A negligent property owner should bear full responsibility for an accident on their property. To obtain the financial compensation you deserve, you will need more than proof that you sustained injuries on someone else’s property. For more information on whether you can sue a Maryland property owner for an injury, please continue reading, then contact an experienced Annapolis slip and fall lawyer soon.
When can you sue a Maryland property owner for an injury?
If or when your case involves premises liability issues, you may file a lawsuit against a negligent property owner or manager. Premises liability issues include:
- Ceiling collapse
- Slip and fall
- Elevator accident
- Defective stairways
- Negligent security
- Fire safety and building code violations
- Inadequate lighting
- Supermarket accidents
- Dog or animal attacks
Unlike most other states and territories, Maryland law follows a practice known as contributory negligence. This means that if the jury finds you in any way responsible for your injuries, you will not receive any financial compensation.
How do you prove a Maryland property owner is responsible for your injury?
Under a premise liability case, you must prove the following elements:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care: A relationship of proximity exists between the defendant and plaintiff and the defendant’s conduct could reasonably be foreseen to result in harm.
- The defendant breached their duty of care: Either through negligence or intentional misconduct, the defendant failed to rectify the unsafe condition that they knew about or reasonably should have known about.
- The breach of duty caused your injury: You can directly link your injuries to the defendant’s conduct.
- Damages naturally flowed from the injury: As a result of your injuries, you have experienced medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, property damage, pain and suffering, loss of consortium and/or other economic or non-economic damages.
Do you need a lawyer to hold a negligent property owner accountable for an injury?
In the wake of an accident caused by a negligent property owner, the person responsible for your injury may attempt to lay part, or all, of the fault for the accident on you. As alluded to above, if they succeed in laying as little as one percent of the fault on you and your actions, you will not be entitled to any compensation.
Even if the property owner’s culpability is readily apparent, you should speak with a skilled Annapolis personal injury lawyer for help holding them accountable. Our firm is here to help.
