Stroudsburg Premises Liability Lawyer
Property owners have the duty to maintain safe premises on their properties. This is also known as premises liability. Property owners are required to repair broken features, keep their properties well-lit, and remove potential injury hazards. When a property owner cannot remove or repair a hazard in a timely manner after discovering it, he or she must clearly mark it as a hazard so visitors know to stay away from it. Victims who are injured because of a property owner’s failure to take these required actions can recover compensation for their related damages through premises liability claims. The Stroudsburg premises liability lawyers at Needle Law Firm are here to assist you with your case.
Duty of Care and Premises Liability
Premises liability claims are governed by the concept of duty of care. Basically, this is the responsibility that property owners have to maintain safe premises for their authorized visitors. Typically, a property owner owes no duty of care to trespassers, which means individuals who are injured while trespassing cannot recover compensation for their damages through premises liability claims. However, there are exceptions to this.
When a social guest or a business-related guest is injured by a hazard present on a property that the owner did nothing to repair or make conspicuous, the property owner is liable for the victim’s damages unless he or she can prove that the victim was wholly responsible for the accident. When an injury results from negligence on both parties’ parts, Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence law states that the victim may recover a reduced amount of compensation based on the percentage of fault for the accident he or she holds.
Examples of Premises Liability Cases
Any kind of accident that results from poorly maintained property can lead to a premises liability claim. Examples of these accidents include:
- Falls on broken steps, slippery floors, uneven surfaces, and due to poor lighting;
- Burns from exposed flames or hot objects;
- Exposure to toxic substances; and
- Cuts from exposed sharp objects like glass shards on the floor or a gate.
Pursuing Compensation for your Personal Injury Damages
If you are injured in an accident on private or public property, you can file a personal injury claim to pursue compensation for the following damages:
- Medical expenses;
- Lost wages; and
- Pain and suffering damages.
Your lawyer can help you develop a claim that demonstrates how your injury was the direct result of the property owner’s negligence. It must prove that the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard and chose not to address it properly. You must also provide sufficient documentation of your financial damages, such as copies of your medical bills and documentation of your time out of work to recover.
Our Team of Stroudsburg Premises Liability Lawyers is Here for You
If you are suffering from an injury you sustained in a preventable accident, you could be entitled to recover monetary compensation for your related damages through a premises liability claim. To learn more about your rights as an injured victim and start working on your case, contact Needle Law Firm today to set up your initial legal consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer.