Upper Marlboro Premises Liability Lawyer
Owners of property are required by law to maintain their property in a condition that is reasonably safe for most visitors. Different duties of care may apply to different types of people and in some cases may depend on the type of property at issue. If you were injured while on another person’s property, their negligence may have been the cause. When a property owner’s negligence is the cause of your injuries, you could be entitled to significant financial compensation through a premises liability lawsuit.
An experienced Upper Marlboro premises liability lawyer can analyze your case to determine your rights. Speak to a knowledgeable personal injury attorney to discuss your options for recovering compensation.
Premises Liability Law in Maryland
Property owners are generally required to protect those on their property from certain types of harms. Certain injuries sustained by a plaintiff while on another person’s property may be compensable. While not every injury is compensable, the ones that are can result in a significant financial award.
These types of cases can occur in many different locations, both public and private. These include:
- Grocery stores
- Big box stores
- Restaurants
- Private homes
- Swimming pools
- Gyms or fitness centers
- Bars
Whether an injury that occurs in these types of locations is compensable depends upon whether the property owner was negligent and breached their duty of care to the plaintiff. If injury occurred as a result, a premises liability attorney can file a lawsuit to seek financial compensation.
The Duty of Care
The duty of care that a property owner owes to individuals on their property depends on the legal status of the person visiting the property. Certain types of entrants to property are given more protection than others.
Invitees
Under state law, an invitee is a person who is invited on the property for the purpose of the property owner’s business interest. These are typically customers in a store. Property owners are required to maintain the property and keep it free of known hazards. Warnings are required for known hazards, and in some cases reasonable inspections of the premises are required.
Licensees
Licensees are those who are invited to the property, but not for a business purposes. These are typically guests at a home, party, or other get-together where there is not a business purpose. The property owner is still required to keep the property maintained and free of dangerous conditions.
Bare Licensees
A bare licensee is a different type of person who has permission to be on the property. This person is on the property for their own personal reasons, not for reasons beneficial to the property owner necessarily. It is possible that the bare licensee does not even have express permission of the property owner to be on the property, but rather some type of implied permission. This could include door-to-door salespeople and others who come on to a person’s property for their own purposes.
The standard is lesser for bare licensees. The property owner is only required to avoid wantonly injuring the visitor.
Trespassers
A trespasser visits property without the express or implied permission of the property owner. Their presence on the property is unlawful. The standard here is the same as that with bare licensees. Property owners can not willfully or wantonly cause injury to the trespasser, but otherwise have no duty to protect them from harm.
Get Help From a Premises Liability Attorney in Upper Marlboro
Premises liability cases require the skilled analysis of an experienced attorney. Determining whether the property owner is liable for your injuries requires an understanding of state premises liability law.
An experienced Upper Marlboro premises liability lawyer knows the law and can put it to use for you. Schedule a consultation today.
