NSURL does have this method:
- (BOOL)checkResourceIsReachableAndReturnError:(NSError **)error
Which “Returns whether the resource pointed to by a file URL can be reached.”
NSURL *theURL = [NSURL fileURLWithPath:@"/Users/elisevanlooij/nonexistingfile.php"
isDirectory:NO];
NSError *err;
if ([theURL checkResourceIsReachableAndReturnError:&err] == NO)
[[NSAlert alertWithError:err] runModal];