What Is Premises Liability Insurance Coverage?

On This Page

1. Premises Liability Insurance Covers Accidents on Private Property
2. You May Receive Multiple Compensatory Awards for a Personal Injury or Wrongful Death
3. Get Help with Your Case and Call Berger and Green

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

February 02, 2024

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

Premises liability insurance coverage is a policy that property owners can buy in case someone is injured on their property. If the owner is found to have been negligent, the insurance company will pay the victim compensation. This article will explain premises liability in more detail and explore what types of compensation they pay out.

Premises Liability Insurance Covers Accidents on Private Property

Premises liability insurance is a policy that covers property owners in case the owner’s negligence causes harm or injury. However, it only refers to a specific type of negligence.

Premises liability insurance covers damage caused by a property owner’s failure to maintain their property. Such failure may result in injuries caused by:

• Falling objects
• Slip or trip and fall accidents
• Broken walkways or stairs
• Standing water
• Icy or snowy sidewalks
• Hazards hidden by overgrown grass or bushes

The injuries themselves may be similarly diverse. They can include anything from bone fractures to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) or even death.

If you were injured by a hazard on someone else’s property, you may be able to sue for compensation. In this case, whatever compensation you receive will be paid by the owner’s premises liability insurance company rather than the owner themselves.

You May Receive Multiple Compensatory Awards for a Personal Injury or Wrongful Death

Why bother filing a lawsuit? What can you get out of it? In addition to knowing that you have held a negligent property owner accountable for their carelessness, you may be awarded monetary compensation to cover any expenses you incurred because of the accident.

Personal Injury

Cases that involve someone who suffered physical or mental injury are called personal injury lawsuits. You can file a personal injury case on your own behalf or hire a lawyer to do it for you. Monetary compensation in personal injury cases may include the following:

• Lost income: You could not perform your job while recovering from your injuries.
• Medical expenses: You needed (or still need) professional medical care or medications to treat your injuries.
• Disability: Your injuries cost you the total or partial use of a limb, sense, or organ.

Wrongful Death

Cases that involve someone who passed away because of another person’s negligence are called wrongful death lawsuits. According to 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 8301, you may file a wrongful death suit if you are the deceased’s spouse, child, or parent. Again, you can choose to hire a lawyer to represent you.

Monetary compensation in wrongful death cases may include the following:

• Funeral expenses: This includes costs for services related to laying your loved one to rest. The Federal Trade Commission has a checklist that helps you calculate what your loved one’s funeral may cost.
• Loss of companionship: Your loved one was an invaluable source of comfort and support. Their loss has had a huge emotional toll on the surviving family.

In wrongful death cases, you may also sue for similar damages that apply to personal injury cases. For example, if your loved one initially survived the accident and received medical care, you may qualify for compensation for those medical expenses.

Get Help with Your Case and Call Berger and Green

Lawsuits can be stressful. Insurance companies deal with lawsuits all the time. They hire lawyers who will do everything they can to shoot holes in your case and minimize the amount of money you can collect. If you cannot prove your case, you may have to accept what the insurance company offers, no matter how inadequate, or take your case to court.

However, you do not have to take on the insurance company lawyers by yourself, and you do not have to settle for less than what you are entitled to receive. A lawyer may assume the legal burden for you. They may:

• Complete and submit paperwork
• Collect evidence
• Identify and communicate with liable parties
• Negotiate a settlement
• Represent you at trial

You do not have to worry about how you will pay for a lawyer’s services. Many personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not have to pay attorney’s fees unless you get compensation.

Still have questions about what premises liability insurance coverage is? Call Berger and Green at (412) 661-1400 for a free case evaluation. We can explain premises liability insurance in more detail, walk you through the options available in your case, calculate how much compensation you may qualify for, and perform several other legal services to help you build your case.