Baltimore Slip & Fall Attorney
Slip and fall accidents can be quite serious. Slip and fall accidents have led to concussions, broken bones, spinal cord damage, serious brain injuries, and more. This can lead to a lifetime burdened by mounting medical bills, lost wages, the emotional and physical impact on one’s life. Whether you are walking down a sidewalk, in a building or a parking your car, the propensity for injury is very real. Even the most careful pedestrian can get caught off guard, leading to serious injury. If your attorney can prove that a property owner acted negligently and you were injured because of it, you could be entitled to compensation. Contact Albers & Associates. Our firm is ready to assess your case, guide you through your legal options, and fight for the greatest amount of compensation allowed by law. If you think you have a case, we provide a free consultation to discuss your legal matter. Contact us today.
The burden of proof
For a personal injury case to be successful, one needs to prove that someone acted negligently. This is called the burden of proof. As other civil and criminal cases make the defendant prove innocence, personal injury cases are the opposite. The plaintiff must prove their case and the defendant may argue that case. In order to bring a lawsuit against a private citizen or commercial property owner, one must act within 3 years, per the statute of limitations. For a municipal lawsuit, a person has 1 year to file a notice of claim, stating that he or she intends on taking legal action.
Proving negligence
As it is stated above, if you are the victim of an accident caused by negligence, you must prove your case. If you can prove that the property owner, staff, or other liable party knew or should have reasonably known about a hazard, did nothing to address it, and it caused your injury, you could be entitled to compensation, including medical bills, lost wages, and the impact on your future. Collecting evidence is often a crucial part of a personal injury case. If you are seriously injured, you should seek medical attention immediately. This provides the care you need while documenting much of the accident. If you are able, take pictures of the condition that caused your accident and talk to any witnesses that can corroborate your story. In some cases, there may be evidence lying in a security tape or other monitoring system. If you are not able to act for yourself, contact a personal injury attorney that can quickly come to the scene and preserve evidence on your behalf. Albers & Associates has decades of experience investigating these matters, supporting clients, and fighting for maximum compensation. Contact our firm for a free consultation.
Sidewalk accidents
Sidewalk accidents are probably the most common slip & fall cases we see. When navigating the walkways of Baltimore, we must be careful to avoid hazards. Though you may have taken the proper care, there is danger around every corner. If you have been injured on a sidewalk, you may be wondering who is responsible for the condition that caused your accident. For the most part, the adjacent property owner is obligated to regularly monitor the sidewalk for hazardous conditions and fix issues as they arise in a reasonable amount of time. The liable party can be private citizens, retail stores, private companies, and even a municipality. Regarding weather, each municipality provides time for a property owner to clear his or her section of the sidewalk. In Baltimore, residential, commercial, and municipal property owners have 24 hours after the last snowfall to remove snow and ice from the sidewalk. This can differ from town to town. If you were to walk within that grace period, you may not be able to recover compensation as you chose to take the risk. To investigate the matter, contact Albers & Associates.
Parking lot accidents
Whether you are driving to the supermarket, airport, and most places throughout Baltimore, you will most likely park your car in a parking lot. It is rare to think of a parking lot as a dangerous place, but there are countless examples of accidents that have occurred there. Most commercial and municipal properties use parking lots. There are parties that are responsible for the upkeep of these parking structures, including store staff, landlords, and even a municipality in some cases. They must address things like loose debris, inadequate lighting, snow and ice, dangerous spills, and other hazards in a timely manner. They must regularly monitor for these issues as well. If you are injured in a parking lot, it is important to discuss your situation with an attorney that can effectively represent you, investigate the matter, and fight for maximum compensation.
Hotel accidents
Within the city of Baltimore, there are numerous hotels in the downtown area. Most hotels take the proper care to protect patrons. When they fail to meet their obligation to customers and someone is hurt, it is important to hold them accountable. There are numerous instances of avoidable accidents that occur at hotels. These include stairwells, gyms, pools, elevators, escalators, and parking facilities, to name a few. Hotel liability cases have also revolved around food poisoning, unsanitary conditions, and inadequate security/ lighting. If you were injured or became ill in a hotel and believe it was caused by carelessness or negligence, speak with an attorney.
Supermarket accidents
Considered one of the most mundane activities, supermarkets are rarely considered dangerous. There are thousands of people who are injured each year by the negligence of a supermarket staff. The owner and staff must regularly monitor the parking lot and aisles of the store looking for hazards that can cause injury. These hazards can include outdoor elements that are brought into the store, spills, loose produce, falling items, and unattended products on the floor. If you can prove that the supermarket staff acted negligently, you may be entitled to compensation.
Municipal accidents
If you were injured on government property, you may be concerned if you can bring a lawsuit against them for a personal injury matter. You can, but with some stipulations. For one, the statute of limitations in Maryland to take legal action against a municipality is 1 year, as opposed to the 3 years allotted to bring a suit against private citizens and commercial property owners. Another unique facet of suing a municipality is the need to file a notice of claim. This makes the government aware that you suffered an injury and you intend on taking legal action. The notice gives the municipality the opportunity to respond before you bring a lawsuit. When filing a lawsuit against a municipality, it is important to have quality legal support along the way.
Contact Albers & Associates
Slip and falls, trip and falls, and other premises liability accidents can be devastating. We take these cases seriously. Albers & Associates provides quality legal support by thoroughly investigating the matter, guiding our clients through their legal options, and fighting for the maximum compensation allowed by law. Contact our firm for a consultation.