Philadelphia Injury Attorney Blog

When a condominium or apartment complex falls into disrepair, lacking improper security measures such as door locks, light fixtures, and a security system, a likely scenario can be presented for a criminal assault and/or killing. This event often gives rise to civil monetary damages if a lawsuit is filed by a victim or estate of a victim.

In Pennsylvania, as well as many other states, the law recognizes that the safety and privacy of condominium and apartment dwellers should be the top priority for all owners and operators. However as experience reveals, many times this is simply not the case. Unfortunately, throughout my 30 year career of practicing premise liability and inadequate security law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as well as co-counseling on other cases throughout the United States, we have investigated and litigated claims with tragic consequences that were easily avoidable.

Recently a case was resolved in Florida when a condominium owner who was walking to his car one day, was shot and killed, leaving two sons behind. A lawsuit was filed on behalf of the victim’s estate alleging inadequate security and also claiming that the property owner had hired an incompetent property manager with a criminal background who was unqualified to perform his duties.

In another case handled by our office, a young woman walking to her car at an apartment complex was sexually assaulted by a third party in a poorly lit parking lot area, and we were successful in recovering a substantial monetary result. Today more than ever technology is an important part of meeting security requirements, and inadequate security at a hotel, motel, condominium, or apartment house can result in the property owner’s liability to the crime victim for negligence.

For over 30 years, the experienced inadequate security and premise liability lawyers of Reiff and Bily have worked carefully with law enforcement officials and skilled investigators to analyze the circumstances of a personal injury resulting from inadequate security. We have examined past instances of victim abuse at the location and surrounding areas that should have put the property owner on actual and constructive notice that the facility was potentially dangerous to customers, visitors, or inhabitants. The inadequate security and hotel and apartment attack lawyers of Reiff and Bily are committed to protecting the rights of injured victims and consumers since 1979 and always offer a free, no obligation consultation. Contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

This past weekend, I was asked to comment on a case where a car slammed into a restaurant, broke through the walls, and injured a number of customers killing another innocent and unknowing victim who was dining. The initial investigation of the incident revealed that the elderly driver of the car meant to hit the brakes but instead pressed the gas pedal crashing into the building.

Just last year, I was consulted on a similar case where an elderly gentleman also erroneously hit the accelerator pedal rather than the brake and crashed through the walls of fast food restaurant catastrophically injuring innocent patrons. This unfortunate scenario is more common than one can imagine.

A skilled catastrophic injury and wrongful death lawyer experienced in the arena of restaurant crash accidents, premise liability, car accident law, and automotive product liability should immediately begin a comprehensive investigation of the facts and work closely with authorities and independent investigators to determine the causation of the accident. Often many complex theories of law become intertwined in the investigation and litigation of car crash into restaurant cases.

The experienced Pennsylvania product liability, premise liability, and car accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily works with experienced and independent structural engineers, architects, building, safety, OSHA, and cognitive behavioral assessment experts to carefully analyze the facts of each individual case. We request that our experts credibly opine about the inadequacy of curb and building structures, as well as immediately look for product defects on the striking vehicle including but not limited to; defective braking system, failure of steering system, or faulty acceleration .

There are many ways that a vehicle crash into a restaurant can occur. Perhaps the driver was intoxicated or under the influence of mind altering drugs or prescriptions. Perhaps the driver was speeding, or perhaps there was a defect with the vehicle that prevented the driver from stopping or having his vehicle under control.

At any rate, one thing is for certain, when innocent bystanders are harmed due to a car accident or premise liability claim such as this, they are entitled to have a full independent investigation completed by an experienced car accident and premise liability attorney who understands how in just a matter of seconds a victim and their family’s lives can be changed. The victim and their family have a right to expect that they will be entitled to recover monetary damages for the harm caused to them by the wrongdoers.

The experienced Pennsylvania car accident, premise liability, and product liability lawyers of Reiff and Bily have over 30 years of experience representing the interests of catastrophically injured victims and their families, offering a free no obligation consultation and a zero recovery, no fee guarantee. For more information contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.