Slip-and-fall accidents can occur just about anywhere, including grocery stores, shopping malls, gyms, hotels and apartment complexes. If you have slipped or tripped and fallen on someone else’s property in Maryland, you may file a premises liability claim against the owner of the property as well as other parties responsible for maintenance.
How can I establish liability?
If you are filing a personal injury claim after a slip-and-fall accident, your goal is to prove that the property owner’s negligent maintenance of the property caused your accident. You will need to show that the owner knew of or should have known of the dangerous condition on the premises that caused your accident.
You must also show that the property owner did not take reasonable action to prevent the accident from occurring. Additionally, you will need to show that you suffered injuries because of the dangerous condition on the property that the owner negligently failed to remedy.
What evidence do I need?
No two slip-and-fall cases are the same, so the evidence you need will depend on the facts of your case. However, evidence commonly used in slip-and-fall cases includes:
- Incident reports: Reports filed with the store or landlord detailing the incident.
- Photos/videos: Photos and security camera footage that show the existence of the dangerous condition and the scene of the accident.
- Witness testimony: Eyewitness accounts from other customers or people who witnessed the incident.
- Inspection and maintenance logs: Records of all inspections and maintenance that occurred on the property in the days and months leading up to the accident.
- Weather reports: If rain, snow, or ice played a role in your accident, weather reports may be necessary.
- Medical records: Records indicating the severity of your injuries and treatments you received for your accident-related injuries.
- Bills: Medical bills, wage statements, and other documents that show the expenses you accrued due to the accident.
Making sure you have the right evidence to support your arguments will give you the best chance at winning your case.