Dangerous Conditions Leading to Premises Liability Claims

You entered someone else’s property and walked away with injuries, medical bills, and a thousand questions. Was it an accident, or did someone fail to keep the area safe?

Often, it starts with something small: a wet floor, a broken step, a missing lightbulb. When property owners ignore these hazards, people get hurt. Fortunately, Pennsylvania law gives victims the right to hold them accountable. These are known as premises liability claims, and they all share one thing in common: preventable dangers that were never addressed.

Here’s what you need to know about the most common and dangerous property conditions and your rights if you are injured.

What Is Premises Liability?

Premises liability is the legal responsibility property owners have to keep their land safe. They may be legally and financially accountable if they fail to fix a hazard (or warn you about it) and you get hurt.

To bring a premises liability case in Pennsylvania, you must show:

1. A dangerous condition existed on the property;
2. The owner knew (or should have known) about it; and
3. They failed to fix it, block access, or warn you.

You could be entitled to compensation if your injury happened because of negligence.

8 Property Hazards That Lead to Premises Liability Claims

Here are the top hazards that can turn a simple visit into a trip to a Pennsylvania ER.

1. Wet Floors and Slippery Surfaces

A freshly mopped floor without a warning sign, a leak under a soda machine, or rainwater tracked into a store can send someone crashing to the ground, causing broken bones, concussions, or worse.

Why it matters: Businesses are required to clean up spills and post warnings. If they didn’t, they’re likely liable.

2. Poor Lighting in Stairwells and Parking Lots

Dim or dead bulbs can hide trip hazards and broken steps. If you can’t see danger, you can’t avoid it.

Quick action tip: Take photos ASAP before the owner fixes the lighting and denies the issue existed.

3. Broken Stairs, Loose Railings, and Crumbling Balconies

When property owners skip inspections or ignore visible damage, structural failures happen fast and without warning.

Dangerous condition example: A rotted stair gives way, the railing fails, and a tenant suffers spinal injuries. That’s not an accident—it’s negligence.

4. Ice, Snow, and Outdoor Trip Hazards

In Pennsylvania, property owners must shovel, salt, and clear walkways after a storm. Delays can lead to serious falls, especially for older people.

Don’t get blamed: Save the shoes or boots you wore. Defense lawyers often blame footwear for dodging liability; keeping those items preserves key evidence.

5. Faulty Wiring and Fire Risks

Flickering lights, tripped breakers, or scorch marks are warning signs; ignoring them is a recipe for tragedy. Fires and electrical accidents are preventable, and owners can be liable when injuries happen.

What to do: Ask the fire marshal for inspection reports. Prior citations build a powerful negligence case.

6. Negligent Security and Crime on the Property

Property owners must take reasonable security measures, like fixing locks, installing cameras, or hiring security. When they don’t? Assaults and robberies can happen, and victims can sue.

Your next step: Always file a police report. It strengthens your case and proves the incident occurred.

7. Dog Bites and Dangerous Animals

If a property owner knows a dog is aggressive but fails to restrain it, they’re responsible for the damage it causes.

Build your case: Gather vet records, neighbor statements, and any previous complaints.

8. Swimming Pool and Drowning Hazards

Unfenced pools, unlocked gates, and a lack of supervision are disasters waiting to happen. Owners must take safety seriously to prevent a child from wandering into a yard or a guest from slipping into a pool.

Dangerous condition example: A homeowner leaves the pool gate open during a gathering. A toddler from next door wanders into the yard, falls in, and suffers a near-drowning. Property owners incur legal liability when they fail to install proper barriers, even if the child enters without an invitation.

When someone creates an unsafe environment or fails to secure it, the risk of serious injury increases for everyone. Let’s examine how Pennsylvania law handles these claims and how a dangerous condition becomes a legal case.

Do Property Owners Have to Warn You?

Yes, but the extent of this obligation depends on your reason for being there:

• Invitees (e.g., customers). You get the most protection. Owners must inspect the property, fix known hazards, and provide warnings about potential dangers.
• Licensees (e.g., social guests or delivery drivers). Owners must warn you about known dangers that may not be obvious, but they are not required to inspect for new or hidden risks.
• Trespassers. Property owners generally owe limited duties, but there’s an important exception for children. Under Pennsylvania’s version of the attractive nuisance doctrine, owners may be liable if they fail to secure dangerous features likely to attract kids, like pools or trampolines.

If you were hurt while lawfully on the premises, the law likely supports your right to pursue a claim.

Think You Have a Premises Liability Case?

Ask yourself:

• Were you legally on the property?
• Was there a dangerous condition?
• Did the owner know, or should they have known?
• Were there no warnings, barriers, or safety steps?
• Are you facing medical bills, lost wages, or long-term effects?

If you answered yes to most of those, you should speak with a dangerous property conditions lawyer.

Tactics Insurers Use to Minimize Your Claim

After your injury, the property’s insurer may act helpful, but their job is to pay you as little as possible. Expect to hear:

• “You should’ve seen the hazard,”
• “We didn’t have time to fix it,” or
• “You weren’t paying attention.”

Our team at Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers gathers evidence, pulls maintenance records, and investigates scenes to show when the danger appeared, what the property owner failed to do, and how it led to your injuries.

Talk to a Dangerous Property Conditions Lawyer Today

For decades, Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers has represented people injured by negligent businesses, landlords, and property owners across Pennsylvania. With a combined 75 years of experience, we know the difference between minor oversights and unsafe premises and can prove it in court if necessary.

Talk with us first if you’re wondering what to do after a fall, injury, or incident involving dangerous property conditions. Call today for a free consultation.