You may have the legal right to file a premises liability claim if you got hurt while visiting someone else’s property. Generally, these claims address injuries caused by acts of carelessness or negligence.
A Kingsville, MD, premises liability lawyer can help you review your legal options in this situation. In many cases, you have the chance to recover damages to cover your medical expenses and other losses.
The team at the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow provides services to individuals hurt in Kingsville, MD. For more information contact our Kingsville personal injury lawyer.
The Basic Facts About Premises Liability Claims
Premises liability claims fall under the umbrella of personal injury law. Like other personal injury claims, you only receive compensation for a premises liability case if you can show that:
- Someone else caused an accident
- The accident led directly to your injuries
A premises liability lawyer in Kingsville, MD, can help you address both of these issues. Generally, in premises liability claims, a lawyer works to show that the property owner or manager acted negligently by allowing a hazard to develop on their property.
A lawyer may also have to show that you did not contribute to the accident. Maryland’s contributory negligence laws mean you can only secure damages if you played no role in the accident.
For legal consultation with a premises liability attorney in Kingsville, call (410)777-8960
What Are the Most Common Premises Liability Claims?
Our law firm understands the ins and outs of premises liability claims. We know that each claim deserves special attention based on the impact it has on you and your family.
You may want to reach out for legal help if you sustain an injury in any of these common premises liability accidents.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents remain one of the most common types of premises liability claims in the Kingsville area. You may slip if you visit a business or private residence. Many people stumble on:
- Piled up snow or ice
- Liquids spilled on the floor
- Cords or debris in a walkway
- Cracked or damaged flooring
These accidents may also occur in areas with insufficient lighting. Poor lighting makes it hard to see where you’re going, often causing you to misstep and fall. Finally, some accidents occur because a property owner fails to install railing appropriately.
Swimming Pool Accidents
Swimming pool accidents occur most frequently in the summer months. Children experience swimming pool accidents more than adults, as they may be unable to swim or quickly get out of a pool due to their small size.
These accidents often lead to drowning or other serious injuries. In addition, property owners who do not set up fences or other precautions around their pool could end up liable for a swimming pool accident.
Inadequate Maintenance or Security Injuries
Property owners have a responsibility to perform necessary maintenance on their properties. For example, they must make sure floors are in safe condition before people enter their property.
Some property owners skimp on maintenance in an attempt to save money. As a result, parts of the building may break or give way, leading to injuries like:
- Broken bones
- Head or brain injuries
- Cuts or abrasions
In these situations, you may work with a Kingsville, MD, premises liability attorney to start building a claim. A lawyer can also help if a property owner fails to provide appropriate security for their building, allowing someone dangerous to enter the area.
Animal Attack Injuries
Some property owners have animals. Animals are generally allowed to move freely around an individual’s private property. However, there are limits to the freedom of dangerous animals in Kingsville.
For example, let’s say someone owns an aggressive dog. The property owner has a responsibility to make sure the dog stays on their property, either by leashing the dog or securing the animal within a fence.
Failure to take these steps could expose other people in the area to injuries.
Other Premises Liability Injuries
We’ve discussed some examples of premises liability accidents. You may also reach out to a lawyer if you sustained an injury in a fire or due to exposure to toxic chemicals or fumes. Equipment failures and electrocutions may also lead to a premises liability claim in Kingsville.
Kingsville Premises Liability Attorney (410)777-8960
Determining Responsibility in a Premises Liability Case
Generally, you can hold whoever owns or is responsible for the property where you sustained your injury liable. Potential at-fault parties include:
- A homeowner
- A landlord
- A business owner
- A property manager
However, you can’t just assume that someone is liable for your injuries. No, you must prove their liability. In addition, Maryland is a contributory negligence state, which means if you were at all responsible for your accident, you usually can’t recover compensation.
