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submitted by Mari G.

The Injury Legal Team’s answer:

Sorry to hear about your fall.  The good news is that you do not have to sue your friend. Your lawsuit would be against the entities or people responsible for the garage. Generally, the apartment complex owner and the management company (if there is one) would be responsible for maintaining the common areas of the complex.  The garage is generally a common area. The only time your friend would have responsibility is if your friend did something that contributed to your fall. For example, your friend parked his/her car in the lot knowing it was leaking oil. You then slipped on a puddle of oil that came from your friend’s car. In that case, your friend would have responsibility and even if you did not sue your friend the apartment owner or other defendants would probably bring them into the lawsuit.

But absent some negligence from your friend that contributed to your fall, you don’t have to worry about suing him/her.

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