, you need a Philadelphia burn injury lawyer by your side to make sure you are well compensated.
When an accident caused by someone else’s negligence and becomes a serious matter requiring the assistance of a personal injury attorney you may have an excellent winning case. Never try to figure out specifics on your own. Talk the details over with your attorney to determine if you have a case for a lawsuit. Work with your attorney for the best possible and successful outcome.
