Property owners are generally required to maintain their lands and properties in such a way that is reasonably safe to those who enter upon it. Depending on the status of the entrant, this level of duty may change.
As such, it can be difficult to prove liability without reliable guidance from a seasoned local attorney. If you or a loved one were harmed on another person’s property, do not hesitate to reach out to a Norristown premises liability lawyer.
What Falls Under Premises Liability Law?
Premises liability cases involve a wide variety of situations where a person is harmed while on another individual’s property as a result of a hazard on that property. Property owners are generally expected to be aware of and remediate known dangers that could pose a hazard to the health of those who enter the property. Under negligence law, an unreasonable defendant whose premise leads to injury may be held financially liable for that misconduct.
Landowners are obligated to take reasonable steps to ensure its safety. This includes proper maintenance, possible inspections, and corrections to known hazards within a reasonable time. Depending on the situation, a property owner may also be responsible for hazards they did not actually know about but should have had they been reasonably diligent.
Premises liability law covers a wide range of negligence-related accidents, including:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Defective security claims
- Poor lighting
- Electrocutions and chemical hazards
- Holes or tripping hazards on floors
- Broken or uneven stairs
- Sharp objects
These hazards and many more can result in a visitor suffering severe harm. If that injury meets the requirements of a premises liability claim, a Norristown attorney could help them seek significant financial compensation.
What Impacts a Property Owner’s Duty of Care?
A landowner owes different levels of duty to different types of people depending on their visitor status. Visitors can be classified as either trespassers, licensees, or invitees, each with their own standard of care. An experienced lawyer handling a dangerous property case in Norristown could investigate the plaintiff’s visitor status to determine whether they have grounds for recourse.
Trespassers
Trespassers are owed very little duty of care. Property owners are not required to warn of hazards, remediate conditions, or take precautionary steps to protect a trespasser. A property owner is only restricted from willfully, intentionally, or wantonly causing injury to the trespasser.
Licensees
A licensee enters a person’s property with permission, but for their own purposes without benefit to the landowner. These are typically social guests. Licensees are owed warnings of known hazards and that the property is kept reasonably safe for guests.
Invitees
Invitees are owed the highest duty of care. Property owners are required to keep the conditions in a safe condition, warn of known hazards, and conduct reasonable inspections to prevent accidents from occurring.
Consult a Premises Liability Attorney in Norristown
Premises liability is a complicated area of law that covers a variety of different accidents. Without strong legal knowledge and experience, it could be difficult to properly recover for the harm you suffered on another’s property.
A Norristown premises liability lawyer could help you seek the compensation you are owed. Call today to schedule your initial consultation.
