Greenbelt, Maryland, melds the best of small-town living with a population slightly under 25,000 while basking in the glow of the metropolitan Washington D.C. limelight. The result of a slip-and-fall accident is the same whether in a small town or a big city. You have injuries and deserve compensation.
If you need a Greenbelt slip and fall accident lawyer, the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow offer experience, compassion, and the ability to win cases. Our personal injury team will hear your account of your accident during a free case evaluation. We can offer timely consultation about what you can do next to ensure that a liable party is held accountable.
Cause and Effect
Every accident has a cause, resulting in a particular effect. Sometimes the cause of a fall is our clumsiness, and the effect is a bruised ego and a few laughs. Unfortunately, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported, slip and fall accidents can result in severe injuries.
In a separate report, CDC reports that 28 percent of adults 65 or older fall annually. Of approximately 36 million falls, around 37 percent of those result in injury. If you have had a fall that was not your fault and have injuries, it can be beneficial to contact a slip and fall attorney.
What Causes Slip and Fall Accidents?
Many things can cause a slip-and-fall accident. Most accidents are preventable. Some examples of common causes of falls include the following:
- Icy or snow-covered walkways
- Wet floors from spills or leaks
- Damaged walkways
- Uneven sidewalks
- Broken or damaged sidewalks
- Debris on walking paths
- Missing handrails on stairways
- Poor lighting
- Broken floorboards or steps
Suppose a property owner or caretaker is aware of an unsafe condition that may affect pedestrians. In that case, they can be liable for your losses if you injure yourself on their property. Property owners must maintain their premises in a “reasonably safe” manner. If you visit during a snowstorm, you cannot fault them for snow-covered walkways. However, they might be liable if you visit after a storm passes and ample time for shoveling has elapsed.
What Injuries Result from Slip and Fall Accidents?
The CDC report on falls listed several injuries, from minor to severe. Some of the common injuries requiring medical treatment include
- Head injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries that might lead to paralysis
- Fractures and broken bones
- Muscle sprains and strains
- Bruises, cuts, and scrapes
- Hip fractures, especially in elderly people
Falls can devastate seniors due to deteriorating bone density, balance issues, and other physical problems associated with normal aging. If you or a family member have fall-related injuries, discussing compensation with a Greenbelt slip and fall lawyer can be helpful.
For legal consultation with a slip and fall accident attorney in Greenbelt, call (410)777-8960
Compensation Available for Slip and Fall Accidents
When you have injuries from someone’s negligence, it can be challenging to see beyond the mounting medical costs and the growing pile of household bills. If your accident affected your ability to work and earn the necessary funds to support your family, that feeling of insecurity can be overwhelming. That’s why our team fights so hard for your compensation. Some of the areas you might receive compensation for include:
- Medical expenses can include transportation to medical facilities, hospitalizations, surgical procedures, medications, medical devices, and home modification. Any medical cost you incur from your injuries falls under the long list of recoverable losses.
- Lost wages might be recoverable when your ability to continue working is interrupted or diminished by injuries. This compensation category can include wages, commissions, bonuses, promotions, benefits, vacation time accrual, and lost employment opportunities.
In addition to reimbursable compensation, you might be eligible for non-economic compensation for pain, suffering, and mental anguish. These things don’t have a monetary value. Still, they can affect your overall happiness and quality of life. Our slip and fall accident team use a formula to assign a value to these areas for fair compensation.
Greenbelt Slip and Fall Accident Attorney (410)777-8960
What does a Law Firm Do?
It might be challenging to concentrate on collecting the information necessary to pursue a personal injury when recovering from injuries. When you work with our personal injury team, we collect the documentation you will need for your slip and fall claim. Among the many things our team will handle are
- Gathering evidence of your accident and the circumstances of your fall
- Filing all necessary documentation on time
- Negotiating with the at-fault party or their representatives
- Representing you in civil court if no settlement agreement is attained
Our slip and fall accident team will be accessible to answer your questions with a 24/7 text access line. When you have questions, we will answer them and keep you updated about your case.
How Much does a Lawyer Cost?
Many people are overly concerned about the cost of a lawyer, so they avoid consulting an attorney. Our slip-and-fall accident team works for you with no upfront costs. We begin our relationship with a free consultation to discuss your accident and injuries.
You will enter into a fee agreement with our team if we are a good fit. We collect our fees once you receive your final settlement or court award. This arrangement means you can pursue compensation for your injuries with no risk or financial outlay.
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Filing Deadlines for Slip and Fall Claims
All personal injury claims in Maryland fall under the statute of limitations. Per Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code § 5-101, you must file your claim within three years of your accident.
Filing by the prescribed deadline will avoid the possible dismissal of your claim. With our team at your side, we will ensure that all documentation meets time constraints.
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Understanding the Elements of Negligence
There are two primary components of every tort claim – liability and damages. To pursue compensation for damages, we must prove that the property owner or management entity was negligent and caused your accident. When we assemble the evidence from our investigation of your accident, we strive to prove the four elements of negligence:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
The duty of care means that it is the responsibility of a property owner to maintain the premises “reasonably safe.” When they neglect to do that, it creates a breach of duty. If their breach was directly related to the cause of your injuries, we could draw a line proving causation. Damages refer to the injuries you suffered and the resulting changes to your life.
Proving Your Case and Fighting for You
Our Greenbelt slip and fall accident lawyer works for you. We will use every available resource to prove your claim and support it with irrefutable documentation. When you partner with MD Accident Law, we fight for you. Contact the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow to learn more about your potential for compensation.
Call or text (410)777-8960 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form