Pittsburgh
Premises Liability Lawyer

On This Page

1. Why Partner With a Premises Liability Lawyer in Pittsburgh?
2. Forms of Compensation You May Recover After an Accident in Pittsburgh
3. Our Lawyers Handle a Variety of Premises Liability Cases
4. Types of Injuries in Pittsburgh Premises Liability Cases
5. Common Causes of Premises Liability Accidents in Pittsburgh
6. Protecting Your Rights After an Accident on Someone's Property in Pittsburgh

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

August 08, 2025

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

Property owners have a duty to properly manage, supervise, and operate their property to protect the public from unnecessary risk of harm. If you have been injured due to the negligence of a property owner, you may recover compensation for your injuries.

After suffering injuries in a preventable accident, a Pittsburgh premises liability lawyer can fight for fair compensation to cover your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

Our Pittsburgh personal injury lawyers offer free, no-obligation consultations to help you explore your legal options. Call Berger and Green today to get started with our team.

Why Partner With a Premises Liability Lawyer in Pittsburgh?

You already suffered harm while on another party’s property. You don’t want to suffer through the claims process, too. Our team can manage everything your case requires to reach a fair outcome, from its initial filing to courtroom proceedings.

It’s also worth partnering with our team because:

• Insurance companies don‘t play fair. The liable insurer may do everything possible to delay or discredit your case. Our lawyers go into your premises liability case knowing this, and this insight allows us to counter any bad faith insurance practices.
• You may not know your damages‘ value. You may have a rough idea of how much your medical bills and lost income cost. But what about non-economic damages, like pain and suffering? Our Pittsburgh attorneys evaluate the accident’s effect on your life when determining what you deserve. We want to recover everything you need.
• We have a network of resources. Our Pittsburgh attorneys partner with accident reconstruction specialists, healthcare providers, and economists. We use these professionals’ knowledge to bolster premises liability claims.

Forms of Compensation You May Recover After an Accident in Pittsburgh

You may stand to recover various losses if you can prove negligence led to your accident in Pittsburgh. Damages may be economic or non-economic, and we can calculate what fair compensation would look like in your case.

Recoverable losses in a premises liability case include:

Economic Losses

Economic losses include medical bills, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses. If your injuries led to medical complications that require long-term care, they may warrant additional compensation.

Similarly, if your injuries prevent you from returning to work or earning your pre-injury income, you may seek compensation for this loss, as well. Your premises liability lawyer in Pittsburgh can talk to your doctors and look at your wage statements to calculate these damages.

Non-Economic Losses

Non-economic losses include pain and suffering, mental anguish, and scarring and disfigurement. If you suffered a permanent disability due to your injuries, you may also qualify for loss of quality of life.

Though they do not come with an exact dollar expense, they are no less worthy of compensation than your economic losses. Your injury attorney can use a couple of strategies to assign value to these damages.

Wrongful Death Losses

If you lost a loved one due to a negligent property owner, you can file a wrongful death claim or lawsuit. Financial recovery in a fatal premises liability case may comprise:

• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of future income
• Your loved one’s medical bills
• Loss of consortium for the companionship your loved one provided

You deserve to grieve your family member in peace. Leave your loved one’s fatal premises liability case to our wrongful death lawyers in Pittsburgh.

Our Lawyers Handle a Variety of Premises Liability Cases

For help in Pittsburgh, you can work with the personal injury attorneys at Berger and Green. We handle a wide range of premises liability claims, including:

• Slip-and-fall accidents
• Stairwell falls
• Swimming pool accidents
• Dog bites
• Negligent security measures
• Farm accidents
• Amusement park accidents
• Injuries from falling objects
• Collapsed decks and structures
• Fire and smoke inhalation injuries
• Other residential and commercial property injuries

We can assess your potential case during a complimentary consultation. We can then determine your legal options and tell you how much your case may be worth.

