Waldorf, Maryland Slip and Fall Accidents: Should I Be Embarrassed to Make a Claim?

There should be no embarrassment at all to make an insurance claim and/or file a personal injury lawsuit after a slip and fall accident here in Waldorf, MD. However, it is not too unusual for our clients to initially express some embarrassment. There have been many reasons. One common theme is about aging, something like: “When I was younger, I would never have …” tripped or slipped and would have “jumped right back up” and gone on with my day. Well, maybe that is true, and maybe not. But that does not change the fact that Maryland law entitles a person who has been injured to make a claim and/or file a personal injury lawsuit. Another theme is some sense of guilt by victims that the slip or trip was their own fault. But that is blame-the-victim thinking and must be rejected.

Merchants and property owners have a legal obligation to keep their premises free from hazardous conditions. Further, merchants must accept their customers as their customers are — sometimes in a hurry, distracted, tired, or in any other condition. To be liable, the following must be shown:

• A dangerous condition on the property/premises
• Injury
• Causation
• That the merchant and/or owner of the property knew about the dangerous condition or should have known about the condition or that the dangerous condition could have been discovered by the “exercise of reasonable care”
• The dangerous condition was not open and obvious

As can be seen, your right to compensation begins with the existence of a dangerous condition on the property. It is not your fault there was a dangerous condition, and there is no embarrassment in seeking compensation for an injury caused by that condition. The other questions — whether the owner knew of the condition and whether it was open and obvious — are for the JURY to decide, not the victim. If you have been injured by the wrongful and negligent conduct of another, you have a right to make an insurance claim and/or file a personal injury lawsuit.

Keep in mind that an injury might have very serious impacts on your life. Even a “minor” fall can have serious medical consequences for recovery to full health. In the meantime, you may be losing wages and income from being unable to work. You may even be in danger of losing your job because deadlines are piling up, and someone has to take your place. This may lead to the inability to pay bills and a whole list of other problems. You are filing an insurance claim and/or a lawsuit to obtain compensation for the costs associated with your injuries — like medical bills — and for lost wages and income. A personal injury claim is NOT like free money from winning the lottery. Rather, you are obtaining reimbursement for the injury and damages that have resulted from the injury caused by the negligent conduct of another. There is nothing embarrassing about seeking compensation for what has been lost because of the accident.

Contact Waldorf, MD Personal Injury Attorney Robert Castro Today

This article has been provided by the Law Office of Robert Castro. For more information or questions, contact our office to speak to an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer at (301) 870-1200. We are Waldorf, MD, Personal Injury lawyers. Our address is 2670 Crain Highway, Waldorf, MD 20601.