Quakertown Premises Liability Lawyer

When we visit other people’s property, we trust that they keep the premises safe. Sadly, some landowners fail to properly care for their land, leaving hazards unaddressed. While Pennsylvania property owners are not automatically liable for every accident on their property, you can hold them accountable for accidents they could’ve prevented through responsible maintenance and upkeep.

That said, knowing you have grounds to file a lawsuit and getting a good result from one are two very different things. Help from an experienced injury attorney is essential to getting a positive outcome in your case. A Quakertown premises liability lawyer at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers can explain your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve after a severe accident.

When Are Landowners Liable for Accidents?

Those who invite lawful visitors to their property have a “duty” to take reasonable actions to protect them from preventable harm. However, precisely what that “duty” looks like—and what actions count as “reasonable”—can vary based on why the visitor is on the property.

Invitees

Landowners owe the most substantial duty to “invitees” like retail store customers who are visiting lawfully and mainly for the landowner’s benefit. Under Pennsylvania law, they must warn invitees about hazardous conditions on the property they already know about. They must also inspect their property regularly for new hazards and fix them within a reasonable amount of time.

Licensees

“Licensees” are social guests visiting lawfully and mainly for their own purposes.  For these visitors, landowners must provide warning about known hazards but usually aren’t liable for hazards they weren’t previously aware of.

Trespassers

Landowners have no duty to protect trespassers from accidental harm, although they can’t do anything to intentionally harm trespassers, such as setting traps. There are also some exceptions to this rule under specific circumstances. For example, property owners may be liable for injuries to minor children trespassing on their property to get to an “attractive nuisance” like a swimming pool. Our property liability attorneys in Quakertown can further explain landowners’ duties to different types of visitors.

Getting Paid for a Property Accident in Quakertown

If your local attorney can prove a landowner liable for injuries you suffered on their property, you can seek compensation for every loss stemming from the accident. This could include:

  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Emotional anguish
  • Loss of life’s pleasures
  • Emergency medical bills and future care costs
  • Lost work wages or ability to work
  • Personal property damage

However, it’s important to know the time limits for bringing premises liability lawsuits. Under 42 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes §7102, you typically only have two years to start a civil claim after a property accident. The sooner you reach out to a Quakertown lawyer at our firm, the sooner we can begin building your premises liability claim and fighting for your rights.

Talk to a Quakertown Premises Liability Attorney Today

Property accidents occur every day due to irresponsible property owners and managers. Injured victims deserve payments for the harm they should have never suffered, but getting sufficient compensation without help from a Quakertown premises liability lawyer can be challenging.

Seek dedicated legal counsel from Managing Partner Rich Godshall and the rest of the Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers team. Our firm has decades of experience representing injured people across Pennsylvania. In one case, we were able to recover $380,000 for a contractor who suffered severe spinal and shoulder injuries when he fell through a trapdoor in a home he was remodeling. Give us a call today to discuss your situation and learn how we can help.