A 35-year-old woman enjoying a date with a young man was killed when she fell off an apartment building balcony and died five years ago last month. This shocking apartment complex accident made headlines at the time because of the tragic nature of the mishap but today it reminds us that all landlords not only have a legal responsibility to maintain our homes, they have a moral obligation as well.
The woman, an ad executive who lived on the 16th floor of an apartment building in Midtown, had just brought her date back to her apartment moments before and decided to step out on the narrow balcony to enjoy the evening air. She leaned against an unsteady railing, the railing gave way, and she fell 15 floors onto construction scaffolding below.
In the aftermath of this tragic apartment accident in Manhattan, the New York City Department of Buildings involved an immediate vacate order for all balconies in the building until each one could be inspected for similar safety violations.
New York City premises law requires owners and landlords of all buildings over six floors to regularly inspect their exteriors-including balconies and railings-for safety deficiencies. However, the records kept by the Department of Buildings found that hundreds of facades and balconies in New York had not been inspected for years.
When landlords fail to perform their legal duty to protect residents and visitors to their apartment buildings, they can be held legally and financially liable for any injuries (or deaths) caused by the negligence. In the aftermath of an apartment complex accident in New York, victims can seek compensation for pain and suffering, unpaid medical bills and lost wages,
If you’ve been injured by shoddy maintenance, faulty repairs, or neglect on the part of a landlord, you may have legal options available to you. Contact an experienced apartment complex accident attorney in New York City today. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 for your free consultation.