Snow and ice are big problems in most areas of Philadelphia this year. The number of car accidents involving them is growing, as is the number of premises liability claims. These claims relate to situations where a rightful visitor falls and suffers injuries, or is otherwise hurt, as a result of an owner failing to maintain a safe and hazard-free environment.
If you are a victim of such an incident, hiring a premises liability lawyer in Philadelphia from Kwartler Manus becomes a critical step in protecting your right to recovery of your damages. There are several factors to keep in mind if you are looking for an attorney.
Learn If You Have a Case
A good starting point is to understand if you have a premises liability claim. To do this, you must prove negligence occurred. There are four elements that you must meet to prove liability. Those include:
- The owner owed you a duty of care. You had the right to be on the property, whether residential or commercial. With that right, the owner has a reasonable expectation of maintaining a hazard-free property.
- The owner failed in that duty of care. To prove this, you must show the owner failed to remove ice and snow, did not clean it up well enough, or otherwise did not take steps to warn you of risks.
- The failure to fulfill the duty of care led to the accident. You must show that the owner’s lack of duty of care directly caused the incident. That means you did not contribute to the accident in any way.
- The accident resulted in injuries and financial loss. You can only file a claim if you suffered injuries resulting in the need for medical care.
There are many elements of this rule that are challenging when it comes to snow and ice, including proving you had the right to be on the property and that the owner had enough time to clear the snow and ice in a reasonable way. Because there are so many elements that play a role in getting this claim to happen, we encourage you to hire a premises liability lawyer who can guide you.
Steps to Choosing a Qualified Attorney
Suffering a slip and fall from snow and ice can cause traumatic injuries, broken bones, and lacerations. If a chunk of ice fell from someone’s roof and struck you in the head, you could have a traumatic brain injury or numerous other injuries. Proving negligence and then proving your right to compensation is challenging. To ensure you get the best chance, work with a qualified attorney.
Choose a Premises Liability Lawyer
Many personal injury attorneys handle premises liability matters, but not all. You specifically benefit when the attorney has experience with injuries stemming from snow and ice-related faults. Ask attorneys if they have experience with a case like yours. If so, ask what they did to help and what challenges occurred along the way. You also want to know the outcome.
Review the Attorney’s History
There are several ways to learn as much as you can about an attorney. A good starting point is to look for client reviews and testimonials online. Not every attorney will have a 100% track record or perfect five stars. However, you want an attorney whose clients recommend their services. If the attorney does not have any details like this available online, ask them to speak with a former client.
You can also use a wide range of third-party attorney websites to help you. You do not need to pay anything to use these services. Just be sure to gather as much information about the attorney as you can.
Set Up a Consultation
Most premises liability attorneys in Philadelphia will provide a free case review. This is a conversation with an attorney about Pennsylvania premises liability laws and your incident. Explain what happened, including where the snow and ice accident happened, what you did after the accident, and what specific losses you suffered.
Discuss your case details, including what evidence you have, what the owner did, and what any insurance companies have told you. Ask the attorney for guidance on whether you have a case, if the claim value is accurate, and what legal steps you can take to increase those values. Choose an attorney who makes the time to go over your case details with you and makes time to answer your questions.
You should also learn about the costs of their services, including when the attorney will charge and what those fees will be. Most premises liability lawyers in Philadelphia operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not have to pay anything until you win your case.
Get Started with a Consultation with Our Philadelphia Premises Liability Lawyer
At Kwartler Manus, our premises liability lawyer in Philadelphia is an advocate ready to fight for your rights. Set up a free consultation with us to go over your case. Do not let the snow and ice make you suffer.