Timonium Premises Liability Attorneys

Experienced Premises Liability Lawyers Handling Unsafe Property Claims in Timonium, MD

In Maryland, property owners owe certain responsibilities to guests and visitors. When an accident resulting in injury occurs on a property owner's premises, they could be held liable for damages. If you need help filing an injury claim against a property owner, get in contact with a Timonium, MD premises liability lawyer today.

At Posner & Cord, LLC, we can investigate incidents that occur at restaurants, stores, and other properties, gathering evidence to demonstrate the property owner's liability. We have secured millions in successful settlements and verdicts, including one notable $300,000 case result for the victim of a slip-and-fall accident in a grocery store.

Common Premises Liability Accidents in Maryland

Premises liability accidents in Maryland happen when an unsafe condition on someone else's property results in an injury. Slip-and-fall accidents are among the most common, often involving wet floors, spilled drinks, ice on sidewalks, or freshly mopped surfaces without warning signs. Trip-and-fall injuries can result from torn carpeting, uneven pavement, cluttered aisles, or broken steps.

Other accidents involve broken handrails, poorly lit stairwells and parking garages, and merchandise falling from high shelves. Some injuries stem from inadequate security, such as broken locks or missing lighting in areas where assaults have occurred before. Grocery stores, restaurants, apartment complexes, hotels, and shopping centers can all be held liable in these claims.

What Do You Need to Prove in a Premises Liability Claim?

Proving a premises liability claim generally requires showing that the property owner had a responsibility to keep you reasonably safe and fell short of it. You must also show that the owner either was aware of the hazard or would have discovered it through routine inspection. A spill that sat on a store floor for an hour, for example, may show that employees had enough time to find and clean it.

You must then connect the hazard to your injury and show the losses it caused, such as medical bills and missed work. Property owners often argue that the danger was easy to see or that you were not watching where you were walking. Under Maryland's contributory negligence rule, these arguments can defeat a claim. Photos of the hazard, incident reports, surveillance video, and witness accounts can help push back against allegations that you acted negligently on someone's property.

Do Property Owners in Maryland Owe a Duty of Care to Trespassers?

Property owners in Maryland owe trespassers only a very limited duty of care. The level of responsibility an owner has depends on why the injured person was on the property. Customers and others invited onto the property for business purposes receive the greatest protection, and owners must inspect for hazards and correct or warn about them. Social guests are entitled to warnings about dangers the owner knows of that a guest would not likely notice.

People who enter without permission receive far less protection. In general, an owner may not deliberately injure a trespasser or set up hidden dangers meant to cause harm, but the owner does not have to make the property safe for them. Maryland is also stricter than many states regarding children who wander onto property, as it does not follow the rule some states use to protect young trespassers drawn to hazards such as swimming pools.

The Statute of Limitations for Premises Liability Claims

The statute of limitations for premises liability claims in Maryland is generally three years from the date of the injury. Claims involving property owned by a city, county, or the state often come with separate notice requirements that must be met much sooner, sometimes within one year. Acting early also helps preserve surveillance footage and other evidence that property owners may not keep for long.

Contact Our Timonium, MD Premises Liability Lawyers

At Posner & Cord, LLC, we request incident reports and video footage, document the hazard that caused your injury, and determine whether the owner had a chance to fix it before you were hurt. Call 410-252-0600 or contact our Timonium, MD premises liability attorneys to schedule a free consultation.