Slip and Fall

A slip and fall can change your life in seconds. Even a brief loss of balance can send you hurtling to the ground, causing serious, disabling injuries. Although seniors are particularly at risk, slips and falls can affect people of all ages. Despite what you might assume, these are almost never “accidents.” Slips and falls are often caused by negligent property owners who fail to address walking hazards – and you deserve to hold these parties accountable if you are suffering from serious injuries.

But how easy is it to file a slip and fall lawsuit in Maryland? What happens during the legal process? How much money can you receive? What do you need to prove? These are all common questions for injured victims after slips and falls, and here is what you need to know if you are one of these victims:

When Can I Sue for a Slip and Fall Injury?

First of all, it is important to note that you can only sue for slips and falls that occur on someone else’s property. If you slip and fall in your own home, you are usually out of luck. Slips and fall lawsuits can occur under a range of different circumstances:

• Wet Floors: Perhaps the most common cause of a slip and fall is a wet floor. Often, property owners wash their floors without properly drying them afterward. This causes a thin, invisible layer of moisture to sit on the surface of the floor – posing a serious fall hazard. If property owners fail to put signs up or warn patrons about the risk, they can be sued for the resulting injuries.
• Spills: Slips and falls can also be caused by spills. These types of injuries are common in grocery stores, restaurants, and other establishments that deal with food. The classic example is a carton of spilled milk that sits on the floor for hours without anyone cleaning it up. If someone walks by and slips, the establishment can be held liable for the injury.
• Icy Outdoor Areas: Maryland certainly gets its share of ice and snow, and property owners are legally required to clear these hazards away from sidewalks, parking lots, driveways, and pathways on their premises. If they fail to do this, victims can sue after slipping and falling. These injuries are often extremely severe, as they send people down onto the concrete.
• Debris: Victims can also sue for slips and falls caused by debris. For example, you might slip on scattered ball bearings while walking through an auto shop. Grocery stores can also be held liable for grapes, bananas, and other items that pose hazards.
• Dimly-Lit Areas: You might be surprised to learn that property owners can be held accountable for dimly-lit walking areas. This can pose a serious hazard, especially for seniors or anyone with poor eyesight. For example, you might fall down several flights of stairs because it was too dark to see where you were stepping.
• Broken Stairs: On that same note, property owners can be sued for broken staircases. If a step is missing due to rotting wood or some other kind of defect, you may be able to sue the property owner.
• Lack of Railings: You can also sue property owners if staircases and walking areas lack railings in some cases. This is just one example of how building code violations can lead to personal injury lawsuits in Maryland.