Skip to content 
When Property Hazards Lead to Serious Injuries
A Philadelphia premises liability lawyer helps injury victims hold property owners accountable when unsafe conditions cause harm. If you’ve been hurt on someone else’s property, here’s what you need to know right away:
Quick Action Steps for Philadelphia Property Injury Victims:
- Seek medical care immediately – Your health comes first, and medical records are crucial evidence
- Report the incident to the property owner or manager in writing
- Document everything – Photos of the hazard, witness contact info, your injuries
- Don’t give recorded statements to insurance companies before talking to a lawyer
- Act fast – Pennsylvania’s two-year statute of limitations means you can’t wait
- Contact an experienced premises liability attorney for a free case evaluation
Property owners in Philadelphia – whether they run a business, rent out apartments, or own a home – have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe. When they fail to fix dangerous conditions or warn visitors about hazards, and someone gets hurt as a result, they can be held financially responsible.
Slip and falls on wet floors. Injuries from inadequate security. Accidents caused by broken stairs or poor lighting. These incidents happen more often than most people realize – several thousand premises liability claims are filed in Philadelphia each year. The stakes are high too. Medical bills pile up quickly. Lost wages create financial stress. Pain and suffering impacts your quality of life.
But here’s the challenge: Insurance companies representing property owners don’t work for you. They’ll often try to minimize your claim or deny it entirely. They might blame you for the accident. They’ll use technical defenses. They know most injury victims don’t understand Pennsylvania’s premises liability laws.
That’s where experienced legal representation makes all the difference. A skilled premises liability lawyer knows how to prove a property owner’s negligence, counter their defenses, and fight for maximum compensation. They handle the complex legal process while you focus on recovery.
I’m Jason Fine, a ten-time Pennsylvania Super Lawyers nominee with over 25 years of experience representing injury victims throughout Philadelphia. As a Philadelphia premises liability lawyer, I’ve recovered millions for clients hurt by property owner negligence – including cases where insurance companies initially offered nothing.
Understanding Your Rights with a Philadelphia Premises Liability Lawyer
When you’re injured on someone else’s property, the confusion and pain can feel overwhelming. You’re dealing with medical bills, missed work, and questions about what happens next. That’s exactly why we’re here—to help you understand your legal rights and guide you through every step of the process. As your Philadelphia premises liability lawyer, we want you to feel informed and empowered as you pursue the justice you deserve.
What is Premises Liability in Philadelphia?
Premises liability law in Philadelphia holds property owners and occupiers legally responsible when someone gets hurt due to unsafe conditions on their property. It’s a straightforward principle: if you own or control a property, you have a legal duty to keep it reasonably safe for others.
This isn’t just a suggestion or good practice—it’s a legal obligation. Property owners must actively maintain their premises in safe condition and warn visitors about potential dangers they might not notice. Think of the “Wet Floor” sign at your local grocery store. That’s premises liability law in action.
This duty of care applies to all types of property owners in Philadelphia. Landlords are responsible for common areas in apartment buildings like hallways, stairwells, and parking lots. While they may not be liable for hazards inside a tenant’s individual unit, shared spaces fall squarely under their responsibility.
Business owners—from grocery stores and restaurants to shopping malls and gyms—must ensure their premises are safe for both customers and employees. This means regularly inspecting for spills, maintaining clear walkways, and providing adequate lighting throughout their property.
Even homeowners aren’t off the hook. If you invite someone to your home and they’re injured because of a hazardous condition you knew about (or should have known about), you could be held liable for their injuries.
Here’s where it gets interesting: Pennsylvania law recognizes that not all visitors are the same. The level of care a property owner owes depends on why you’re there in the first place. Pennsylvania distinguishes between three main categories of visitors: invitees, licensees, and trespassers.
Invitees receive the highest level of protection under the law. These are people invited onto the property for business purposes—like customers shopping at a store or patients visiting a doctor’s office. Property owners must actively inspect their premises for dangerous conditions (whether they know about them or not) and either fix them or provide clear warnings. If you’re a paying customer or someone the owner invited for mutual benefit, you’re an invitee.
Licensees are social guests or people who enter property with the owner’s permission for their own purposes. Think of a friend visiting your home or a delivery person. Property owners must warn licensees about known dangers that aren’t obvious, but they don’t have the same duty to actively search for hidden hazards.
Trespassers generally receive the least protection. Property owners typically owe trespassers only the duty not to intentionally harm them. However, there are exceptions—particularly when it comes to children who might be attracted to dangerous conditions on a property.
Understanding which category you fall into matters tremendously for your case. It affects what the property owner should have done to keep you safe and what we need to prove to win your claim. That’s why having an experienced Philadelphia premises liability lawyer who understands these distinctions is so important to building a strong case.