Property owners have a legal duty to keep their property safe for visitors by removing hazards and warning of potential dangers. When someone is injured due to the property owner’s negligence, they can recover under a theory of premises liability. When you are on someone else’s property as a social or business guest, you trust the property owner to ensure your safety.
When you were injured by a hazard on someone else’s property, you could have a cause of action for negligence. Consider contacting an Allentown premises liability lawyer to discuss your legal rights and options. While no amount of compensation can reverse the harm you suffered, a successful injury lawsuit can reimburse the cost of your medical care, lost income, and other related expenses. Do not hesitate to contact a personal injury attorney to determine whether you have a claim against the property owner whose land you were injured on.
Premises liability claims focus on the landowner’s failed efforts to keep their property safe from hazards. Other factors can impact the person’s claim, including whether they were lawfully on the property at the time of the accident.
State law categorizes visitors based on certain factors:
When an individual is on someone’s property for a business purpose, they are an invitee. A repairman, customer, or patient could be an invitee. Property owners have a high standard of care for this category and must identify and eliminate potential hazards for invitees.
The standard of care is lower for social guests or someone with permission to enter the property. Property owners have a duty to warn a licensee of known hazards.
A trespasser is someone on the land illegally. Landowners have no legal duty for this category as it is unreasonable to expect a trespasser on their land. The law treats child trespassers differently, recognizing under the attractive nuisance doctrine that property owners must take reasonable precautions to prevent foreseeable accidents with children. For example, it is foreseeable that children may illegally enter someone’s land to use their pool. Property owners can protect themselves by locking gates.
A premises liability lawyer in Allentown could determine the applicable standard of care for a person’s case.
Under premises liability laws, property owners owe a significant responsibility for the safety of their invited visitors. Whether the property is commercial, residential, or publicly owned, many dangerous situations can cause someone to suffer a preventable injury.
Some common examples of situations that can result in a premises liability suit include:
The injuries someone can suffer due to the negligence of a property owner can be devastating physically, emotionally, and financially. A lawyer in Allentown could ensure a premises liability claim accounts for all injuries and losses.
Premises liability lawsuits can be complex. Landowners often dispute their awareness of the dangerous condition on the property. Fortunately, an experienced Allentown premises liability lawyer could advocate on your behalf.
When you are injured on someone else’s property, they could and should be held responsible, whether at someone’s home, a store, or public property. Our attorneys could help you understand who is liable for your losses and assist you with building a strong claim. Contact our firm to discuss compensation for your injuries.