Types of Injuries in Pittsburgh Premises Liability Cases

Injuries sustained on someone else’s property can range from minor to life-altering—and the severity often impacts the value of a claim. Common injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) from falls, especially on concrete surfaces or stairwells
• Fractures and broken bones, particularly hips, wrists, and ankles
• Spinal cord injuries, including herniated discs or permanent paralysis
• Burns or smoke inhalation, often due to apartment or restaurant fires
• Soft tissue damage, such as torn ligaments or muscle injuries
• Lacerations and scarring from sharp or jagged surfaces
• Psychological trauma, especially in cases of assault or animal attacks

The more serious the injury, the more it may affect your ability to work, care for your family, or enjoy life as you once did. This makes detailed medical documentation critical, as it helps our Pittsburgh premises liability attorneys establish the scope of your damages and demand fair compensation.

Common Causes of Premises Liability Accidents in Pittsburgh

Premises liability accidents happen for many reasons, and Pittsburgh’s mix of historic buildings, active nightlife, and seasonal weather hazards makes certain dangers more likely. Our attorneys often see cases involving:

• Icy or untreated sidewalks and stairways, especially in winter months, across residential neighborhoods like Mount Washington and commercial areas like Market Square.
• Poor lighting in parking lots or apartment complexes, which can compound with other factors that lead to slip-and-falls, especially in areas near university campuses or older complexes.
• Loose railings or broken stairwells in older buildings, common in Pittsburgh’s many pre-war walk-ups and brownstones.
• Overcrowded or poorly supervised venues, such as bars and music halls in the South Side Flats, which may result in falls, trips, or trampling injuries.
• Failure to secure pets or install fencing, leading to dog bites or other animal-related injuries.
• Negligent security at large events, including concerts or sporting events.

Each of these situations represents a failure by the property owner or manager to address a known risk—a key component in proving negligence. If you were a guest, invitee, or patron of an establishment, you usually have the right to file a premises liability claim or lawsuit.

As long as you can prove the property owner owed you a duty of care, you can take action to pursue compensation after a preventable accident.

How We Prove Liability in Pittsburgh Premises Liability Cases

Not every accident on someone else’s property leads to a valid premises liability claim. To seek compensation, you must show that the property owner failed to uphold their legal duty of care—that is, they neglected to correct or warn about a dangerous condition they knew about or reasonably should have known about.

In order to prevent harm, property owners should:

• Inspect and maintain walkways, stairwells, and public access areas
• Clean up spills and wet surfaces in a timely manner
• Remove snow and ice in accordance with local ordinances
• Repair broken lighting, handrails, or uneven flooring
• Post warnings about temporary hazards
• Provide adequate security when necessary

When property owners neglect these responsibilities, preventable injuries can occur—and they can be held legally accountable.

With more than 40 years of experience, our attorneys know how to investigate a wide range of accident scenarios to determine whether a property owner’s negligence caused your injuries. These may include:

• Slip–and–fall incidents due to wet floors, poor lighting, or broken handrails
• Assaults at poorly secured venues, such as concerts or apartment complexes
• Hazardous structural conditions, like loose railings, debris, or collapsing decks

We’ll gather evidence, consult with experts, and ask the right questions to establish fault and pursue fair compensation on your behalf.

Potentially Liable Parties in a Premises Liability Case

The liable party in a premises liability case may include:

• The owner of private property
• A store owner or manager
• Contractors such as snow removal companies or construction companies
• A government entity

In some cases, multiple owners may be liable for your losses.

Protecting Your Rights After an Accident on Someone’s Property in Pittsburgh

There are a few ways you can support your premises liability case. First and foremost, seek medical attention immediately. Some conditions do not manifest symptoms until days or weeks after an accident, but your case depends on medical documentation that links your injuries to the accident.

If you fail to see a doctor, an insurer may state that you worsened your injuries in an attempt to undervalue or deny your claim. Similarly, if you do not keep your therapy appointments and follow through with your doctor’s orders, an insurer may be able to say you contributed to your losses.

