Potomac Slip and Fall Lawyer
Losing your footing on a slick spot or tripping over a protruding hazard can sometimes just lead to a slightly bruised ego, but there are many circumstances under which this type of accident can have serious and life-altering repercussions. If you sustained a severe injury because a property owner failed to ensure their land was safe for visitors, you may have grounds to pursue civil restitution from them for various ensuing losses.
For numerous reasons, though, slip and fall litigation can be deceptively difficult to achieve a positive outcome from, which is why seeking help from a Potomac slip and fall lawyer may be crucial to your chances of success. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney could guide you through every stage of the litigation process and work tenaciously to protect your rights while demanding comprehensive recovery for your damages.
Are Property Owners always to Blame for Slips and Falls?
Anyone who owns or manages property and allows other people to visit that property with their permission assumes an implicit “duty” under civil law to ensure their premises are reasonably free of dangerous conditions. However, this duty does not apply equally to every type of visitor, nor does it mean that property owners are always civilly liable for every accident that occurs on their land.
To successfully recover compensation through a slip and fall lawsuit, an injured plaintiff must have lawfully been on the property where their injury occurred, and the hazard that caused their injury must have existed for long enough that a reasonable property owner would have noticed and addressed it. Then, the injured party must show that the defendant property owner or manager negligently failed to meet the “duty of care” applicable under the circumstances, thereby allowing an unreasonably dangerous condition to exist on their land.
Finally, the plaintiff must prove that the damages for which they seek financial restitution stemmed directly and primarily from an accident caused by the unreasonable hazard in question, and not from any other source. Representation from an experienced Potomac slip and fall attorney could go a long way towards streamlining and simplifying this process at every step of a settlement negotiation or lawsuit.
Filing Deadlines for Financial Recovery
Through a successful claim, a person who gets hurt by slipping or tripping and falling on someone else’s land may hold a liable landowner or property manager accountable for economic and non-economic consequences of their accident. These may include medical expenses, personal property damage, lost work income, physical pain, and lost enjoyment of life, among other damages that a trip and fall lawyer in Potomac could discuss in more detail as needed.
However, as per Maryland Code, Courts & Judicial Proceedings §5-101, a statutory filing deadline of three years applies to all personal injury cases in Maryland, including slip and fall claims. This means that if a plaintiff waits more than three years after learning of their injuries to start the litigation process, they will almost certainly be barred from recovering any money at all regardless of defendant fault.
Get in Touch with a Potomac Slip and Fall Attorney Today
Personal injury litigation is almost never a straightforward endeavor, but it can be especially challenging when the cause of action is a slipping or tripping accident. Successfully overcoming opposition from defendant property owners—and potentially their insurance providers as well—can be next to impossible without qualified legal counsel’s help.
A capable Potomac slip and fall lawyer could be the ally you may need to effectively pursue the restitution you deserve. Learn more by calling today.
