Unsafe Property Can Change Your Life in a Moment
A normal day in Delaware County can turn painful in seconds. You might be walking through a grocery store, climbing stairs at an apartment, or cutting through a parking lot on your way to work. Then your foot hits a wet patch, broken step, or loose mat, and you are suddenly on the ground, stunned and hurt.
Property owners in Pennsylvania are not allowed to ignore those dangers. They have a legal duty to keep their buildings, sidewalks, stairways, and parking areas reasonably safe for people who are allowed to be there. When they skip maintenance, delay repairs, or look the other way at known hazards, and you get injured as a result, a premises liability claim may be the only way to cover the cost of healing.
A premises liability lawyer in Delaware County, PA can step in to investigate what happened, gather proof, and hold the owner, manager, or company responsible for the dangerous condition that caused your injuries.
What Is Premises Liability?
Premises liability is the part of injury law that deals with unsafe property. It applies to places like stores, restaurants, hotels, offices, apartment buildings, schools, and even private homes when guests are invited in. The key question is whether the owner or occupier acted reasonably to keep visitors safe.
That usually means inspecting the property regularly, fixing hazards within a fair amount of time, and warning visitors when something cannot be repaired right away. It also means thinking ahead about lighting, security, and basic maintenance, instead of waiting until someone gets hurt.
If a property owner or manager fails to take those basic steps and a visitor is injured by a hazard that should have been fixed or clearly marked, the victim may have a valid premises liability case.
Common Premises Liability Situations in Delaware County
Premises liability cases in Delaware County cover many types of unsafe conditions. One of the most common is a slip and fall. These often happen when spills are left on tile, water is tracked in from snow or rain, floors are freshly mopped with no warning sign, or smooth surfaces become slick with grease or cleaning products.
Trip and fall accidents are also common. These can be caused by broken or uneven sidewalks, loose rugs, cluttered store aisles, cords stretched across walkways, or raised thresholds that catch a person’s toe. A sudden fall like this can easily break bones or damage the spine.
Stairway accidents are another frequent source of claims. Loose or missing handrails, uneven steps, poor lighting, or worn treads can cause a person to lose balance and tumble down a flight of stairs.
Some cases involve negligent security. If a property has a history of crime and the owner fails to provide basic security, lighting, or locks, a visitor who is assaulted or robbed on the property may have a claim for the owner’s failure to provide a reasonably safe environment.
Other claims may involve falling merchandise, unstable shelves, broken railings on balconies or decks, uncovered holes, or unsafe conditions around pools and common areas in apartment complexes.
Why Your Status on the Property Matters
Pennsylvania law looks at why you were on the property when deciding what the owner owed you. If you were a customer in a store or a client in an office, you are usually considered an invitee. Owners owe invitees the highest level of care. They should actively look for dangers, fix them quickly, and warn about hazards they know or should know about.
If you were a social guest at someone’s home, you are usually considered a licensee. The owner still has duties but may not have to search for every possible danger. They must warn about hazards they know about that are not obvious.
Trespassers, people on the property without permission, usually get less protection. Owners generally must avoid intentional harm, and special rules can protect children from certain features like unfenced pools or abandoned structures.
A Delaware County premises liability lawyer will look closely at why you were on the property, what the owner knew about the hazard, and how long it existed before you were hurt. Those details help shape the strength of your claim.
Proving a Premises Liability Case in Pennsylvania
To succeed in a premises liability case, you usually have to show that the owner or manager failed to act like a reasonably careful property owner under the same circumstances. That often means proving that a dangerous condition existed, that the owner created it or knew about it, or that it was present long enough that the owner should have discovered and fixed it.
You also have to show that the hazard caused your injury and that you suffered real harm. Harm can include medical bills, time off work, pain, and long term limits that change your daily life.
Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule. If you are found partly responsible for what happened, your compensation can be reduced by your share of fault. If you are more than 50 percent at fault, you usually cannot recover money. A lawyer’s job is to push back when insurers try to place unfair blame on you.
Injuries Often Caused by Unsafe Property
Falls and other property-related accidents can cause serious injuries. Broken ankles, wrists, or hips are common when people try to catch themselves during a fall. Head injuries, including concussions and more severe brain trauma, can occur when the head strikes the ground or an object.
Many people suffer back and neck injuries, such as herniated discs, soft tissue damage, or nerve problems that lead to chronic pain, numbness, or weakness. Torn ligaments in knees or shoulders can require surgery and long rehabilitation. Deep cuts and scarring may change a person’s appearance and confidence.
These injuries can lead to missed work, reduced income, and a long stretch of medical visits, therapy sessions, and daily pain.
Steps to Take After a Slip or Trip on Someone Else’s Property
What you do right after an accident can strongly affect your claim. First, seek medical care as soon as you can. Some injuries are not obvious right away, and a prompt exam creates a clear record of your condition.
Second, report the incident to the property owner, manager, or on-site security. Ask that a written report be made and request a copy if possible.
Third, if you are able, take photos of the hazard, the surrounding area, and your injuries. Try to capture lighting conditions, the exact spot where you fell, and any warning signs or lack of them.
Fourth, get the names and contact information of any witnesses who saw the fall or the dangerous condition.
Finally, speak with a premises liability lawyer in Delaware County, PA before giving a recorded statement or signing any forms from the property owner’s insurance company. Early advice can keep you from saying something that could be used to weaken your case later.
What Compensation May Be Available
A premises liability claim can help you seek payment for both financial losses and personal harm. That may include emergency care, hospital stays, follow up visits, physical therapy, and future treatment you may need.
You can also pursue payment for lost wages if you miss work and for reduced earning capacity if you cannot return to the same kind of job. Out of pocket costs, such as travel to medical appointments or the need to hire help at home, may also be part of your claim.
On top of that, you may be entitled to money for pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and the ways your injuries limit hobbies, family activities, and daily tasks. In rare situations involving extreme disregard for safety, additional damages may be possible.
Why Work with a Delaware County Premises Liability Lawyer
Property owners and their insurers often move quickly after an accident, collecting statements and looking for ways to blame the victim. Their goal is simple: close the claim for as little money as possible.
Working with a premises liability lawyer in Delaware County, PA gives you a professional on your side who understands how these cases work in Pennsylvania courts. Your lawyer can investigate the scene, preserve evidence, talk to witnesses, review maintenance and incident records, and build a clear, detailed picture of how the owner’s choices caused your harm.
Most premises liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no attorney fee unless they recover money for you. That allows injured people to stand up to large insurers and property owners, even when an accident has already strained their savings.
