Premises Liability Attorney for Apartment Complex Injuries in Michigan

Premises Liability Attorney for Apartment Complex Injuries in Michigan

Your apartment should be your safe place—not a danger zone. But in Michigan, too many tenants and guests are hurt every year because landlords ignore basic safety. Icy sidewalks, broken stairwells, busted lights, and unrepaired hazards turn everyday routines into emergency room visits.

At Marko Law, we represent people who were injured at apartment complexes—because no one should pay rent and pay the price for someone else’s negligence.

We see it all:

• Tenants slipping on unshoveled snow outside their door
• Visitors falling down staircases with broken railings
• Children injured due to poor lighting in common areas
• Seniors hurt by uneven pavement or missing handrails
• Residents assaulted because security gates were left unlocked

These aren’t just accidents—they’re often violations of Michigan premises liability law. When landlords fail to keep common areas safe, when they ignore repair requests, or when they cut corners to save money, they put people at risk. And that’s when we step in.

We fight for injured renters, guests, and families across Michigan apartment buildings, condos, and housing complexes. If you were hurt where you live—or visiting someone else’s building—you may have a legal case. We’ll help you get answers, get justice, and get paid.

Understanding Premises Liability in Michigan

Landlords Have a Legal Duty

Under Michigan law, landlords and property owners are required to keep common areas reasonably safe. That includes:

• Sidewalks, parking lots, and stairwells
• Entryways, elevators, and hallways
• Laundry rooms, community areas, and lighting

They must regularly inspect the property, repair hazards, and warn about dangers they know—or should know—about.

“Reasonable Care” Standard

The legal test is whether the landlord used “reasonable care.” If they knew about a broken step, icy entrance, or busted light—and didn’t fix it in time—they may be found negligent. Even worse, if tenants complained and the landlord still did nothing, that’s a slam dunk for liability.

Who Can File a Claim?

It’s not just tenants who can sue. Michigan law allows any lawful visitor—including:

• Family or friends visiting
• Delivery drivers or contractors
• Babysitters, maintenance workers, or postal employees

If the property owner’s failure to maintain safe conditions led to your injury, you may be entitled to compensation.

Comparative Fault in Michigan

Even if you’re partly blamed for the accident, Michigan’s comparative fault system means:

• You can still recover damages
• Your award may be reduced by your percentage of fault
• If you’re less than 51% at fault, you still have a case

Insurance companies will try to blame you. At Marko Law, we push back hard—with evidence, with experts, and with courtroom firepower.

Special Protections for Tenants Under Michigan Law

Michigan Housing Code & Building Safety

Every residential building in Michigan must meet local and state housing codes. That includes:

• Safe staircases with handrails
• Proper lighting in common areas and hallways
• Functioning smoke detectors and fire exits
• Sanitary and structurally sound conditions

When landlords ignore these codes, they’re not just being lazy—they’re being legally negligent. And we hold them accountable.

Right to Safe Entry & Exit

Michigan law guarantees tenants the right to safe ingress and egress—meaning:

• You must be able to safely enter and exit your apartment
• Sidewalks, stairwells, and entrances must be kept free of snow, ice, and obstacles
• Emergency exits must be functional and accessible at all times

If you were injured while coming or going from your home, you may have a claim under this right alone.

MDHHS Standards for Low-Income Housing

If you live in Section 8 or subsidized housing, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has additional housing standards:

• Required inspections for safety and livability
• Mandatory repairs within a set timeframe
• Legal recourse for unaddressed complaints

Landlords who accept public housing funds must meet these standards—and when they don’t, it opens the door for civil claims.

Federal Protections for Disability Accommodations

Under the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), tenants with disabilities have the right to:

• Request reasonable accommodations (e.g., ramps, grab bars, parking access)
• Receive timely responses from management
• Live free from discrimination or retaliation

If you were hurt because a landlord denied or delayed an accommodation, you may be entitled to both injury damages and civil rights compensation.

