Falling suddenly on someone else’s property can lead to serious and lasting injuries, many of which could have been avoided entirely if the property owner had taken proper care of their land. Unfortunately, proving that landowner is legally liable for your losses can be much more difficult than you might expect.
If you were in an accident like this, contacting a Pennsylvania slip and fall lawyer to discuss your legal options should be a priority. A skilled attorney like Founding Partner Jon Ostroff can guide you through the legal system. Rest-assured, Jon will fight for your right to compensation.
Common Dangers that Lead to Slip & Fall Lawsuits
For the past 30 years, Jon Ostroff has been representing people who have been hurt by:
- Slippery floors
- Poorly maintained or uneven sidewalks
- Poorly designed or constructed steps (e.g., steep, uneven, or unstable stairs or lack of a hand railing)
- Holes in the ground
- Walkways or stairs that are not properly illuminated
- Items left on the floor
- Ice that has not been removed or salted within a reasonable period of time
- A furniture collapse (e.g., a chair or bench that breaks)
If you were injured by one of these common slipping hazards, our Pennsylvania attorneys have the experience and resources needed to help you. A slip and fall lawyer like Jon Ostroff can help you file a case and take the steps to protect your claim.
Property Owners’ Responsibility to Visitors in Pennsylvania
Not every accident that happens on another person’s property warrants a lawsuit. To hold the owner or manager of the property accountable for injuries you sustained in a slip and fall incident, you must show that they were “negligent” in some way.
To prove negligence, you must establish that the owner or manager directly caused the slip and fall to happen by failing to fulfill a duty of care they owed to the person injured. The duty that property owners owe to people on their land varies depending on why those individuals were visiting.
For example, property owners have the greatest responsibility to protect invitees—people visiting for the owner’s financial or personal benefit. 
Owners have slightly less responsibility to protect licensees, who visit for their own benefit.
Property owners even have a duty to protect trespassers. They cannot ignore a hazardous condition. If they do, they would be liable to an injured trespasser.
A trip and fall attorney in Pennsylvania at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers can explain which classification applies to you and how it impacts your right to a recovery. Regardless of your reason for being on a property (and even if you didn’t have the owner’s permission to be on it), the owner owes you a duty and they are legally responsible if you are injured because they failed to fulfill this duty of care.
Pursuing Compensation After a Trip and Fall
If you can prove that a landowner was responsible for your slipping accident, you can seek financial recovery for the harm you suffered. In addition to financial losses like medical expenses and lost work income, you may also seek restitution for non-economic damages such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of life’s pleasures
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Loss of consortium with a spouse
According to 42 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes §7102, injured parties who bear partial fault for their accident may have the value of their final damage award reduced. A lawyer familiar with slip and fall cases can explain this law and how it impacts your injury claim.
Talk to a Pennsylvania Slip and Fall Attorney Today
A fall can result in traumatic injuries that could impact your life for years. If you suffered harm because of a landowner’s negligence, pursuing a civil claim against them can provide you with long-term financial stability. Call today to schedule a free initial meeting with a Pennsylvania slip and fall lawyer.
