In a Premise Liability or Slip and Fall Accident, the Court Shall Liberally Interpret Federal, State, or Local Codes to Further the Goals of Safety Advises Experienced Pennsylvania Slip and Fall Lawyer
For the last three decades, I have successfully represented clients who have been injured in slip and fall accidents or have been harmed by falling merchandise, inadequate security, or other dangerous conditions on the premises of another. In most premise liability cases, there are federal, state, or local government codes that have been adopted in furtherance of promoting safety. Codes are only minimal legal standards and are not always the ultimate statement of what is and what is not safe, and in interpreting a code, one must always be liberal to that interpretation which provides the most protection and safety to the public.
While every jurisdiction has a specific choice and combination of various codes, the defense will almost always strongly argue that all codes were met. We often find that many codes are outdated or when strictly applied to a particular case do not further the goals of safety intended by the drafters. There are many safety and standards organization which maintain websites specifying the safety regulations and rules for such topics as floor safety, illumination of premises, uniform building codes, national building codes, Americans with Disabilities Act, or occupational safety and health. These are non-inclusive, and a cursory review of the regulations and codes reveals typical guidelines encountered in a premise liability or slip and fall legal case. Of course, each and every jurisdiction will have their own choice and combination of various codes to apply to each case, and all premise liability and slip and fall cases are uniquely different.
The experienced Pennsylvania premises liability and slip and fall lawyers of Reiff and Bily initially examine the local codes in the venue where a premise liability or slip and fall accident occurred and understand that these minimal legal standards should not be the absolute basis for consideration in determining what is or what is not safe. However, non-compliance with a code is considered to be grounds for negligence per se claim.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a premise liability or slip and fall accident or injured on the property of another, it pays to contact an experienced slip and fall or premise liability attorney who has decades of experience litigating these types of cases. The skilled Pennsylvania premise liability and slip and fall lawyers of Reiff and Bily have achieved numerous settlements or verdicts for a combined excess of hundreds of millions of dollars since 1979 on behalf of injured plaintiffs. Our skilled premise liability lawyers are members of the Beasley Reiff Law Group whose lawyers have collectively been awarded over two billion dollars since 1957. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation. Contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.
