WE WILL FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL FOR YOUR TRIP & FALL CASE
Trip & Fall Accidents in Maryland
Welcome to the law office of peter t. mcdowell
Maryland Trip & Fall Accident Lawyer
If you have been involved in a slip and fall accident (or “trip and fall”), you may be entitled under Maryland law to collect financial compensation. It is important that you know and understand your legal rights so that they are not forfeited or misapplied.
Slip and fall accidents are considered premises liability cases. In order to be eligible for a financial award in Maryland, the plaintiff’s (victim’s) lawyer must prove several facts. Proving these is not an easy undertaking, and therefore requires the professional assistance of an experienced Maryland slip and fall accident lawyer.
In Order To Win Your Lawsuit, Numerous Facts Must Be Established
1) The Business Was Negligent In Allowing the Condition That Caused the Accident
The question is: did the owner cause or was he or she aware of the condition and did nothing about it, or, should the owner have known about the condition?
2) The Condition Actually Caused the Injury
It must be proven that the condition was actually what caused the accident – this is called causation. Eye-witness testimony, business records and medical experts can be used here.
3) You Did Not Contribute To the Accident in Any Way
Maryland law applies contributory negligence to slip and fall cases. This means that if you contributed to the accident in any way, even less that 1%, your claim will be denied. Did you ignore warning signs, or were you distracted by using your cell phone?
Slip and Fall, or Trip and Fall Common Causes
Liability refers to who is legally at fault for causing the accident as a result of negligence. As discussed previously, the defendant (business owner) must be 100% liable, not even 99%.
Below are some of the common causes of slip & fall and trip & fall accidents. If you’ve been involved in such an accident, do not attempt to determine yourself whether you have a valid claim – instead allow us to analyze your case and give our opinion.
- Slippery surfaces (e.g., waxed or mopped floors, dripping water or ice formation)
- Loose or uneven floorboards
- Worn out carpeting
- Defective sidewalks
- Parking lot potholes
How much financial compensation can you get?
In car accident cases, injuries and losses are called “damages” or “specials” which can be recovered via a jury verdict, a judge’s ruling or a settlement. In Maryland, an accident victim can recover damages related to four general categories:
- Medical expenses,
- Property damages,
- Value of time missed from work called “lost wages,” and
- “Pain and suffering”
Determining medical, property and employment damages can be relatively straightforward using receipts and documentation. Determining the monetary equivalent for “pain and suffering,” also known as intangible losses, is a much more complex and challenging undertaking.
Even if all “economic” damages were recouped, the accident victim is still faced with “non-economic” losses, i.e., the impact that the accident and injuries had on his or her life, past, present and future. Creating justification for the financial equivalent of these losses is an integral part of the case, and once again should be undertaken by an experienced Maryland trip 7 fall accident attorney.
Contact Us Today to Get Started
There are time limitations on your right to file a trip & fall lawsuit. These limitations are called “statutes of limitations,” and if they are not met the claimant/victim would be solely responsible for any medical bills, lost wages, and future medical expenses that result from the accident.
Please call us today at 410-296-8160 or email us for a FREE and CONFIDENTIAL consultation where you will learn:
- if you are eligible for financial compensation,
- an estimate of your potential financial recovery, and
- how long you have to file your claim or settle your claim