Pittsburgh Premises Liability Accident Attorneys

Injured From A Pittsburgh Premises Liability Accident?

Premises liability law concerns the legal responsibility of a property owner or tenant for accidents or injuries incurred by others on their property. A tenant often is considered liable as if he or she were an owner. If you or a loved one suffered an injury on another person’s or company’s property, you should speak to a Pittsburgh premises liability lawyer.

The laws vary by state. In some states, the court will decide upon the owner’s liability based upon the status of the injured person. In other states, the law will place greater emphasis on the condition of the property where the accident occurred.

The Pittsburgh personal injury lawyers at Chaffin Luhana are familiar with the laws in Pittsburgh, PA. We represent individuals in premises liability claims in West Virginia, Western Pennsylvania, and Eastern Ohio. To schedule a free consultation to discuss your potential case, contact our law offices today.

Types of Accidents

Premises liability law may pertain to many types of accidents that can occur in many different circumstances. Some examples include:

  • Slip and Fall: Examples include a shopper slipping and falling on a wet store floor, an uneven sidewalk that trips the unsuspecting walker, a gardener falling out of a tree he was trimming, someone slipping and falling on another person’s boat and hitting his or her head, slippery porch steps after a snowstorm, or an icy sidewalk where someone slips and falls.
  • Being hit by a falling object: An example of this might be some heavy item falling from a store shelf and hitting the shopper on the head.
  • Being bitten by a dog or other pet in someone’s home: The homeowner could be liable for the injuries incurred when a visitor to their home is bitten by the animal. This would be particularly true if the owner knew about the pet’s unpredictable nature.
  • Building or balcony collapses due to poor construction or age of the building.
  • Elevator or escalator accidents.
  • Drowning in a neighbor’s swimming pool might make the homeowner liable.

Pittsburgh Premises Liability and Negligence

Each case is unique but there are five questions to consider when evaluating whether a defendant is negligent. They are:

  • What obligation of care does the defendant owe the plaintiff?
  • Has that duty been violated?
  • Has the defendant done something to harm the plaintiff?
  • Should the defendant have known a situation could harm the plaintiff?
  • How has the plaintiff been hurt by the defendant’s conduct?

Some examples of negligence include:

  • Not repairing a weakened porch step that causes a visitor to fall
  • Failing to clean up a spill that caused a person to fall
  • Failing to provide adequate warning signs after mopping a floor
  • Failing to repair an exposed wire that causes someone to trip
  • Failing to provide good lighting in a parking lot or garage where someone slips and falls on a grease spot
  • A boat lacking hand holds to prevent someone from falling overboard
  • A faulty heater in a house that burns a guest

Contact an Pittsburgh Premises Liability Lawyer Today

If you or someone you love is injured on someone else’s property, you can find out if you have a legal claim by contacting the Pittsburgh personal injury lawyers at Chaffin Luhana. Our Pittsburgh premises liability lawyer can offer experienced and dedicated legal representation for injured persons and their families.