Johnstown Premises Liability Lawyer

If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property in Cambria County, a Johnstown premises liability lawyer from Munley Law can help you seek compensation. Property owners in Pennsylvania have a legal responsibility to maintain safe conditions for visitors, customers, and guests. When they fail to do so and someone gets hurt, the injured party may have grounds for a premises liability claim.

Property accidents can happen anywhere — retail stores, restaurants, apartment buildings, office complexes, or private homes. These often lead to serious injuries that result in medical treatment, lost wages, and physical and emotional distress. Common premises liability cases in Johnstown include slip and fall accidents, inadequate security incidents, poor maintenance issues, and dangerous property conditions.

If you do sustain an injury, it’s important to take swift action as Pennsylvania law has specific timeframes for filing premises liability claims. The circumstances of your accident, the severity of your injuries, and the property owner’s degree of negligence will impact your compensation. At Munley Law, our personal injury attorneys are deeply familiar with premises liability cases in Johnstown. Contact Munley Law TODAY for a FREE Consultation!

Johnstown, PA Premises Liability Laws

Pennsylvania law holds property owners responsible for keeping their premises reasonably safe. The extent of this responsibility depends on what type of visitor enters. Customers and invited guests, who enter the property at a benefit to the owner, receive the highest duty of protection. This includes regular inspection of the property, prompt reparation of dangerous conditions, and warning visitors about hazards that have not yet been repaired.

Social guests receive a moderate level of protection. Property owners are only required to warn them about known hazards. Trespassers receive minimal to no protection. One exception exists for child trespassers under the “attractive nuisance” doctrine, which requires additional protections for items that may attract children, such as swimming pools.

In Johnstown, weather conditions create unique premises liability challenges. Property owners must take reasonable steps to address snow and ice accumulation within a reasonable time after a storm ends. Local ordinances may specify exact timeframes for clearing sidewalks after snowfall.

Common Types of Premises Liability Cases in Cambria County

Premises liability encompasses a wide range of situations where property owners fail to maintain safe conditions for visitors. At Munley Law, we handle all types of premises liability cases. The resulting injuries often lead to serious medical consequences, including fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and soft tissue injuries that may require extensive treatment and rehabilitation.

Here are the most common types of premises liability cases:

• Slip and Fall Accidents: The most frequent premises liability claim occurs when property owners fail to address wet floors, ice, uneven surfaces, torn carpeting, or poor lighting. These accidents happen in grocery stores, restaurants, and walkways during wintertime.
• Negligent Security: When property owners fail to provide adequate security measures like proper lighting, functioning locks, security cameras, or personnel in areas with known crime risks. These are common in apartment complexes, hotels, shopping centers, and entertainment venues.
• Inadequate Maintenance: Involves property owners neglecting regular upkeep, resulting in broken stairs, damaged flooring, ceiling leaks, faulty wiring, or malfunctioning facilities that lead to preventable accidents.
• Dog Bites and Animal Attacks: Pennsylvania law holds pet owners responsible when their animals injure others both in private property and public areas, with liability varying based on the injury’s severity and the animal’s history.
• Swimming Pool Accidents: Pool owners must maintain proper fencing, gates, covers, and warning signs. Accidents include drowning, slips around the pool area, and injuries from inadequate chemical treatment.
• Elevator and Escalator Accidents: Building owners must regularly maintain these systems to prevent sudden stops, door malfunctions, or leveling issues that can cause serious injuries to users.
• Falling Objects: Items improperly stored on shelves or in overhead spaces can fall and cause significant injuries, particularly in retail environments, construction areas, or storage facilities.
• Toxic Exposure: Property owners must protect visitors from harmful substances like lead paint, asbestos, carbon monoxide, mold, or chemical leaks that can cause both immediate and long-term health problems.

If you’ve been injured in any of these situations in Johnstown, Munley Law can help! Contact us TODAY for a FREE Consultation!

Compensation in Johnstown Premises Liability Claims

Premises liability victims may recover various types of compensation depending on the specifics of their case such as the severity of your injuries, the clarity of liability, the impact on your ability to work, and your long-term prognosis.

Medical Costs

Medical expenses are often the largest part of compensation. This includes emergency treatment, hospital stays, surgeries, prescription medications, physical therapy, specialized medical equipment, and follow-up care. Your claim should account for both current medical bills and the projected cost of future treatment. For serious injuries, Munley Law works with medical experts to accurately calculate these future expenses, ensuring you’re not left with unanticipated costs after your case settles.

Lost Income

If your injury prevents you from working, you can seek compensation for lost wages. This covers not just the income you’ve already lost but may also include reduced earning capacity if your injuries limit your ability to perform your job in the future. Self-employed individuals and business owners face particular challenges in documenting lost income. Munley Law can help gather the necessary financial records, tax returns, and expert testimony to substantiate these claims.

Pain and Anguish

Pennsylvania law allows recovery for non-economic damages like physical pain, emotional suffering, and loss of life enjoyment. These subjective losses are harder to quantify but no less real. The amount awarded for pain and suffering depends on factors like the severity and permanence of your injuries, your age, and how the injuries affect your daily life. Munley Law knows how to effectively present these damages to insurance companies and juries to ensure compensation.

How Munley Law Can Help with Your Johnstown Premises Liability Case

Munley Law will thoroughly handle your personal injury claim so that you can focus on recovering. Our process begins with an investigation of the accident scene, gathering evidence before it disappears. We identify all potentially responsible parties, which may include property owners and property managers, maintenance companies, or other contractors.

We understand insurance companies’ tactics and prepare strong cases that anticipate their defenses. While we strive to reach fair settlements without going to court, our attorneys are experienced and prepared for trial if necessary. Munley Law works on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. This arrangement allows you to access quality legal representation regardless of your financial situation.

Contact a Johnstown Premises Liability Attorney

If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property in Johnstown, don’t delay in seeking legal help! Pennsylvania law limits the time you have to file a claim, and evidence can disappear quickly. Munley Law offers free consultations to discuss your case. During your consultation, we’ll listen to your story, answer your questions, and provide honest feedback about your legal options.

Call TODAY or fill out our online form for a FREE Consultation!