Halloween is a fun time of year for kids and their parents to trick-or-treat in costume around the neighborhood. While it can be exciting, it is important to be cautious and aware of your surroundings. This is because the tradition of trick-or-treating requires you to go onto your neighbors’ properties. Doing so can be dangerous in the event that property owners do not take care of their grounds. When this happens, hazards may be present that lead to significant injuries. If you are injured on another’s property on Halloween, it is important to retain the services of an experienced attorney to assist your case.
Premises Liability Law
When an accident happens on another person’s property, it is important to be aware of premises liability law. In the state of Pennsylvania, all property owners have an obligation to take care of their grounds. This ensures that those who come onto it cannot become harmed due to poor conditions. If they fail to do so and a trick-or-treater suffers an injury, the property owner can be held liable. Situations that are covered under premises liability law can include:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dangerous conditions
- Defective security
- Inadequate maintenance
- Poor weather conditions
- Inadequate lighting
Seeking Compensation
Personal injury accidents can lead to great physical, emotional, and financial burdens. It is because of this that the injured party often wishes to pursue legal action in order to obtain financial compensation. This can be accomplished with a personal injury lawsuit. This works to hold property owners liable for negligence. In order to do so, the injured party is required to show the property owner knew, or should have reasonably known, about the hazard on their property and did not fix it. Thus, failing to protect trick-or-treaters. Evidence that can be used in court can include medical documentation of the injuries, pictures of the hazard, witness testimonies, and more.
Statute of Limitations
It is important to know there is a statute of limitations on filing a personal injury claim. This is a deadline that an injured individual must meet when filing a claim. If they do not, they may lose their opportunity to hold the negligent party liable. The statute of limitations in the state of Pennsylvania is two years from the date of the injury.
Contact our Firm
Attorney Newman has represented clients in Pennsylvania for over 45 years. If you need an experienced attorney to help guide you through the personal injury claims process or with any criminal defense matters, Attorney Newman is ready to help. Contact The Law Office of Neal E. Newman today to schedule a consultation.