Property owners have a responsibility to ensure that their premises are safe for those who have a right to be there. In general, a property owner will not be held liable for any injuries that happen to trespassers on their premises. However, that may not be the case if a child is injured, regardless of whether or not they were trespassing at the time they were harmed. Property owners need to be aware of attractive nuisance laws in Pennsylvania and what happens if they fail to properly secure certain aspects of their premises.
As summer heats up, understand attractive nuisance laws in Pittsburgh
Most people have a pretty good understanding that property owners can be held liable if their negligence causes injuries to those who have a right to be on their premises. However, what happens if someone is injured on your property after they were trespassing? In these cases, the property owner generally owes no duty of care to a trespasser, and will therefore not be liable for damages. However, there are exceptions for injuries that happen to children who have been “attracted” to something on the property and are subsequently injured.
Attractive nuisance laws in Pennsylvania require that property owners keep their property free from conditions that might attract children and cause injuries. A common example of attractive nuisance laws is pooling. Property owners are required to ensure that children cannot wander onto the property, get into the pool, and drown. This typically requires the property owner to build a fence with a locking gate around the pool.
However, there are other hazards that could cause harm the property owners may not think of. This includes trampolines, playground equipment, holes dug in the ground, mounds of dirt, construction materials, and more.
Ask the summer kicks into full gear here in Pittsburgh, property owners must take steps to prevent children from getting injured on their property. Regularly inspect and maintain your premises and quickly remedy any potential hazards. While the COVID-19 pandemic may have affected our ability to work and enjoy everyday activities, you can be sure that there will still be plenty of children around your neighborhood wandering and looking for something to do. Don’t let your property become a potential liability.
Our premises liability team is ready to help
If you or somebody you care about has been injured due to the careless or negligent actions of a property owner in Pittsburgh, contact an attorney as soon as possible. At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, our skilled and experienced team is going to stand by your side, investigate the incident, and work to secure any compensation you are entitled to. This could include coverage of your medical bills, lost wages, any household out-of-pocket expenses, pain and suffering damages, and more. If you need a Pittsburgh premises liability attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 888-988-9467.