When you enter another’s property, you expect that the owner has taken the same care and precaution you take when you have guests. However, that’s not always the case. In fact, falls are the leading cause of injury in Maryland and are responsible for more than 22,000 serious injuries each year.
If you’ve been injured, the dedicated Prince George’s County slip and fall accident lawyers at Foran & Foran, P.A. are here to help. We have extensive experience investigating, preparing, negotiating and litigating these cases and know what it takes to hold negligent property owners accountable for the harms our clients have suffered.
Maryland Law on Slip & Fall AccidentsSlip and fall accidents follow the general principles of negligence law. The responsibility of a property owner depends on the visitor’s status on the property. Maryland law uses four classifications for visitors in premises liability cases:
Invitees – An invitee is someone who is invited or allowed to be on the property of another for business purposes. The duty owed to an invitee is to use reasonable care to see that those portions of the property that the invitee may use are safe.
Social Guests – A social guest or “licensee by invitation” is someone who is allowed on the property as the guest of the property owner. The duty owed to a social guest or licensee by invitation is to exercise reasonable care to make the premises safe or warn the guest of known dangerous conditions that cannot be reasonably discovered by the guest.
Bare Licensee – A bare licensee is someone who is on the property with the consent of the property owner, but not by invitation and only for their own interests. Property owners only need to avoid intentionally causing injury to a bare licensee.
Trespasser – A trespasser is someone who is on another’s property without the consent of the owner of the properly. Property owners only need to avoid intentionally causing injury to a trespasser, as both trespassers and bare licensees take the property as they find it.
Proving Knowledge is CrucialIn all slip and fall cases, the issue of notice becomes a crucial element. A plaintiff cannot recover for an injury involving a dangerous condition unless the plaintiff can show that the owner had knowledge of the dangerous condition prior to the victims’ injury. The plaintiff can either show that the owner had actual knowledge of the dangerous condition or constructive knowledge of the dangerous condition.
There are two types of notice in Maryland slip & fall claims. Actual notice is when somebody on the property was made aware of a condition before the victim was injured and had sufficient time to correct the problem before the accident. On the other hand, constructive notice is when the condition of the premises existed for long enough before the accident that it could have been observed and corrected before the accident occurred.
Slip and Fall InjuriesInjuries resulting from a slip and fall can be very severe. For example, sometimes, victims land on their heads and suffer significant closed-head injuries. On the other hand, if the victim fell awkwardly or fell on their knees, they might have sustained major injuries to the neck, back, arms or legs.
Snow and Ice Slip & Fall AccidentsIt is important to note that there are cases from the Court of Appeals of Maryland that make successfully bringing a slip and fall case quite challenging. Essentially, if a victim knew or had reason to know of a dangerous condition that was created by ice or snow, the law assumes that they assumed the risk of slipping. In many cases, this means that the victim’s claim must be dismissed. Thus, most Maryland personal injury attorneys are very careful in taking slip and fall cases involving snow or ice. However, if you fell on “black ice" that was not readily observable or there was no alternate route to avoid the snow or ice, you’ll have a better chance of success. An experienced slip and fall personal injury attorney can help you investigate the necessary facts that may allow a slip and fall claim to be successful.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Slip and Fall Accident?If you or a loved one was recently hurt in a slip and fall accident, reach out to the dedicated injury lawyers at Foran & Foran, P.A. At our Prince George County personal injury firm, we have approximately 85 years of combined experience helping accident victims and their loved ones recover meaningful compensation for what they’ve been through. We’ve helped countless property owners accountable for the harm our clients have suffered, and we look forward to discussing how we can help with your case. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation today, call us at 301-441-2022 or connect with us online by filling out our secure online form.