Window Sash fell and injured tenant

[Edward Pulido]

I haven’t had a particular issue like this come up in a rental. Yesterday my tenant called me and explained that the window sash became unclipped and fell as he was raising it. Glass was everywhere and he somehow managed to cut himself all over his legs. I don’t want to say that I have doubts about the injury, but it is odd that all of the cuts on his legs are long and vertical. I will pay for the repair and replacement of the window, but he has told me that his employer is requiring him to take time off work and that his doctor prescribed some ointment that is going to set him back some. I understand laws are different in every state, but how far should I go or what would be a reasonable and fair way to approach this?

[Kyle J.]

There’s probably a number of different ways/opinions on how this could be handled. I’ll just tell you what I would do if it were me. 

It doesn’t sound like the tenant directly asked you for anything, so I’d just respond by saying something like “I’m so sorry to hear that happened. I hope you’re okay. I’ll arrange to have someone come over as soon as possible to fix that window for you.” 

And that’s what I’d do.