Prince George’s County Slip & Fall Lawyers

Living, working, and simply going about your daily life means you will inevitably find yourself visiting stores, restaurants, offices, apartment buildings, and countless other properties that are owned and maintained by someone else, and while we all like to assume these places are safe, the unfortunate truth is that hazards can appear suddently and cause serious injuries before anyone even realizes what went wrong. It really only takes a momentary oversight to change someone’s entire life, especially when a slippery floor, broken step, or poorly lit walkway causes a fall that leads to lasting medical consequences. If you’ve been injured, please don’t hesitate to contact the knowledgeable and skilled Prince George’s County slip & fall lawyers at Miller Berman for a free consultation today.

What is Premises Liability?

Premises liability is an area of law that focuses on a property owner’s legal responsibility to maintain reasonably safe conditions for the individuals who enter their property. This means that businesses, landlords, homeowners, and other property owners must take certain steps to prevent injuries and warn visitors about hazards that could cause harm. When they fail to do this, and someone gets hurt as a direct result, the injured party may have what is known as a premises liability claim.

To put it simply, if there was a dangerous condition on someone else’s property and that condition should have been fixed, removed, or at the very least clearly marked, there is a good chance the property owner may be held legally accountable, and our PG County personal injury lawyers can help.

Maryland Premises Liability Law and Legal Standards

Maryland has very specific legal standards in place that determine when a property owner is responsible and what level of care they owe a particular visitor. In many cases, your exact rights depend on the classification of visitor you were at the time of the accident. In Maryland, visitors are divided into three primary categories, with each having a different level of protection. These categories are as follows:

• Invitees: Invitees are individuals who enter property for the owner’s benefit, such as customers in a grocery store or clients visiting a business. Property owners owe invitees the highest duty of care, including inspecting the property and correcting hazards they know of or reasonably should know about.
• Licensees (Social Guests): Licensees are people who enter property for social purposes or personal reasons. Homeowners must warn licensees about known hazards that are not likely to be discovered without a warning.
• Trespassers: Trespassers are individuals who enter property without permission. For these individuals, property owners owe only a minimal duty. However, owners cannot intentionally cause harm, and special rules may apply to child trespassers.

Common Causes of Premises Liability Injuries

Some hazards appear more often than others, and you should be aware of some of the most common causes of these accidents. They are as follows:

• Wet or slippery floors
• Spilled food or drinks
• Loose carpeting or tile
• Uneven flooring
• Poor lighting
• Damaged stairways
• Missing handrails
• Icy walkways
• Cracked sidewalks
• Falling merchandise
• Negligent security
• Defective elevators and escalators

Compensation You May Be Entitled to Recover

If your claim succeeds, you may be entitled to financial compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, future medical needs, pain and suffering, and other losses resulting from your injuries. All cases are different, and the value of your claim will depend on the severity of your injuries and the specific circumstances that led to your accident.

Contact Our Maryland Slip & Fall Lawyers

If you believe a property owner’s negligence caused your injuries, do not wait. Instead, give the slip and fall lawyers here at Miller Berman a call today. We’re here to investigate your case, gather evidence, and work to hold the responsible parties accountable. Contact our Prince George’s County slip and fall lawyers for a free case evaluation today.