If you have slipped and fallen on another person’s property in Maryland or Washington, D.C., the property owner may be responsible for your injuries.
Slip-and-fall accident victims may file a premises liability claim against a property owner to recover compensation. To prove their case, they must show:
- A dangerous condition existed on the property
- The dangerous condition was the cause of the victim’s accident
- The property owner had actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition (they knew or should have known of it)
- The property owner failed to fix the condition
- The victim was injured as a result of the accident
Evidence needed to prove a slip-and-fall claim may include:
- Incident reports filed with property owner
- Police reports
- Photos/videos of the scene of the accident, the dangerous condition on the property, the victim’s injuries, and the accident itself
- Testimony from people who witnessed the accident
- Medical records specifying injuries suffered in the accident and treatment received
- Proof of lost wages
Proving your slip-and-fall claim can be more involved than it first seems. In addition to building your own case, you will also need to prepare to defend against any claims made against you.
For example, a property owner may allege that you contributed to your own injuries by failing to pay attention to posted warning signs. Your attorney may present surveillance footage to show that the warning signs were not posted at the time of your accident.
If your case is successful, you may recover damages to cover your medical expenses and lost wages. You may also recover damages for the emotional trauma and pain and suffering you experienced.