Chestertown, Maryland, is a quaint city distinctive in history as the oldest county, founded in 1706. Within Chestertown’s borders is Washington College, founded in 1782. Regardless of the historical significance, the area is still subject to slip-and-fall accidents.
Suppose you need the council of a Chestertown, MD slip and fall accident lawyer. In that case, the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow are available to help. Our personal injury team offers free initial case evaluations. We listen to your accident description and can advise you on your next steps.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents are considered personal injury claims. In some cases, your claim may also fall under a premises liability claim. Both classifications fall under tort law, a set of laws protecting people and property when accidents happen.
The American Bar Association (ABA) states that all tort cases include two primary components – liability and damages. Our slip and fall accident team will answer the following questions:
- Was the defendant responsible for the accident that caused your injuries?
- What injuries have you sustained, and how severe are they?
Once we can prove fault, our team will build a solid claim to begin fighting to compensate you for your physical and emotional damages.
For legal consultation with a slip and fall accident attorney in Chestertown, call (410)777-8960
Exploring Compensation for a Slip and Fall Accident
There are two general types of compensation for injuries – economic and non-economic losses. Economic losses are those costs that accompany an accident for medical care and rehabilitation. Non-economic losses don’t have an attached monetary value. Still, they include pain and suffering and the emotional toll an accident leaves behind.
We can only tell you a set value for your claim once we evaluate your case. The variables include your outgoing expenses and the severity of your injuries. Once our team begins your claim process, we will look at everything to determine a monetary value.
Economic Losses
Costs and expenditures that are documented fall under economic losses. They can include the following:
- Ambulance transportation
- Hospitalization
- Surgical procedures
- Medications
- Medical devices
- Physical or occupational therapy
- Follow-up medical treatment
- Home modification, if necessary
- Lost wages
- Property damage
Any documented loss attributed to your accident and injuries might be included as an economic loss.
Non-Economic Losses
The list of non-economic losses does not have a monetary value. It includes a system of variables that our slip and fall accident team will use to establish a fair value. Some of the areas we consider for non-economic losses include
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional turmoil
- Partial or complete disability
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of your quality of life
- Loss of consortium (change in your marital relationship)
Our team will gather evidence to support your non-economic claims based on your prognosis to build a strong claim for your compensation.
Chestertown Slip and Fall Accident Attorney (410)777-8960
The Benefits of a Caring Law Firm
When you enter into a fee agreement with our slip and fall accident team, you can take advantage of having a caring law firm on your side. We fight for your rights against insurance companies and other entities that might try to reduce the value of your claim. We don’t allow them to get away with negligent behavior that injures people.
With more than ten years of championing personal injury cases in Maryland, our team is prepared to put that experience to work for you. We work tirelessly to gather evidence and build a solid claim to get your compensation. Our results tell our story.
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Understanding the Cost of a Lawyer
You may worry about the cost of a lawyer when you are already overwhelmed with medical bills and day-to-day living expenses. Still, you won’t have any upfront costs. Our team will explain our fee arrangement with your free case evaluation.
We will receive our fee when your claim is resolved. That frees up your cash flow to care for your family’s needs and allows you to recover from your injuries with peace of mind. We handle all the details of your claim, including all negotiations with insurance companies. You will have the final decision to accept or decline any settlement offers.
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Time Limits and How They Affect Your Claim
Per Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code § 5-101, you have three years to file a claim for personal injury. The clock starts on the day of your injury. Failure to meet the statute of limitations could result in the dismissal of your claim.
When you enlist the services of our slip and fall accident team, we handle all aspects of your case. We will file all necessary documentation by the prescribed deadline.
Finding the Liable Party
It can sometimes be challenging to prove negligence in slip and fall injuries. Our personal injury team will thoroughly investigate your accident to determine the liable parties. Some of the questions we must answer include the following:
- Were you on the property legally?
- Were you a guest or customer of a business?
- Did the owner know you were on the property?
- Was the cause of your accident evident? Were there warning signs for a wet floor, painted warning marks, or other obvious signs to avoid the area?
Other things we will look into include the general lighting in the area of your fall, other evident hazards, and safety devices such as handrails. The guideline we adhere to is “Would a normally prudent individual have a similar accident if presented with an identical set of circumstances?” With a “Yes” answer, we will move into proving the four elements of negligence.
Proving Fault
All personal injury claims much meet specific criteria, identified as the four elements of negligence, which are:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
We prove that the property owner or management firm was negligent by meeting these four elements. They were obligated to provide a safe property (duty of care) and failed to maintain the property safely (breach of duty). Their failure caused your slip and fall accident (causation), resulting in your injuries (damages).
Defining Your Next Steps
When you have questions about whether your injuries might be compensatable, discussing your slip and fall accident with an attorney can be helpful. We offer a complimentary case evaluation at the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow. Our personal injury team will hear your account of the accident and provide objective advice about your next steps. Contact our Chestertown, MD, slip and fall accident lawyer for answers.
Call or text (410)777-8960 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form