Were you injured on someone else’s property in Wyomissing, PA due to unsafe conditions? You may be entitled to compensation under Pennsylvania premises liability laws. An experienced Wyomissing premises liability lawyer at Marzzacco Niven & Associates can help you fight to recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, and more.
Our lawyers have over 120 years of combined experience standing up to insurance companies on behalf of our clients. We’ve recovered millions of dollars in life-changing settlements and verdicts since we opened our doors.
Evidence can be lost quickly, so don’t wait to get legal advice. Call our law offices in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania today at (717) 388-2325 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced premises liability attorney.
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How Marzzacco Niven & Associates Can Help With a Premises Liability Claim in Wyomissing
Personal injury laws in Pennsylvania can be complex. They tend to favor large insurance companies that are already experienced in handling personal injury claims. As an average person, it can be tough to recover fair compensation even when you deserve it.
A Wyomissing personal injury lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates can give you the edge you need to win. We’ve been helping injured clients like you since 2008. Over the years, we’ve been rated by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, and the National Trial Lawyers. Importantly, we know the games the insurance companies will play and how to help you fight back.
When you hire our law firm to handle your premises liability matter, we will:
- Investigate the circumstances of your accident
- Arm ourselves with the strong evidence you need to support your claim
- Hire experts when necessary
- Help you understand your legal options and walk you through the legal process
- Protect you if the insurance company blames you for your injuries
- Negotiate to recover the maximum compensation you deserve
Time and again, we hear how clients have struggled with the insurance process. It doesn’t have to be that way. Contact an experienced Wyomissing personal injury attorney to learn more about how we can make the process easier for your family.
Overview of the Premises Liability Laws in Wyomissing, PA
Many premises liability claims involve slip and fall accidents. The CDC estimates that about one million Americans are hospitalized for slip and fall accident injuries each year. Countless more are injured because of dangerous property conditions that don’t involve falls.
Premises liability claims are extremely common. Property owners can be held liable if someone is hurt due to dangerous property conditions.
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, our Wyomissing premises liability attorneys handle all types of injury claims, including slip and falls and those involving:
- Criminal activity that occurs due to negligent security
- Elevator accidents
- Exposure to toxic substances or chemicals
- Swimming pool accidents
- Sporting arena accidents
- Apartment building accidents
- Hotel accidents
- Bedbug injuries
- Grocery store accidents
- Dog bites
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
Do you have questions about your legal rights after an accident on someone else’s property? Call our lawyers in Wyomissing to learn more today.
What is My Wyomissing Premises Liability Case Worth?
A personal injury settlement should make you “whole” again. However, the dollar value of your case will depend on many factors that are unique to your circumstances.
Some of those factors include:
- The severity of your injuries
- The cost of your medical treatment and out-of-pocket expenses
- Your lost wages
- Whether the injury impacted your ability to work or perform daily activities
- The circumstances of the accident
- The strength of the evidence and your negligence claim
Analyzing the unique facts of your case is the only way to really know what your personal injury case is worth. To learn more about how a lawyer can help estimate your case value, call for a free case review today.
What Types of Damages Are Available in a Premises Liability Case?
Like any car accident case, victims in premises liability cases are typically entitled to recover economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages, or financial expenses, related to your accident may include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Rehabilitation
Non-economic damages, or personal losses, that may stem from the accident and injury include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
- Loss of consortium
Your settlement check should cover the full range of damages you’ve sustained.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for an Accident in Pennsylvania?
Under Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence laws, your damages can be reduced if you’re partly to blame for the accident. If you’re more than 50% at fault, you can lose your right to compensation entirely. In other words, if you’re more at fault for the accident than the other party, you will be barred from recovery.
That’s why it’s always a good idea to be represented by an experienced attorney throughout the negotiation process.
Our Wyomissing Premises Liability Lawyers Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Injuries
Even the simplest of accidents can cause serious injuries and long-term complications. You might be surprised at the damage that can happen when someone neglects their property.
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, we often represent clients who have suffered:
- Broken bones
- Broken hips
- Herniated discs and other back injuries
- Nerve damage
- Sprains, strains, and soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Concussions
- Burns and skin conditions
- Eye injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
As a general rule, the more serious your injuries, the more time it’ll take to prove your case. It’s never too early to get started, so give us a call for a free case evaluation today.
How Do I Establish Premises Liability in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania?
Property owners have a legal obligation to keep their property reasonably safe. If you’re on the property legally, you’re protected under Pennsylvania premises liability laws.
In most negligence cases, you’re required to establish the following elements to recover damages:
- A legal duty of care;
- Breach of duty;
- Causation; and
- Damages.
The same concepts apply in premises liability cases. However, the property owner’s legal duty of care varies based on whether you’re classified as an invitee, licensee, or trespasser. The classification can make a world of difference in establishing the owner’s liability.
Business Invitees
Business owners have a heightened duty of care.
Business owners are responsible for:
- Maintaining the property in a safe condition
- Fixing any hazards
- Offering adequate warning about hazards that can’t be quickly fixed
- Inspecting the property on a regular basis to identify hidden or new dangers
You’re given invitee status anytime you visit a business. If you’re injured visiting a restaurant, amusement park, or even an office building, you’re classified as a business invitee.
The scope of a business owner’s duty can be much more extensive than you may think. For example, if you’re assaulted because a business failed to offer adequate security, the business might be responsible for your damages. That’s true even though they didn’t do anything to intentionally hurt you.
Licensees
Private property owners also have legal duties. A social guest is classified as a licensee. If you visit a friend’s home for a dinner party, for example, you’re classified as a licensee.
Private owners must warn invited guests about any non-obvious dangers. However, they don’t have a duty to inspect the property to find those dangers.
Trespassers
A property owner owes only a very limited duty to adult trespassers. As long as the owner doesn’t intentionally hurt you, it’s unlikely that you’ll have a valid damages claim as a trespasser.
The situation is different for young children. The law imposes a duty to take reasonable steps to keep trespassing children safe in some cases. The duty applies if there is an attractive nuisance on the premises. For example, if a small child wanders into someone’s backyard and drowns in an unfenced swimming pool, the homeowner may be liable.
Getting Evidence to Prove Your Negligence Claim
You might know that your injuries weren’t your fault. If the property owner had exercised reasonable caution, you wouldn’t have been hurt. Still, you might wonder how to get proof.
Our lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates have decades of experience handling cases like yours. We have relationships with experts and specialists who can help support your case. We’ll also conduct an investigation to gather evidence.
Proof in your case might include:
- Testimony from eyewitnesses or employees of the business
- Video surveillance footage
- Inspection and maintenance records
- Accident reports
- Evidence about past safety violations
- Medical records
Once we have the evidence, we can use it to prove the elements of your premises liability claim.
How Long Do I Have to File a Premises Liability Lawsuit After an Accident in Pennsylvania?
Under Pennsylvania law, accident victims generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Once the two-year anniversary of your accident passes, you lose your right to seek damages.
Contact a Wyomissing Premises Liability Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you were injured as a result of dangerous conditions on someone else’s property in Wyomissing or Berks County, don’t rely on a lawyer’s directory alone. Call today to schedule a free consultation with a Wyomissing premises liability lawyer at Marzzacco Niven & Associates. We work on a contingent fee basis, so there’s no risk in asking for help.