Who Can Be Held Liable

Landlords and Property Owners

The buck stops here. Landlords are legally responsible for:

• Maintaining safe common areas
• Responding to repair requests in a timely manner
• Complying with Michigan building codes and safety regulations

When they ignore problems or cut corners to save money, they expose tenants to serious risk—and they can be sued.

Property Management Companies

Often, landlords outsource daily operations to property managers. These companies are responsible for:

• Inspecting and maintaining the property
• Responding to complaints
• Scheduling repairs and snow removal

If they fail to uphold basic safety, we go after them too—especially when communication breakdowns or neglect cause injury.

Maintenance Crews and Contractors

Plumbers, electricians, snow removal teams, and third-party vendors all have a duty to do their jobs safely. If a contractor:

• Fails to salt icy walkways
• Leaves tools or debris in high-traffic areas
• Does shoddy repair work that causes a fall or fire

They can be individually liable for the harm they caused.

Security Companies

In cases of assault, break-ins, or violence on the property, we investigate whether the security provider:

• Ignored known threats or criminal activity
• Failed to patrol as contracted
• Let security systems lapse or go offline

Negligent security claims are serious—and so are the companies we pursue when they fail to protect tenants.

Other Tenants

If another tenant’s dog attacks, their clutter blocks a hallway, or their actions directly caused your injury, they too can be held liable. These claims are often part of a broader lawsuit involving the property owner.

Evidence That Can Strengthen Your Case

Photos of the Hazard

Pictures taken right after your injury are gold in a premises liability case. Whether it’s:

• Ice on the sidewalk
• A broken stair tread
• Poor lighting or missing handrails
• Debris or spills in common areas

Clear images can show what went wrong and how obvious the danger was. We also revisit the scene to take measurements, inspect conditions, and document what the landlord failed to fix.

Medical Records & Accident Reports

Emergency room visits, doctor’s notes, and physical therapy records help us:

• Link your injuries directly to the incident
• Show the severity and long-term impact
• Prove that you sought timely medical attention

If EMS responded or a police or building report was filed, we pull that too—it helps connect the dots for juries and insurers.

Witness Statements

Other tenants, delivery workers, or visitors may have:

• Seen the accident happen
• Reported the same hazard before you were hurt
• Filed previous complaints about the landlord’s negligence

We track down and interview witnesses, then preserve their testimony to support your claim and show a pattern of neglect.

Maintenance Logs & Repair Requests

We subpoena maintenance records, tenant complaints, and service logs to find out:

• When the landlord knew about the hazard
• Whether they tried (and failed) to fix it
• If they ignored warnings from contractors or inspectors

This internal paper trail often proves they knew—and didn’t care.

Surveillance Camera Footage

Many apartment complexes have cameras monitoring entrances, parking lots, and common areas. If your incident was caught on tape, we demand that footage immediately—before it’s deleted or lost.

Video evidence can be a game-changer, showing exactly how and why you were injured.

Call Marko Law—Your Safety Should Never Be Optional

When you pay rent, you’re not just buying a roof over your head—you’re buying safety, security, and the basic right to live without fear of injury. If your landlord cut corners, ignored complaints, or failed to fix dangerous conditions, they didn’t just break your trust—they may have broken the law.

At Marko Law, we take these cases personally. We’ve seen too many Michigan tenants suffer because someone couldn’t be bothered to salt a sidewalk, fix a stair, or secure a building entrance. Whether you slipped on ice, fell in a dark stairwell, or were injured due to poor maintenance, we’re ready to go to war for your recovery.

And we don’t stop at “covering costs.” We go after full justice—pain, lost income, future care, and every damage you deserve.

Contact Marko Law for a Free Case Evaluation

📞 Phone: +1-313-777-7777
📍 Office: 220 W. Congress, 4th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226
🌐 Website: www.markolaw.com