Hurt in a slip, trip, or fall on someone else’s property in or near Baltimore? Property owners in Maryland have to keep their premises reasonably safe, and when they do not, you may be owed money for your medical bills, lost income, and pain. These cases turn on what the owner knew and how carefully you were watching your own step — Maryland’s contributory negligence rule makes that second part unusually important.
At Pinder Plotkin, the initial consultation is free, whether by phone or in person. You have the right to an attorney, and we work on a contingency basis — you do not pay attorney fees up front while dealing with medical bills and lost wages, and our fee comes only after you win.
According to the concept of premises liability, people who own property are ultimately responsible for their condition. If they are aware that some type of danger exists and they are not hasty in alleviating the problem, they can be held negligent if this leads to someone sustaining injuries. The exact circumstances behind the injuries will determine how much they will be liable for. Finding an experienced Baltimore attorney who focuses on slip and falls that can help you understand all aspects of your case is the key to getting what you are owed.
The skilled team of Baltimore slip and fall attorneys at Pinder Plotkin know that filing a claim can be a long, arduous, and seemingly never-ending process and that many property owners are able to walk away from the situation without taking responsibility. An example of this would be when an owner places a sign notifying the public that a floor is slippery. They may not be held responsible since they made it a point to let people know there may be some danger.
Contributory negligence is the doctrine that is followed in Baltimore. In jurisdictions that use these as a guideline, if someone made a contribution to their injuries during an incident, they cannot seek damages. Meaning, if you were to spill a beverage on a floor and then you fell, you could not sue the owner of the property.
In order for someone to be held liable when you file a claim for negligence, you have to prove four different things: duty, breach of duty, causation and damages. Breach of duty is the concept of someone not taking all of the necessary steps to ensure the safety of everyone on their property. This includes incidents when the owner was aware that there was some type of danger, yet they did not fix the problem. It can also include times when the danger may not have been known, but if the premises had been inspected properly this would have been discovered.
If you think your injuries were due to the negligence of another party, finding a qualified slip and fall attorney is the key to understanding your claim and figuring out the best way to handle it.
There are numerous defenses available when it comes to this type of case. Common ones include failure to notice there was an issue and/or not having the opportunity to correct the issue before the injury occurred. Essentially, someone who has sustained an injury will have to prove that the property owner was aware there was an issue and they did attempt to fix it. This is much harder to prove in some cases, like instances when there may have been a spill and there is no way to tell how long it was there.
Contributory negligence and assumption of risk are both affirmative defenses. This means that even if it is found the owner was negligent in not removing any dangers in time, it may be found that the person who was injured knew of this risk and decided to ignore it and continue. This happens often in cases where ice and snow are not cleared by the owner of a property in a reasonable time frame. In this case, if a person is aware that the ground is slippery and they make the choice to walk this way, it is likely it will be found they contributed to the problem. Once this occurs, they will not be allowed to recover any damages.
Duty of care is a responsibility that is solely placed on the shoulders of the person who owns or maintains the property in question. When it comes to Maryland liability laws, they are dependent on this factor.
Depending on the kind of property where someone is injured, the responsibility can fall on different people. For example, if it is a private home, the owner is required to maintain the safety of their own property. If it is a commercial space that is leased by a business, the owner does not assume any liability. This would fall on the shoulders of the lessee.
In order to be sure about who is responsible in your particular case, you need to contact an attorney from Pinder Plotkin right away. We will go through all of the details and use our skills and experience to make the right call.
A property owner is required to provide properly maintained facilities that are perfectly safe for visitors. For instance, if there is ice, debris, or something else obstructing walkways, they can be held responsible if someone is injured as a result. The intended purpose and type of property that is involved will determine who will be found liable in Baltimore slip and fall cases.
In most of the Baltimore slip and fall incidents that occur, there is some type of hazard on the property. The danger that is present can change depending on the kind of property. Commonly, injuries have occurred when a foreign substance, like cleaning fluid or water is spilled on the floor. Other types of cases include those in which steps that incorrectly size violate codes and they make it difficult for people to walk properly.
It is possible for there to be more than one defendant in a slip and fall case. Property owners, lessees, condo associations, and maintenance companies can all be equally at fault. This will depend on the type of property and the circumstances when the injuries occurred. You will have to speak to an attorney about your case and they will let you know who should be held responsible and how to go about filing these claims.