Proving Negligence in a Premises Liability Case
Our premises liability lawyer is familiar with Maryland’s contributory negligence system. Our team will review the evidence associated with your case to negate claims you contributed to the accident and link your injuries to someone else’s negligence. This evidence often includes:
- Witness statements
- Footage or images of the accident
- Police or accident reports
- Expert testimony
The structure for arguing negligence and assigning liability is as follows:
- The liable party was in a position where they were responsible for your safety or well-being.
- They failed to uphold this responsibility by acting negligently. For example, perhaps they didn’t completely clear ice off their front doorstep or let their dog roam free when it should have been on a leash.
- This failure resulted in your accident.
- You suffered injuries and other losses in the accident.
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Steps to Build Your Premises Liability Claim in Kingsville
You can start working on a premises liability claim by contacting a lawyer. Your lawyer can walk you through each step of the legal process, which often begins with gathering evidence. Provide your lawyer with a phone number for any witnesses and an account of what happened during the accident.
Note that Maryland’s contributory negligence laws make it very important not to discuss your accident. You may only secure compensation if someone else entirely caused the accident. Apologizing or taking any blame for what happened could impact your settlement.
Premises Liability Lawsuits Have a Deadline
After a premises liability attorney in Kingsville, MD, builds your case, they may file a claim against the insurance company or file a lawsuit. Note that you have around three years to seek compensation per Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code § 5-101.
We’ll keep track of every deadline associated with your case, so you don’t have to. However, don’t wait to get started, as lawsuits are a useful legal tool. If you miss Maryland’s deadline, you won’t be able to file a lawsuit.
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How Can a Premises Liability Lawyer Help?
Popular media often depicts lawyers confronting one another and getting into courtroom shouting matches. This depiction isn’t entirely accurate. Our premises liability lawyer does a lot behind the scenes before advocating for a client at trial.
Adam M. Smallow, our lead attorney, can assume a range of different roles:
- Investigator: Every personal injury case hinges on evidence. You can’t have a strong case without solid evidence. We’ll review every detail of your case to build your lawsuit or insurance claim.
- Negotiator: Your case may involve intense settlement talks. Our lawyer will handle these negotiations on your behalf.
- Advocate: We care about our clients and their success. We’ll exhaust every option as we fight for your right to compensation.
- Advisor: Do you have a seemingly endless stream of legal questions? We offer our clients a 24/7 helpline. You can text our lawyer whenever you need.
We provide medical assistance to our clients, too. We’ll recommend you to one of the highly qualified doctors in our network.
Your Compensation for a Kingsville Premises Liability Claim
Are you wondering what kind of compensation you could receive after an accident on someone else’s property? In many situations, you can receive economic damages, including coverage for your:
- Current and future healthcare expenses
- Wages lost during your period of recovery
- Lost earning potential due to lasting injuries
Some individuals also secure compensation for noneconomic damages, like pain and suffering. Your lawyer can help you review your options to seek damages to cover your losses. MD Accident Law focuses on the accident’s impact on your life when working to bring you compensation.
What Are the Damages in a Premises Liability Case?
Damages refer to the categories of compensation in a premises liability case. These include:
- Medical expenses: Medical treatment isn’t cheap. If you suffered from a severe injury after a premises liability accident, this award could offset your medical bills.
- Pain and suffering: Premises liability settlements account for the pain and suffering you experienced after your accident.
- Loss of a loved one: You can include funeral expenses and the emotional toll associated with losing a loved one in the valuation of your settlement.
- Reduction in present and future earning capacity: Some premises liability cases end in permanently debilitating injuries. If your injuries keep you from returning to work, your settlement could include present and future lost wages.
Maryland law limits noneconomic damages, which cover the emotional toll of your case, to $860,000. However, the financial losses associated with your claim (or economic damages) do not have a limit.
Speak With a Premises Liability Attorney in Kingsville
Take proactive steps to seek compensation with a Kingsville, MD, premises liability lawyer. You can reach out to the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow to discuss your legal options when you contact us.
We strive to stay available to our clients around the clock with our email account and 24/7 text line. We even provide our clients with a unique text number so they can reach us at any time to address any concerns or questions they may have. Reach out today to start work on your claim.
Call or text (410)777-8960 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form