What To Do If You Are Injured on Someone Else’s Property in Maryland
Were you visiting someone else’s home or shopping in a store when you were injured? Perhaps you slipped and fell on a wet floor, or the person’s dog suddenly attacked you? These make up an area of the law known as premises liability. Injuries can occur due to anything from an object falling on you to being attacked in a dark parking lot.
If you have suffered an experience like one of the above, you may have grounds for a lawsuit against the property owner or manager. It is important to speak with a knowledgeable Maryland premises liability attorney as soon as possible who can advise you on what your legal rights are.
In addition, it is important to take steps to protect your legal position and ensure you have the necessary evidence to pursue a claim. Public places such as stores, restaurants, etc. as well as private homeowners have a duty to exercise reasonable care to ensure their property is safe and that visitors are protected from unreasonable harm. If a dangerous condition exists, the homeowner or business has a duty to warn visitors.
So, if you were injured on someone else’s property, what steps do you need to take?
File a Report / Notification
If you are injured in a store, restaurant, or other public place, you need to let someone know immediately that you were injured and what the circumstances were surrounding the incident. Ask to speak with the store manager and/or security, whomever you need to involve to ensure an official incident report is made. In the event you were attacked or subject to some other type of criminal activity, you need to contact the police and file a report.
Document the Scene
If your injuries are not severe enough that you are unable to move or be taken by ambulance for medical treatment, document the scene of the incident. Take photos of everything. Was there liquid on the floor? Was the stair railing broken? Did the parking lot lack adequate lighting? It is important to document the scene in order to preserve evidence.
In some situations, a property owner will not remedy the situation, but most will fix whatever the problem was right away. This means there is no other opportunity to see the scene as it was when the incident occurred. Also, if there were witnesses, this is your chance to get their contact information for the case.
Seek Medical Treatment
Even if you do not feel like your injuries are severe at the time of the incident, you need to see a doctor. Some injuries can develop several days later, and you may have internal injuries of which you are not even aware. Waiting for weeks to see a doctor will not help your position if you plan to move forward with a premises liability claim.
Do Not Sign Anything
It is not uncommon for businesses to get you to sign a release of all claims after an incident. This is their way of hoping to limit their exposure, and by signing it, you are waiving your right to bring a claim against the property owner for your injuries. This is one of the reasons you need to speak with a skilled Waldorf personal injury attorney right away.
If you have been injured on someone else’s property, contact the Law Office of Robert R. Castro today at 301-870-1200 to schedule an initial free case evaluation.
