York Premises Liability Lawyer

Property owners have a legal obligation to maintain safe conditions for visitors and workers. If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property—whether you slipped on an icy walkway at a shopping center, fell down poorly maintained stairs at an apartment complex, or were hurt at a construction site—a York premises liability lawyer from Munley Law can help. For 65 years, our legal team has represented York County residents who’ve suffered injuries due to negligent property maintenance and inadequate security.

Contact Munley Law for a free consultation to discuss your case. Our experienced attorneys will evaluate your situation, explain your legal options, and fight to hold negligent property owners accountable.

How Our York Premises Liability Lawyers Can Help

When you work with Munley Law, our premises liability attorneys handle every aspect of your case. Our team thoroughly investigates your accident, gathering security footage, maintenance records, witness statements, and other evidence. Medical experts are consulted to document your injuries and calculate the full extent of your damages.

Through years of experience, our firm has become familiar with the tactics insurers use to minimize payouts. They might claim your injuries existed before the accident, argue you were primarily at fault, or pressure you to accept a quick settlement before you understand the full extent of your injuries. Our experienced negotiators protect you from these strategies and fight for fair compensation.

We prepare every case as if it’s going to trial. Our premises liability attorneys have extensive courtroom experience and the resources to present compelling evidence to juries.

What Is Premises Liability Law?

In Pennsylvania, property owners must maintain safe conditions for people who enter their premises. This includes conducting regular inspections, making prompt repairs, and warning visitors about potential hazards. When owners fail to meet these responsibilities, they can be held liable for resulting injuries.

The law requires owners to fix dangerous conditions within a reasonable timeframe. For example, if a store knows about a spill, they must clean it up promptly and place warning signs in the meantime. Similarly, apartment complexes must repair broken security gates and lighting systems to protect residents.

Premises liability encompasses many types of accidents. Beyond common slip and falls, we handle personal injury cases involving:

• Falling merchandise in retail stores
• Elevator and escalator accidents
• Parking lot injuries
• Swimming pool accidents and drownings
• Dog bites and animal attacks
• Injuries from inadequate security
• Snow and ice accidents
• Defective stairs or handrails
• Building code violations

Types of Visitors: Invitees, Licensees, and Trespassers

Pennsylvania law recognizes different categories of visitors (and potential victims of hazardous premises), each with varying levels of protection. Invitees, such as store customers, restaurant patrons, or apartment tenants, receive the highest level of protection. For this type of visitor, owners must actively inspect for hazards, fix dangerous conditions promptly, and warn about any risks they can’t immediately address.

Licensees are those who have permission to be on the property but are there for their own purposes. This includes social guests, salespeople, or contractors working on the property. Owners must warn licensees about known dangers but don’t have the same duty to inspect for hazards as they do with invitees.

Even trespassers have basic protections. While property owners don’t owe them the same duty of care as they do other types of visitors, they can’t intentionally create dangerous conditions to harm trespassers. This is especially important in cases involving children who might be attracted to features like swimming pools or construction equipment.

Speak with our team to determine your visitor classification and how it affects your claim.

Common Hazardous Property Conditions in York

Property owners often fail to address dangerous conditions that lead to injuries. Wet floors from leaks, spills, or cleaning often cause slip and fall accidents. When staff fails to place warning signs or clean up promptly, serious injuries can result.

Structural hazards pose significant risks. These include crumbling stairs, loose handrails, uneven pavement, and potholes in parking lots. Poor lighting compounds these dangers, making it harder for visitors to spot and avoid them. Building code violations like improper stair height or missing guardrails frequently lead to accidents.

In apartment complexes, private residences, and businesses, inadequate security measures enable criminal activity. Broken locks, poor lighting, and lack of security cameras or patrols can make properties attractive targets for criminals. When property owners know about criminal activity but fail to increase security, they may be liable for resulting injuries.

Winter weather creates additional hazards. Owners must clear snow and ice within a reasonable time after storms. They should also address recurring issues like black ice from poor drainage or melting and refreezing.

