Tree Fall Injury Lawyer in PA
On a hot summer day trees can provide a cool place to relax away from the rays of the blistering sun. Trees can also provide a branch to hang a swing from, or be a part of beautiful landscaping, or serve as the home for a number of animals. They can also be dangerous and deadly. Hundreds of people have been killed by falling trees and falling branches, and many others have been seriously injured. People don’t often think that something so commonplace as trees can pose serious health hazards if they are not maintained properly. While falling trees and branches can sometimes be an act of nature, many times, they could have been prevented with proper care and inspection. Trees that are diseased or infested with certain insects are not structurally sound, and are more likely to fall or break during windy or stormy weather. Dead trees and those whose roots have been exposed from eroding soil can fall with average wind speeds.
Trees usually fall without much warning and consequently can cause catastrophic injury to people in its path. Head injuries, skull fractures, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, broken bones, crush injuries, injuries to internal organs, and death have all been caused by falling trees and tree branches. If you or a loved one was seriously hurt by a falling tree, could someone else be to blame? If a landowner is aware a tree on his property is dead, diseased, or weak and poses a risk of falling, that landowner may be held responsible if his tree falls and injures someone. Some courts have held landowners liable for damage caused by falling trees where the owner should have known or realized a tree on his property was dangerous and likely to fall. Tree fall accidents may also occur if someone carelessly or improperly trims branches without taking into account where the branches are falling. In each of these cases, serious injuries and death could have been prevented. Property owners have a duty to prevent defective, dead, or dangerous trees from causing catastrophic injuries to people on adjoining property; this can include trimming branches that become too large or storm damaged, removing dead or diseased trees, and regularly inspecting trees to determine if they are at risk of falling. If a landowner fails to take these reasonable steps, he may be financially liable for injuries that occur as a result of a falling tree.
Tree fall accidents and injuries can be highly complex and may require an in-depth investigation as to the cause of the falling tree, and if anyone was aware that the tree was at risk of falling. If you or a loved one was seriously injured by a falling tree or tree branch, you need a Philadelphia premises liability attorney with the knowledge and experience in premises liability cases to help you determine who is responsible for your injuries.
