Common Examples of Premises Liability Cases

Let’s be real: Nobody expects to fall through a rotting stair or slip on a greasy floor in a grocery store. But when property owners fail to fix hazards or warn people about dangers, someone always pays the price. And it’s rarely the owner—unless you take action to assert your rights in a premises liability claim. Under Pennsylvania law, you could have a claim for premises liability if you were legally on someone’s property and got hurt due to their carelessness. From icy sidewalks to broken elevators, a neglected property can become a trap in countless ways. However, the law isn’t always on your side automatically. First, you’ll need to prove fault, and that’s where a good attorney makes all the difference.

In this blog post, we’ll look at some common premises liability case examples in Pennsylvania and explain how a skilled attorney from Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers can help you take action to get justice after an injury.

What Are Premises Liability Cases?

Premises liability cases are personal injury claims that arise when someone gets hurt on another person’s property due to unsafe conditions. These injuries can happen in homes, stores, apartment buildings, workplaces, or public spaces. Pennsylvania legally obligates public and private property owners (or whoever controls the premises) to keep their property safe for visitors, customers, and tenants.

Under Pennsylvania premises liability law, your ability to sue depends on your legal status at the time of the injury. This breaks down as follows:

• Invitee. Individuals explicitly invited onto premises for business purposes have the highest level of legal protection, meaning property owners must regularly inspect the area and warn about or repair known hazards. Shoppers, retail customers, and clients in professional offices are all invitees.
• Licensee. People who are welcomed onto the property as guests for social or non-business reasons have moderate protection from hazards. Owners must warn licensees of known dangers that are not obvious but are not required to inspect for unknown hazards.
• Trespasser. Someone who enters a property without permission has limited legal protection, unless the injury involves gross negligence or children and “attractive nuisances.”

Once you establish status, you have two years to file your premises liability suit. Now, let’s break down the most common premises liability case examples so you know what to watch out for.

What Are Premises Liability Case Examples in Pennsylvania?

Although no two accidents are exactly alike, most successful premises liability cases fall into one of the types of premises liability cases below:

• Slip and fall accidents. Think wet floors, icy sidewalks, loose tiles, and unmarked hazards. These are among the most common premises liability case examples and often happen in places like supermarkets, office buildings, and parking garages.
• Trip and fall incidents. Uneven carpeting, exposed wiring, and cracked pavement can all lead to nasty falls. Unlike slipping cases, these often involve an abrupt elevation change that isn’t immediately obvious.
• Poor lighting conditions. Inadequate lighting in stairwells, hallways, or exterior walkways can make it impossible to see hazards or obstacles, especially at night.
• Negligent security. Property owners in high-crime areas (like parking lots, hotels, or apartment complexes) must provide protective measures like lighting, locks, or security personnel. If someone gets assaulted due to a lack of basic precautions, the owner may be liable.
• Dog bites and animal attacks. Owners are liable for attacks by dangerous dogs, even if it’s the first incident. If the dog has shown aggressive behavior before, the case for liability becomes stronger.
• Elevator and escalator failures. Mechanical defects or missed maintenance checks can lead to terrifying injuries, especially in apartment buildings and shopping malls.
• Falling objects. Items that fall from shelves or construction sites can cause serious head injuries. Owners and managers must ensure objects are adequately secured and storage areas aren’t overloaded.
• Swimming pool accidents. These often involve children and require owners to secure the area with fences, locked gates, or pool covers. Failure to do so can be considered gross negligence.
• Toxic fumes or hazardous materials. Exposure to mold, carbon monoxide, or cleaning chemicals without warning signage or proper ventilation may also lead to a viable case.

These types of premises liability cases can result in physical injuries, financial stress, and emotional trauma. And, while insurance companies may act sympathetic, make no mistake: They’re not in the business of paying fairly unless someone makes them. That’s where we come in.

Why Do I Need a Premises Liability Lawyer Who Doesn’t Mess Around?

When you’re injured, time isn’t on your side. Critical evidence disappears. Surveillance footage gets erased. Witnesses forget what they saw. And insurance companies? They’ll lowball you or stall until you give up.

Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers doesn’t play that game.

We fight to work fast, dig deep, and never let big businesses or indifferent landlords push our clients around. Our founding partner, Laurence Rosen, built his career taking on some of the world’s most powerful corporate defendants and winning. He knows how they think, and he knows how to beat them.

When you work with us, you get:

• One-on-one attention from a seasoned premises liability attorney, not a case manager or call center;
• No upfront legal fees and no out-of-pocket costs;
• An award-winning team with 75+ years of combined experience in injury law; and
• A relentless commitment to helping you get the compensation you need to heal and rebuild your life.

We don’t bluff, stall, or settle for less than you deserve. We build cases that win, and we strive to fight until they do.

Ready to Talk? Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers Is Ready to Listen

If you believe you have a premises liability case, don’t wait. Call Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation. Our Philadelphia-based team proudly serves clients across Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery, and Bucks Counties. We’ll review your situation honestly, explain your options clearly, and—if you have a claim—fight for every dollar you deserve.

No fluff. No fine print. Just real people helping real people get justice.