Your doctor also plays an integral role in supporting your case. You should also see your primary care physician and any specialists they recommend.

What Evidence Can Help a Premises Liability Claim?

To build the strongest possible case on your behalf, we need solid evidence that proves the property owner’s negligence and connects it to your injuries. If you’re able to do so safely, collecting evidence immediately after the accident can make a major difference.

Here are some examples of evidence that may support your claim:

• Photos or video of the hazard that caused your injury—such as a wet floor, broken step, or poor lighting
• Witness statements from anyone who saw what happened or can verify conditions at the scene
• Security or surveillance footage from nearby businesses, buildings, or parking lots
• Incident reports filed with a store manager, security team, or police officer
• Medical records that show the severity of your injuries and when treatment began

Don’t worry if you didn’t gather this evidence yourself. Our legal team will step in to investigate, secure documentation, and preserve time-sensitive information before it disappears.

What to Do Immediately After a Premises Liability Accident

What you do in the minutes and days after an accident on someone else’s property can significantly affect your case. Taking the right steps helps protect both your health and your legal rights after a premises liability accident in Pittsburgh.

1. Seek medical attention right away. Your well-being comes first—and your medical records will serve as key evidence.
2. Report the incident. Notify the property owner, store manager, security personnel, or other party and ask for a written incident report.
3. Document the scene. Take photos of the hazardous condition, your injuries, and the surrounding area. If there were witnesses, try to get their names and contact information.
4. Avoid giving recorded statements. Insurance companies may contact you quickly. Do not agree to any recorded statements or sign documents without speaking to an attorney.
5. Contact a premises liability lawyer. The sooner you involve legal counsel, the better we can preserve evidence, communicate with insurers, and begin building your case.

Following these steps can help us pursue the compensation you deserve. If you’re unsure what to do next, reach out—we’re here to guide you from day one.

Comparative Negligence in Pittsburgh Premises Liability Cases

In some premises liability cases, the property owner’s insurance company may argue that you were partially responsible for the accident. Fortunately, Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule, as outlined in Pa. C.S.A. § 7102.

This means you can still recover compensation for your injuries—as long as you were less than 51% at fault for the incident. However, your compensation may be reduced in proportion to your share of the blame. 

This is a common insurance defense strategy, especially in slip-and-fall and trip hazard cases. That’s why it’s critical to have experienced legal representation.

Our attorneys know how to present strong evidence that places fault where it belongs—on the negligent property owner. We’ll fight back against any attempt to unfairly shift blame to you and ensure your role in the incident is accurately represented in your claim.

You Do Not Have Long to File a Lawsuit in Pennsylvania

If we decide the best course of action is civil litigation, we must act quickly. Under Pa. C.S.A. § 5524, you generally have two years to take legal action against a liable property owner. 

Filing past this deadline may result in the court dismissing your case.

Do not let a negligent party get away with causing the accident that led to your injuries. The sooner you call us, the better we will be able to protect your legal rights.

Bear in mind that negotiations with insurers do not stall the statute of limitations. Your deadline begins counting down from the date of your accident-related injuries.

No Upfront Fees to Start Your Pittsburgh Premises Liability Case

You should not have to risk further financial loss to hire legal help. With our firm, you do not have to.

We handle all personal injury claims on a contingency-fee basis, so you pay no attorneys’ fees unless we recover compensation for you. We can start your case as soon as possible without charging you any out-of-pocket expenses, either.

If we secure compensation, we will take a percentage of the settlement proceeds or court-awarded offer.

Contact Us for Help After a Pittsburgh Premises Liability Accident

If you were injured on someone else’s property, don’t wait to get the legal support you need. At Berger and Green, we’re ready to listen, evaluate your options, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Your consultation is completely free, and you won’t pay us anything unless we win your case.

We understand that your injuries may make travel difficult, which is why we also offer free home and hospital visits. Call, email, or reach out online today to get started with a Pittsburgh premises liability lawyer who puts your recovery first.