When Property Owners Don’t Maintain Safe Spaces
We expect to be safe when visiting a friend’s apartment in Bethlehem, shopping at a store in Allentown, or walking through a parking lot in Freemansburg. But sometimes, a loose handrail, poor lighting, or a slippery walkway turns what should’ve been a normal day into a trip to the ER. If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property due to unsafe conditions, you might have a premises liability case—and it’s worth understanding your rights under Pennsylvania law. At Michael A. Snover ESQ Attorney at Law, we help clients across the Lehigh Valley hold negligent property owners accountable and recover what they need to move forward.
What Is Premises Liability?
Premises liability is a legal concept that holds property owners and landlords responsible for maintaining safe environments. That means making sure hazards are fixed, warning signs are posted, and routine upkeep is done. If someone is injured because the owner didn’t take reasonable care to prevent danger, that owner can be held financially responsible for the injuries and damages. These cases aren’t just about slips and falls—although those are common. They can also involve falling objects, inadequate security that leads to assaults, dog bites on private property, unsafe stairs, or broken elevators in apartment buildings. Basically, if the injury happened because of a dangerous condition that should’ve been addressed, there may be a case.
Who Can File a Premises Liability Claim?
In Pennsylvania, your legal status when you were on the property matters. If you were a legal visitor, such as a customer, tenant, or invited guest, the owner owes you a higher duty of care. They’re expected to fix known hazards and routinely inspect for potential dangers. If you were a licensee, like a social guest at a house party, the owner must warn you of dangers they know about—but they might not be responsible for hazards they didn’t know existed. Trespassers, on the other hand, have very limited rights—except in cases involving children or extreme negligence. For tenants, landlords have a duty to maintain common areas—like hallways, stairwells, and shared laundry rooms—in a safe condition. If you reported a problem that was ignored and you were injured as a result, that’s strong evidence of liability.
Proving Fault in a Premises Liability Case
To prove a successful claim, you need to show a few key things: that a dangerous condition existed, that the property owner knew or should have known about it, that they failed to fix it or warn you, and that this directly caused your injury. It’s not enough that you fell or got hurt—you have to link the injury to negligence. That’s why documentation is so important. If you’re injured, take photos of the scene right away (if you can), get names of any witnesses, and file an incident report with the property owner or business. Then get medical attention immediately—not just for your health, but to create a paper trail.
Common Lehigh Valley Examples
We’ve seen plenty of local cases involving poor snow and ice removal in Allentown apartment complexes, potholes in parking lots near shopping centers in Bethlehem, and unmarked wet floors in businesses around Fountain Hill. Sometimes it’s a stair railing that breaks unexpectedly or dim lighting in a parking garage that contributes to a fall. What these have in common is preventability—these weren’t just accidents, they were failures to take basic care. When that happens, you deserve more than a half-hearted apology—you deserve real support and compensation.
Why Legal Support Matters
Insurance companies are quick to blame the victim in premises liability cases. They’ll argue that you weren’t paying attention, that the hazard was “open and obvious,” or that the property owner couldn’t have fixed it in time. Don’t take their word for it. At Michael A. Snover ESQ Attorney at Law, we work closely with clients in Bethlehem, Allentown, Freemansburg, Fountain Hill, Rittersville, and throughout the Lehigh Valley to gather evidence, speak to witnesses, review inspection records, and build strong cases. We know what details make the difference—and we fight to make sure your voice is heard.
Take the First Step Toward Justice
If you or a loved one has been injured due to unsafe property conditions, don’t shrug it off or assume it was “just bad luck.” You may have a legal right to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, and long-term impact. Visit www.snoverlaw.com to schedule a confidential consultation. We proudly serve the Lehigh Valley and Eastern Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania and are here to help you hold negligent property owners accountable—because everyone deserves to feel safe where they live, shop, and walk.
