If you or your loved one were injured in a slip-and-fall accident in Rockville, Maryland, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries. The Chaikin Sherman Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. team will help you get the payment you deserve for any damages caused by the negligence of another person or business.
Contact our office today to set up a consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help protect your rights.
What Is a Slip and Fall Accident?
A “slip and fall injury” is the generic term for an injury that occurs when someone slips, trips, or falls due to dangerous conditions. Generally, slip and fall accidents occur due to the reckless or negligent actions of other people, such as property owners or companies who own or maintain the areas inside or around a residential or commercial building.
The law recognizes that the property owner must keep their property safe for their guests, so if you are hurt due to dangerous conditions created by someone else’s actions or inactions, you may be able to hold them liable for your injuries.
Property Owners Have a Duty to Maintain a Safe Property
Premises liability law states that property owners have a duty to use reasonable care when maintaining their property. When owners discover unsafe or dangerous conditions on their premises, they must take swift action to repair them and warn visitors until they can fix them.
A property owner may be a:
- Landlord
- Employer
- Shopping mall
- Property Manager
- Elevator Company
- Local governments
- Mass transit authorities
In some instances, a local, city, state, or federal government may be at fault if the accident occurs on public property.
Common Types and Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Rockville, MD
Many different factors can contribute to a slip-and-fall accident. The most common causes of these accidents include
- Moisture on the floor (such as from spilled liquids),
- Poor lighting
- Broken or uneven flooring
- Ice-covered sidewalks
- Uneven stairs and loose railings
- Cracks or holes in a surface
- Construction sites with debris lying around or unmarked hazards
- Unrepaired potholes
- Public swimming pools and other surfaces without adequate slip-resistant materials
- Apparatus such as jungle gyms, swing sets, and trampolines are attractive to children
In addition to these potential hazards, some people may slip due to wet floors caused by rainwater or snow melting off their shoes that get tracked through a building’s entryway.
While businesses everywhere need to take measures to prevent slips and falls from occurring on their property, if they do happen anyway, it is also crucial that they protect patrons by making sure they have been compensated appropriately under Maryland law.
Contact our law firm today for a free consultation if you have been injured on someone else’s property. Our personal injury lawyers can help you file a claim and recover fair compensation for your injuries.
What Not to Do After a Slip and Fall Injury in Rockville, MD
After a slip-and-fall accident, you may have many questions about what to do next. The most important thing is to remember:
- Do not sign anything.
- Do not admit fault.
- Do not give a recorded statement or make any statements without your lawyer present.
- Do not talk to the insurance company or police without your lawyer present.
What You Should Do After Your Accident
If you have been injured on someone else’s property, you should complete an accident report at the time of the incident. Note what happened, who witnessed the accident, and the conditions that caused your fall.
It would help if you also took pictures of the area immediately after the accident. If you suffered an injury, seek immediate medical attention. If you delay seeking treatment, the property owner or insurance company may argue that it was not their negligence that caused your injury.
Usually, a store or business’s policy requires an accident report to be made concerning the incident. However, it is not mandated by law. If you did not complete a report at the location or accident scene, or there were no witnesses to your fall, you should write down your recollection of what happened as soon as possible.
Any information you document immediately after the accident is much more valuable and accurate than information gathered later when your memory is not as fresh. When you write your recollection, you should include the following:
- The date and time the accident occurred
- A description of the circumstance surrounding the accident. Was there water or grease on the floor? Uneven flooring? Cracks on the sidewalk?
- Take note of whether any warning signs were present notifying patrons of the hazard.
- Contact information of who was present during the accident
- The weather conditions if the accident occurred outdoors
Pure Contributory Negligence and Personal Injury Law in Maryland
The concept of liability, or fault, is essential when it comes to injuries sustained in a slip and fall accident. The plaintiff (the injured party) must prove that they were not negligent for an award of damages to be made against a defendant (the person who caused your injury).
In other words, in Maryland if you’re found to be even 1% responsible for causing your injuries—whether through carelessness or recklessness—you will not be able to recover for your injuries.
How Can the Slip and Fall Lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. Help Me?
Slip and fall cases can be complicated, especially if you’re dealing with a large insurance company that wants to avoid paying out on its policies. The attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel P.C. are experienced in personal injury cases and will ensure that your injury claim is handled correctly.
Contact a slip-and-fall attorney today for a free consultation. We know how to handle slip and fall cases from start to finish, including all of the paperwork involved. We will help you file your claim with the insurance company, and then we will do everything possible to ensure that your case is resolved promptly.
If it looks like the insurance company is trying to avoid paying out on its policies, we are litigation experts and will fight for your rights in court.
Compensation You May Be Entitled to in a Rockville Slip and Fall Case
If you can prove that your injuries were caused due to someone else’s negligence, you might be able to recover compensation for your damages. The compensation you can recover depends on your case’s specific facts and circumstances. However, here are some examples:
- Medical bills – If you were injured in a slip-and-fall accident, it’s likely that you will have incurred medical expenses as a result. These might include doctor visits, hospital stays, and other necessary treatments such as physical therapy or surgeries.
- Lost wages – If you were injured, you have likely lost some income. This could include your work wages and any benefits you would normally receive had the accident not occurred.
- Pain & suffering – You might also be able to recover compensation for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries.
Contact a Rockville, MD Slip and Fall Lawyer at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. Today to Get Started on Your Claim
If you are looking for the highest level of representation available for your personal injury case, turn to Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. Our firm has helped clients recover more than $500 million in compensation, and we have more than 100 years of combined experience. All of our partners are recognized by Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers®, and our firm includes three past presidents of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.
We work to help our clients obtain fair settlement offers to compensate them for the injuries they’ve suffered, but our attorneys are extremely well-equipped to go to trial if needed. Call (202) 659-8600 or contact us online to get the proven legal representation you deserve.