Proving Negligence in a York Premises Liability Case

To win your case, we must show that the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition and failed to address it. This requires proving four elements:

First, we establish the property owner’s duty of care based on your visitor status. Then we demonstrate how they breached this duty, whether through action or inaction. We connect the property owner’s negligence directly to your injury and document your resulting damages.

Evidence collection starts immediately. We obtain surveillance footage before it’s erased and photograph the accident scene before repairs are made. Our team reviews maintenance records and incident reports to show patterns of negligence. We interview witnesses while memories are fresh and consult with safety experts who can testify about industry standards.

Weather records, building code requirements, and crime statistics can strengthen your case. In cases involving inadequate maintenance, we investigate whether the property owner ignored previous complaints or skipped regular inspections to save money.

Medical documentation proves the extent of your injuries. We work with your healthcare providers to obtain detailed records and may consult medical experts who can testify about your long-term prognosis and future care needs.

Learn how our York personal injury attorneys can help prove negligence in your premises liability case and recover compensation for you.

Compensation Available for Premises Liability Lawsuits in York, PA

Your settlement or verdict should cover all medical expenses related to your injury, full stop. Current medical bills are just the starting point: Many injuries require ongoing care, physical therapy, or future surgeries. We calculate these future medical costs with help from experts.

Lost income includes missed work during recovery and reduced earning capacity if you can’t return to your previous job. We document exactly how your injuries affect your ability to work and the progress of your career.

Insurers often undervalue non-economic damages like pain and suffering. Our attorneys ensure these significant impacts are properly valued in your claim.

Property owners may also owe compensation for:

• Medical devices and home modifications
• Transportation to medical appointments
• In-home care services
• Physical pain and discomfort
• Emotional distress and anxiety
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Impact on personal relationships
• Permanent disability or disfigurement

Frequently Asked Questions About Premises Liability Claims in York

How Long Do You Have to File a Premises Liability Lawsuit in York?

Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations allows two years from your injury date to file a lawsuit. This deadline applies even if you’re still negotiating with insurance companies. Once it passes, you lose your right to seek compensation through the courts.

However, in some cases the timeline is shorter. If you’re injured on government property, you must file notice of your claim much sooner—within six months. For children, the two-year clock typically starts running when they turn 18.

Investigating your case takes time. Owners might destroy evidence, either deliberately or through routine maintenance. Security footage is often deleted. Weather conditions change, and hazards get repaired. Witnesses become harder to locate over time.

Insurers use delays to their advantage. They might drag out negotiations until evidence disappears or the statute expires. This makes it harder to prove your case or forces you to accept a lower settlement.

What if You’re Partially at Fault for the Accident?

Under Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence rules, you can still recover damages if you’re less than 51% responsible for the accident. Your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re found 20% at fault, you’ll receive 80% of the total damages.

Owners often try to shift blame to injured people and insurance companies often exaggerate victim fault to reduce settlements. They might claim you were distracted, wearing inappropriate footwear, or ignored warning signs. Even if these factors contributed to your accident, you may still have a strong claim.

Our attorneys know how to counter these arguments with a successful premises liability claim. We gather evidence showing the property owner’s greater share of responsibility.

Why Choose Munley Law for Your York Premises Liability Case?

Since 1959, Munley Law has fought for injured people across Pennsylvania. Our attorneys have recovered millions for premises liability clients through settlements and verdicts. We invest the resources needed to build winning cases.

We take cases on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win money for you. This lets you focus on recovery while we build your case.

Contact Munley Law Offices Today for a Free Consultation

Starting your claim is simple. Call us or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. We’re available 24/7 to answer your questions.

During your consultation, we’ll:

• Review details of your accident
• Explain your legal rights and options
• Answer your questions about the claims process
• Discuss how we can help with your specific situation
• Outline our contingency fee structure

You don’t need to bring anything to your initial consultation, but if you have accident photos, medical records, or correspondence from insurance companies, these can help us evaluate your case.