Getting hurt on someone else’s property can leave you dealing with pain, medical bills and uncertainty about what happens next. You may wonder whether the property owner should have prevented the accident or warned you about the danger.
If you were injured in Bensalem, knowing what you need to show in a premises liability claim can help you understand your legal options.
Your status on the property can affect the owner’s duty
Your status on the property can affect the duty the property owner owes you. Pennsylvania law generally recognizes invitees, licensees and trespassers.
If you enter a Bensalem business as a customer, you generally qualify as an invitee. Property owners owe invitees a duty to take reasonable care of dangerous conditions they know about or should discover.
Knowing your status can help you understand the duty you may need to establish in a premises liability claim.
Your own actions may affect your recovery
Pennsylvania uses comparative negligence rules, which means the court may consider your share of fault when deciding how much compensation you can recover:
- If you contributed to the accident, the court may assign you a share of the fault.
- Your compensation may decrease based on your role in the accident.
- If your fault is 51% or more, you generally cannot recover damages under Pennsylvania’s rule.
This rule means the court can consider everyone’s role in causing the injury rather than automatically placing all the blame on the property owner.
Evidence may help show what happened
After an injury, details can become harder to establish with time. You can strengthen your claim by keeping photos of the dangerous condition, medical records, bills and information from people who witnessed the accident.
You should also keep any incident reports or messages you exchanged with the property owner or manager. These materials can help document the accident, your injuries and the condition of the property.
Taking action after a premises liability injury in Bensalem
A sudden injury on someone else’s property can leave you facing pain, expenses and many unanswered questions. You do not have to figure out every legal detail alone. If you hurt yourself, consider speaking with a personal injury attorney who can review your situation, explain your options and help you protect your claim. An attorney can give you greater clarity while you focus on your recovery.