WHAT CONSTITUTES A SLIP AND FALL CASE IN MARYLAND?

In the state of Maryland, slip and fall cases are relatively difficult to pursue successfully; Maryland law sets a fairly high bar for considering such accusations. That being said, constructing a solid slip and fall case is certainly possible, and litigation may be well worth considering if substantial injury indeed occurred. Generally speaking, the burden lies with the injured to prove liability on the part of the premises owner or occupier.

Under Maryland law, property owners are expected to provide a safe, hazard-free environment for patrons and guests. Any violation of this expectation can potentially become grounds for a slip and fall premises liability case. The court’s willingness to hear such a case–and the victim’s chances of emerging from litigation successfully–depend largely on two factors: liability and damages.

The Importance of Establishing Liability

In order to receive fair and proper compensation for a slip and fall accident, victims must be able to prove that the property owner was aware of or could be reasonably expected to be aware of the existence of dangerous conditions and elected not to address these conditions. In some circumstances, when the fall is precipitated by a long-standing defect or dangerous condition (such as a broken stair or a hole in the floor), negligence may be fairly obvious. In other cases, dangerous conditions may have arisen too recently to implicate negligent behaviour and thus liability (e.g., a carton of milk was spilled only seconds before the fall occurred).

Why Damages Matter

The second component of a solid slip and fall case entails proving the existence and monetary value of damages resulting from the incident. These can include medical expenses, income lost during injury, and any emotional and psychological trauma associated with the accident. The amount of compensation awarded to a slip and fall victim usually rests heavily upon the severity of injury and length of recovery time.

Your Maryland Injury Lawyer

As you can see, Maryland law requires a thorough proof of negligence and liability in order for a slip and fall case to proceed. Here at the Palumbo Law Group, we’ve been helping Maryland residents gain fair compensation for accidents and injury for over 40 years. No one wants to undergo the physical and psychological stress of injury, especially when it occurs thanks to negligence on the part of premises owners. If you find yourself injured from a slip and fall accident, your best course of action is to enlist experienced, dedicated, and thorough legal representation. Our personal injury lawyers have spent decades protecting the rights and wellbeing of unduly injured citizens; their expertise may pave the road to proper compensation for your injury.