Premises liability is the umbrella over every ‘hurt on someone’s property’ case — the doctrine that owners must keep property reasonably safe for the people they invite onto it. This page is the hub; the specific case types below each get dedicated treatment.
The Premises Family
- Slip, trip, and fall — the flagship: floors, sidewalks, snow and ice.
- Stairway accidents — code violations and structural failures.
- Swimming pools and hotels — hospitality and recreation duties.
- Negligent security — assaults enabled by inadequate lighting, locks, or staffing where incident history demanded better.
- Dog bites on property and child injuries — with heightened duties where hazards attract children.
What Every Premises Case Must Prove
Duty (calibrated to why you were there), a hazard the owner knew or should have known about, and a failure to fix or warn — with notice the usual battleground, proven through inspection logs, video, and prior complaints that vanish quickly. Comparative fault answers ‘you should have looked’; the six-month rule governs government property; Philadelphia’s sidewalk ordinances (phila.gov) assign responsibility to abutting owners. Our proving-fault guide and rental liability post cover the recurring questions; cases proceed in the Pennsylvania courts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between this page and your slip-and-fall page?
Slip-and-fall is the most common premises case and has its own dedicated page; this hub covers the full doctrine — security, pools, stairways, and everything property-related. Same framework, different fact patterns.
I was hurt at a friend’s house. Is that really a claim?
Homeowner’s insurance exists for exactly this — the claim runs against the policy, not the friendship. Social-guest cases have their own duty rules, which the consultation sorts out for free.
The property has no cameras. Can notice still be proven?
Yes — inspection and cleaning logs, employee testimony, prior complaints, and the hazard’s own characteristics (how long does a puddle that size take to form?) all establish notice. Cameras help; their absence doesn’t acquit.
How long do I have to file?
Generally two years under Pennsylvania law — with a six-month written-notice requirement for claims against government entities and special rules for minors and late-discovered injuries.
What does hiring you cost?
No attorney’s fee unless we recover for you; the contingency percentage and case-cost handling are in the written fee agreement you review before signing. Consultations are free.
Ready to talk about your case? Call (215) 464-4600 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation — contingency fee, no attorney’s fee unless we recover, costs explained in the written fee agreement.