Were you recently involved in an accident on someone else’s property in Carbondale, Pennsylvania? Call Marzzacco Niven & Associates for immediate legal assistance. You may have the right to compensation, and our Carbondale premises liability lawyers can help you seek the maximum award.
Since 2008, our top-rated Pennsylvania trial attorneys have been helping injured clients stand up to powerful property owners, corporations, insurance companies, and other tough adversaries. Our attorneys – who have a combined 120 years of experience – have successfully recovered tens of millions of dollars in the process.
Now is your opportunity to get the compensation you need and deserve after a devastating accident. Our premises liability attorneys are here to make that a reality for you. Contact our law office in Carbondale, PA, at (717) 995-8810 to get started. Your first consultation is free.
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How Marzzacco Niven & Associates Can Help If You’ve Been Hurt on Someone Else’s Property in Carbondale, PA
You deserve to be made whole if you’ve recently suffered an injury on someone else’s property in Carbondale. Property owners can be held legally accountable for accidents on their premises – but they won’t be quick to admit fault or cut you a check.
That’s where our Carbondale personal injury lawyers can help.
We have the resources, in-depth knowledge of Pennsylvania premises liability law, and experience you’ll need to come out on top.
While we take care of your premises liability claim, you’ll have the much-needed time to rest and recover.
Our team will:
- Investigate the accident or incident that resulted in your injury
- Identify the hazard or danger that contributed to your accident
- Determine what actions the property owner could have taken to keep you safe
- Gather evidence to support your claim for damages – including photographs, video footage, property management records, accident reports, witness testimony, and more
- Discuss elements of your case with experts and specialists
- Handle settlement negotiations with the property owner, their insurance carrier, and other parties
- Offer guidance and support throughout the claims process
- Bring your case to trial, if necessary
We work on contingency, so you don’t have to stress about the cost of hiring our premises liability attorneys. Our law firm only gets paid when we win or settle your case. End of story.
Reach out to our compassionate legal team in Carbondale to arrange a free consultation and learn more.
What Is Premises Liability?
When you own property in Carbondale, PA, you assume certain responsibilities. This includes a duty to keep it in a reasonably safe condition for invited guests and visitors.
The specific steps to which you have to take to protect guests ultimately depend on how they’re classified under the law. There are three primary classifications: invitee, licensee, and invitee.
Invitees
Invitees enter premises with the express or implied consent of the owner. The owner enjoys commercial or business-related benefits because of the invitee’s visit. You can also be an invitee when you visit premises that are owned by the government and open to the public.
You’re generally considered an invitee when you grab a bite to eat at a restaurant in Carbondale, go shopping at a local store, or play on a local playground. You can even be considered an invitee in an apartment building where you live – you pay rent, and your landlord benefits from that.
Invitees are owed the highest duty of care under Pennsylvania state law. Owners must typically inspect the premises for potential hazards, fix them upon discovery, and provide adequate notice of dangers.
Licensees
Licensees also enter premises with the owner’s express or implied consent. However, a licensee’s visit is personal, and the owner doesn’t benefit in any way.
For example, you’d be considered a licensee if you visited a friend’s home, went canvassing door-to-door, or visited a store just to use the restroom.
Property owners don’t have to go to great lengths to inspect the premises for licensees but do have an obligation to repair known hazards and provide warnings.
Trespassers
Trespassers are individuals who enter premises without consent. Property owners in Pennsylvania typically don’t have an obligation to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition for trespassers.
There is an exception, and it involves children. If there’s an attractive nuisance on the property – like a swimming pool, a piece of heavy machinery, or a large appliance – an owner does assume a responsibility to prevent trespassing children from accessing it.
At the end of the day, property owners can be held legally (and financially) responsible when a person lawfully on the premises gets hurt because of a dangerous condition or hazard.
How Do I Win a Premises Liability Case?
Premises liability cases are a matter of negligence. Your claim is based on the argument that you suffered injuries because of the property owner’s negligent maintenance of their premises.
To win your case, you’ll have to prove:
- The property owner owed you a duty of care based on your status as an invitee or licensee
- The property owner breached this duty of care in some way
- The property owner’s failure to take reasonable care of their premises caused you to get hurt, and
- You’ve sustained damages as a result.
You’ll need to prove your case by a preponderance of the evidence, the burden of proof in Pennsylvania premises liability matters.
We Handle All Types of Premises Liability Cases in Carbondale
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, we represent clients in all types of premises liability matters in Carbondale, including:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Falls from heights
- Swimming pool accidents
- Elevator and escalator accidents
- Broken sidewalk accidents
- Staircase accidents
- Hotel accidents
- Apartment building accidents
- Poisoning
- Exposure to toxic chemicals
- Assault
- Sexual assault
- Negligent security
Following an accident on someone else’s premises in Carbondale, PA, don’t hesitate to contact our legal team for help. We’ll be there to listen to your story, provide preliminary guidance, and help you figure out the best path forward.
What Damages Can I Get in a Carbondale Premises Liability Claim?
A plaintiff in a premises liability claim can traditionally receive compensation for their monetary losses and hard-to-value trauma.
In Pennsylvania, these are called economic damages and non-economic damages.
Potential awards include money for:
- Medical bills
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
Our premises liability attorneys in Carbondale will aggressively pursue all damages available to you under Pennsylvania state law. We’ll work closely with respected accident experts, medical professionals, and other specialists throughout the claims process. Their insight can be incredibly helpful as we work to secure a result that accurately represents what your premises liability case is worth.
The Property Owner Is Trying To Blame Me – Can That Hurt My Premises Liability Case?
The property owner probably will try to blame you for your accident. You’ll need to be ready for these tactics. If you do nothing, you could watch well-deserved compensation slip away.
Under Pennsylvania law, you lose the right to recover compensation once your share of the blame for an accident exceeds half. If you are less than 51 percent at fault, you can receive an adjusted financial award.
For example, sharing 15 percent of the responsibility for your accident will reduce damages by 15 percent.
Sometimes the property owner won’t have any evidence to back up their allegations of shared fault. Other times, they’ll simply exaggerate the situation and try to push more blame onto you than is proper.
Our Carbondale premises liability attorneys will be ready for these strategies. We’ll defend you at every turn, fighting to limit your exposure and get you the compensation you deserve.
How Long Will I Have To File a Premises Liability Lawsuit in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for most premises liability lawsuits is two years.
This gives you until the second anniversary of the date of an accident to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.
There are some exceptions, such as cases involving injured children or situations when there’s a delay in discovering an injury. However, don’t assume you’ll have more time to take action. Once the statute of limitations expires, you lose the right to file a claim and demand compensation from the property owner and other liable parties.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Carbondale Premises Liability Lawyer
Have you been injured because of a dangerous condition on another person’s property in Carbondale, Pennsylvania? You may have the right to file a premises liability lawsuit and demand compensation for your injuries and suffering. Our Carbondale premises liability lawyers are here to help you make the most of this opportunity.
Set yourself up for the financial victory you deserve. Put a team with 120+ years of experience that’s won tens of millions of dollars in your corner. Call our law office in Carbondale, PA, to set up a time for your free, no-obligation case evaluation.