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Can I sue if a ceiling collapsed on me after repairs?

Can my brother sue his landlord? My brother is renting a house and after a hurricane, he went back home once the lights came on thinking they had fixed the ceiling but the ceiling fell on him and hurt him. Apparently, they hadn't fixed it well enough. So is this the landlord's insurance or the people who fixed it responsibly?

Mar 24, 2025 Richmond, VA

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Ava Lynch
Director of Insurance Content

Ava joined The Zebra in 2016 as a licensed insurance agent and writer. She now serves as director of insurance content, leading coverage strategy and…

Credentials
  • 9+ years of Experience in the Insurance Industry

First off, I'm sorry to hear that happened and I hope your brother is okay.

In that situation, you would want to seek legal advice given there are several variables at play. The fault might be shared by both the landlord and the repair company but an insurance adjuster would be the one to determine fault in this case. If you're curious, we do have an article on landlord insurance that might give you more context.

Good luck and if you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask.

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