How Lack of Signage Contributes to Premises Liability in Philadelphia Slip and Fall Cases

Slip-and-falls cause a wide range of injuries for unsuspecting people each year. One moment, you are walking through a store or past a business, and the next, you are in pain, sprawled across the floor. A stark reality is that many of these slip and falls could have been prevented. 

A lack of warning signs is a frequent cause of slips and falls. Simply informing you that a wet floor, loose floorbeam, or poorly lit area was approaching could reduce the likelihood of a slip and fall. On top of creating an atmosphere of unnecessary risk, a lack of signage is also a legal issue. 

Philadelphia slip and fall lawyer, Anthony C. Gagliano, III, Esquire, P.C., understands where a lack of signage can become a premises liability case, such as a slip and fall. When medical bills, pain, and suffering invade your life, don’t sit idly by. Instead, learn about these slip and falls and then contact our office today for a free of charge consultation. 

Understanding Premises Liability 

A property owner, municipality, or homeowner has a responsibility to maintain their property. This maintenance is intended to reduce the risk of a condition becoming a hazard and then causing injuries. 

When a property owner identifies a dangerous condition on their premises, it becomes their legal responsibility to remedy that dangerous condition. In the alternative, if that condition cannot immediately be fixed, a sign must be put up to notify a passerby of the issue, be it a wet floor or a poorly lit parking lot. 

A lack of signage that causes you to injure yourself is a serious matter. Slip and falls due to a property owner or municipality not placing appropriate signage warning you of a hazard create a legally actionable claim. In other words, their failure to keep you safe while a guest or patron on their property breaks the law and makes them liable for a premises liability lawsuit. 

What is Reasonable Care in Connection to a Slip and Fall Case?

Slip and falls are a sub-category of premises liability cases. When the restaurant owner does not shovel the walk in front of their pizzeria and you slip and fall on the melting snow, that is a premises liability case. In that situation, you must be able to show that the restaurant owner did not exhibit reasonable care towards you on the day of your slip and fall. 

Reasonable care is the level of care that a reasonable person would exhibit in the same situation. If you can show that an average person would have exhibited greater care in putting up appropriate signage, then you have a potential premises liability case. Common examples of proper signage include “Watch Your Step,” “Wet Floor,” etc. 

What Hazards Require Signage?

Much of the time, the hazards that lead to slip and falls are extremely common. Wet floors are a common cause for premises liability, as spilled drinks or a leaking air ventilation duct can create a hazardous condition. 

Icy walking paths or sidewalks are another common hazard in and around Philadelphia. Melting snow cannot always be seen from a distance. Depending upon your footwear, the time of day, and the thickness of the ice or snow, you could injure yourself severely. The property owner or other responsible party has a duty to post signage notifying passersby that there is a dangerous, snow-related condition approaching. 

However, when the party in charge of safety fails to place appropriate warning signs in the area, then the situation becomes much more dangerous. 

Proving Liability in a Slip and Fall Case Due to a Lack of Signage 

Did the property owner, municipality, or homeowner take reasonable steps to prevent your slip and fall from occurring? The answer to this question often starts and stops with answering whether the responsible party posted appropriate signage in the area where your slip and fall occurred. 

Missing signs, improperly maintained signs, or signs that are faded or illegible not only can cause injuries but also create a ripple effect of missed time at work, pain and suffering, and a diminished quality of life. 

First, you and your Philadelphia slip and fall lawyer must show that a hazardous condition existed. In other words was a slip and fall was likely to occur as a result of the hazard when combined with a lack of appropriate warning signage. The property owner must have also known about the hazard or should have known about it. 

Finally, did the property owner or other responsible party take any steps to identify the hazard and make it known to you in advance? As we have seen, appropriate warning signage is a simple, direct, and helpful way to alert guests, patrons, or anyone else as to the specific hazard on the premises. 

Contact a Top Philadelphia Slip and Fall Attorney to Learn More About Your Rights 

When appropriate warning signage was not utilized by a business or municipality, which led to you being injured, do not panic. The experienced legal team with Anthony C. Gagliano, III, Esquire, P.C., knows premises liability cases backwards and forwards. We pride ourselves on putting clients first in all areas of representation. Contact our office today for a free of charge consultation.