Recent High Windy Conditions in the Philadelphia Area Cause Several Freak Accidents
I was driving out of my driveway the other morning when gusts of winds caused tree parts and branches to come falling down and I narrowly avoided one while driving down the roadway in my car. Many times when high winds sweep across an area, signs and other attachments to buildings which are not often properly installed can become loose, fall, and create a catastrophic consequence. Blowing debris is a major cause of damage during strong winds. Over the years, we have represented several clients who were injured due to flying roof shingles, construction site debris, and even a sign which blew off its hinge.
In one of our significant cases, the owner of a property had a “sick” tree on his premises which blew over and crushed a lady due to high wind. We were able to establish that the owner of the property knew or should have known that the tree was in a diseased state and should have been properly removed from his property as it possessed a danger of hazard in conditions such as the ones that were presented.
In Pennsylvania, a landowner or property owner must assume responsibility for the care and preservation of his own property and along with the benefits derived from the property, ownership brings certain obligations. If your property is not monitored and cared for properly with regard to safety defects, it can become a latent liability for the owner of the property. Many property owners fail to recognize that part of the legal duty to maintain their premises in a safe and hazard free condition include trees and roofing. It is important to properly inspect the property, as well as the health of trees, to reduce hazardous condition and prevent injuries to innocent passersby.
If you or a loved one has been injured by falling debris, please feel free to contact one of our experienced Philadelphia premises liability lawyers for a free no obligation consultation to fully investigate and examine your rights.