It is not appropriate for a case to conclude until everyone has an understanding of the nature of the injuries. All parties need to reach a point when they are completely satisfied in the fact that the extent of the injuries is clear, the need for future treatments has been noted and any complications that may occur at some point ahead have been discussed.
When they are first meeting with a lawyer, injured parties should bring any paperwork they have available that will substantiate their claims, like injury reports that were written at the time of the incident. Medical records, photos, and any other evidence should be collected and submitted at this time as well.
When most people are hurt, they have an initial injury and it heals as treatment is administered. If new symptoms occur or if the current ones become worse, it has to be determined if this is the result of the initial injury.
If there are any questions about this that cannot be explained or proven, the claim is likely to be denied or the compensation being sought will be drastically reduced. Also, once a person has been compensated, they may be required to sign a written release as part of the deal. This means they will not have any legal right to future claims related to this particular slip and fall incident. In short, once you are compensated once and you sign a contract, you will not be able to go back and sue someone else at a later time.
Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults 65 and older — more than 14 million (1 in 4) fall every year nationwide, and about 9 million of those falls cause an injury serious enough to require medical treatment (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Baltimore City is surrounded by Baltimore County, so where you are treated and where a slip-and-fall claim is filed depend on where you were hurt. See a doctor first — an ER or urgent-care visit documents your injuries — then the venue for your claim follows the jurisdiction where the fall happened.
Nearest ER: University of Maryland Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital — both Level I trauma centers in the city.
Where a claim is filed: District Court and Circuit Court for Baltimore City
Nearest ER: Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Towson & Northwest Hospital, Randallstown; serious trauma → R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, Baltimore City (Level I)
Where a claim is filed: District Court, Towson; Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Towson
Nearest ER: Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, Annapolis & UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center, Glen Burnie
Where a claim is filed: District Court, Annapolis/Glen Burnie; Circuit Court, Annapolis
Nearest ER: Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center — 5755 Cedar Lane, Columbia
Where a claim is filed: District & Circuit Court, Ellicott City
Not sure which county applies? Reach out and we will help you sort it out.
Browse our library of free guides on Maryland injury claims, insurance, and what to expect after an accident.
Maryland has a 3-year statute of limitations when it comes to slip and fall liability cases. This means that you have to file a claim within that time frame or you risk never being compensated for the damages you received.
There are some exceptions, like when there are minors involved or other special circumstances. An example would be if a property was over capacity or if the incident happened on property that is owned by a government agency. In these cases, the statute of limitations may be different.
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We handle slip and fall cases throughout the Baltimore area and the surrounding counties.
Jason Plotkin was born and raised in Baltimore City and County, and he shows up in the community he grew up in. He is the former President of the Parkville Carney Business Association, served on the Board of Directors of the Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc. from 2017 to 2020, and sat on the YMCA's Parkville/Perry Hall Community Advisory Board from 2017 to 2018. When you work with our firm, you are working with people who know this city — its roads, its courts, and its neighbors.
Usually the person or company that controlled the property — a store, landlord, condo association, or maintenance contractor. More than one party can share the blame.
Yes, and it's strict. If you're found even 1% at fault, you can be barred from recovering anything — which is why these cases need a lawyer early.
Generally three years from the date of the fall (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101). Claims against a government carry much shorter notice deadlines.
Four things: duty, breach, causation, and damages. Photos, incident reports, and medical records make or break each element.
Yes. Maryland sets the owner's duty by your status — invitee, licensee, or trespasser. Your status often decides the case.
Get medical care first. Then report the fall and get the incident report, photograph the hazard, get witness names, and keep the shoes and clothes you were wearing. Don't give a recorded statement to an insurer before talking to a lawyer.
It depends on your injuries, medical bills and future treatment, lost income, and how clear the owner's fault is. Be wary of anyone who promises a number up front.
Usually workers' comp, but if a third party caused the hazard you may have both. See our Baltimore Workers' Compensation page.
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident, contact Pinder Plotkin now. Our lawyers will listen to the facts of your case, begin an investigation, and take all of the steps needed to make sure that someone is held liable for damages. We have all of the skills and experience needed to help you win your case.
Call (888) 844-5373
