When you step onto someone’s property as a guest or visitor, you expect conditions to be reasonably safe. If that’s not the case and an accident occurs that leaves you with injuries, you may be able to file a personal injury claim and get compensation. Doing so can help you pay for the medical expenses the injuries cause, as well as the wages you may have lost as you received treatment. To have the chance to receive the compensation you deserve for what you’ve suffered, you need to hire an experienced Levittown premises liability lawyer.
The team of personal injury attorneys at Wapner Newman offers guidance through the claims process. We can gather the evidence that shows you deserve to recover damages, and we’ll negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf. You don’t have to go through filing a claim on your own.
Call our Levittown premises liability lawyers at (215) 569-0900 to learn more about our services.
Why Choose Us
Offering More than 40 Years of Experience
Our team of Levittown premises liability attorneys have decades of experience representing people who’ve suffered because of someone else’s negligent or wrongful conduct. We are aggressive negotiators and litigators who can fight to get you the compensation you deserve. To give your claim the right level of attention, we assign each case to one of our principal partners and their team of highly-trained attorneys.
We understand how tough it is to go through this process, so we’ll do everything possible to make it a bit easier. Our premises liability lawyers will offer the support you need while providing the legal assistance that can help you win your claim.
Understanding Premises Liability Claims
By law, a property owner or manager has to ensure their premises doesn’t pose hazards to visitors and guests. If you do sustain an injury, Pennsylvania allows you to pursue a personal injury claim to recover damages. At Wapner Newman, our team of Levittown premises liability lawyers represent claims that include:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites
- Negligent security
- Sidewalk or roadway defects
- Construction site accidents
- Amusement park accidents
- Swimming pool accidents
- Fires.
Keep in mind that your ability to file a claim depends on whether you were a guest or a trespasser on the property. If the latter is the case, you will have fewer legal recourses.
Proving Negligence
In most of these claims, you have to demonstrate that negligence took place, which means showing that the defendant owed you a duty of care that they breached. After completing this step, you must prove their conduct led you to suffer compensable losses. For example, if you go to a store and a broken handrail on the stairs results in a fall that causes a concussion, you can file a claim to get compensation.
Property owners don’t have the same duty of care toward trespassers. They don’t have to make the premises safe for them. However, they can’t willfully or intentionally cause harm to a trespasser. Their duty of care is also higher if the trespasser is a child.
Strict Liability Laws
In some instances, proving negligence isn’t necessary, however. That’s the case with dog bites because Pennsylvania follows strict liability laws. These laws state that the animal’s owner is responsible for the medical expenses that result because of a bite. It doesn’t matter if the dog never bit anyone before. The only things you have to prove are that you didn’t provoke the dog and that you were legally on the property when the attack occurred.
However, strict liability doesn’t entitle you to non-economic damages like pain and suffering. For that, you’ll have to prove that the dog’s owner was negligent. Our team of premises liability attorneys can help you better understand what options you have after a dog bite.
Statute of Limitations
As with other types of personal injury cases, you don’t have an unlimited amount of time to file a premises liability claim. Generally, you have two years from the date of the accident. There are several exceptions, however, that could mean you have less time. If the accident occurred on government property, for example, you need to immediately file a claim.
By contacting our team of Levittown personal injury lawyers, you can receive guidance so that you don’t miss the deadline. If you do miss it, you won’t be able to file a claim.
Our Pennsylvania premises liability lawyers have helped clients recover millions of dollars in settlements and jury awards.
Damages Available In a Premises Liability Claim
Receiving Economic and Non-Economic Damages
When you file a personal injury claim, you can recover compensatory damages, including both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages compensate you for quantifiable losses. These include medical expenses like hospital stays and rehabilitation therapy. If you require ongoing treatment, you can be compensated for those expenses, too.
Often, injuries keep you from going to work. That means you lose income you would otherwise have received. Economic damages can help you recover lost salaries, bonuses, and commissions. You can also claim vacation days or sick days you may have used during your recovery. When injuries are so severe that they prevent you from returning to work in the same capacity or at all, you can also claim loss of earning potential.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages focus on non-financial losses you suffered. These include the physical and emotional distress you experienced as a result of the injuries. If you’re unable to live your life as you did before the accident occurred, you can also claim loss of enjoyment of life.
Premises liability accidents sometimes result in fatalities. If a loved one dies because of someone else’s negligent or wrongful conduct, you can claim loss of consortium. It compensates you for the loss of companionship and support.
At Wapner Newman, our team of Pennsylvania premises liability attorneys provides the assistance you need to understand the damages you can claim. All you have to do is give us a call.
Premises Liability FAQs
These cases are complex, so having questions and worries is normal. Our team offers the answers you need.
How can a Levittown personal injury lawyer help me with my claim?
Our lawyers can help in a number of ways. We know what evidence can make the most difference in your claim, and we have access to professionals in many fields who can provide witness testimonies. Negotiating with insurance companies is usually the most difficult aspect of personal injury claims. We have more than 40 years of experience advocating for our clients to help them get maximum compensation. If necessary, we can also take your claim to court to achieve a fair jury award.
Can I still claim damages if I was partly responsible for the accident?
Under Pennsylvania law, you can recover damages if you were partly responsible as long as you don’t hold the highest percentage of fault. If you’re not sure what your options are or if you’re eligible to file a claim, we encourage you to contact our Levittown personal injury attorneys for guidance.
Do I have to prove that an owner was negligent in order to recover losses after a dog bite?
No, you don’t have to prove negligence to recover medical expenses. You only have to show that you didn’t provoke the dog and that you were legally on the property. If you want to recover non-economic damages, however, you will have to prove negligence. Our Levittown dog bite lawyers can explain all of your options during your free consultation.
How do I prove negligence in a premises liability claim?
To prove negligence in these claims, you need to establish that the defendant owed you a duty of care that they breached. Every property owner or manager owes visitors and guests a responsibility to keep their premises reasonably safe. If they know about potential issues and do nothing to resolve them, they’ve breached their duty. You then have to show that their conduct led you to suffer losses for which you can be compensated. If you can meet all of those requirements, you can prove negligence.
At Wapner Newman, we strive to make the process as simple as possible, so don’t hesitate to contact us with your questions.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Premises Liability Lawyers
After being in an accident on someone else’s property, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to get the assistance you need. By contacting our team of lawyers, you have the opportunity to file a claim and get compensation. You should not try to go through this process on your own because you can end up getting less in damages than you may be entitled to. Our lawyers know how to negotiate with insurers, and we never shy away from litigation in court. With us by your side, you can focus on healing from the injuries and trauma while we handle the rest.
Schedule a free consultation with us at Wapner Newman by calling (215) 569-0900.