Baltimore’s property owners owe you a duty of care the moment you step onto their land. Property owners who don’t look out for you or who don’t address hazardous conditions on their land can make you vulnerable to injuries. Fortunately, if you experience a premises liability accident, our Baltimore lawyers can help you recover.
You can trust our personal injury lawyers in Baltimore to take your losses seriously. Keilty Bonadio brings over 50 years of combined experience to your fight for fair compensation. We can clarify the premises liability laws most relevant to your case and support your efforts to hold negligent property owners accountable for the unsafe condition of their land.
You can book a free initial consultation with our law firm today to learn more about our legal team’s available services.
Our Baltimore Premises Liability Lawyers Recognize Property Owners’ Duty of Care
If you have been injured on someone else’s property—for example, at a neighbor’s home or apartment complex, at a store or restaurant, or in a parking lot—you may be entitled to compensation.
Our premises liability lawyers in Baltimore, MD, know that property and business owners in Maryland are legally obligated to maintain a safe environment for their customers and guests. This includes regularly inspecting the property for hazards, fixing any dangerous conditions, and warning you about any dangerous conditions that have not been fixed.
The extent of this duty varies based on factors such as the type of visitor involved. For example, business owners and commercial property managers have a higher level of responsibility for protecting customers than a homeowner does for protecting social visitors.
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Get a Free Case ReviewTypes of Visitors in Premises Liability Cases
The level of responsibility a property owner has for protecting someone on their property depends on the type of visitor involved. Visitors are generally classified into three categories:
Trespassers
Trespassers are individuals who are on the property without permission. Property owners generally have no duty to ensure the safety of trespassers but are prohibited from willfully causing them harm.
- Exceptions: If the property owner is aware that trespassers frequently enter the property, they may be held liable for injuries caused by dangerous conditions they created or maintained.
- Attractive Nuisance Doctrine: Property owners must take precautions to prevent harm to children drawn to hazardous conditions, such as pools or machinery.
Licensees
Licensees are visitors on the property with the owner’s permission but not for the owner’s financial benefit (e.g., social guests or utility workers).
This generally includes being a guest at someone’s home. Property owners must take reasonable care to protect licensees from known hazards but are not required to inspect for unknown dangers.
So if you are injured at someone’s home by a dangerous condition that they knew about and failed to warn you, you may be entitled to compensation.
Invitees
Invitees are visitors on the property with permission and for the owner’s financial benefit (e.g., customers in a store). Property owners owe the highest duty of care to invitees, including regular inspections to identify and remedy potential dangers. This also extends to other areas of the property, like sidewalks, parking lots, and elevators.
Under certain circumstances, property owners have a duty to protect their invitees from the criminal conduct of third parties. For example, when a property owner knows their property has been the site of previous criminal activities, they may have a duty to provide security to protect their invitees.
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Types of Premises Liability Claims
Property hazards can lead to various injuries. Common premises liability claims in Maryland include:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Falling objects, particularly on construction sites
- Defective stairs or railings
- Hazardous chemical exposure
- Negligent security leading to assaults or thefts
- Swimming pool accidents, including drownings
- Elevator or escalator accidents
- Snow and ice-related injuries
- Dog bites
- Poorly maintained decks or balconies
When injuries are fatal, surviving family members can work with Baltimore, MD, premises liability lawyers to pursue a wrongful death claim.
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Start Your Claim TodayPersonal Injuries Common in Premises Liability Cases
Injuries caused by unsafe premises can be severe and life-altering. Unfortunately, the variety of injuries you face in the wake of a premises liability accident will vary based on a landowner’s negligence and the severity of the hazardous conditions on their property.
Some of the most common injuries someone can suffer while under a property owner’s care include:
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burns and electric shocks
- Neck and head injuries
- Paralysis
- Internal bleeding, bruising, or contusions
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
If you’ve been injured, it’s crucial to act quickly. Get emergency medical care and have medical professionals write down thorough descriptions of your condition. Those records will make it easier for you to demand compensation for pain in the wake of your injuries.
You are under no obligation to independently gather evidence of the negligence that caused your accident alone. Your health should be your first priority. If you want to hold a negligent party responsible for your financial recovery, we encourage you to contact an experienced premises liability lawyer in Baltimore to request legal representation.
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Premises liability claims may be brought against:
- Property owners
- Property managers
- Business owners
- Renters or tenants
Typically, claims are filed against the insurance policy covering the property. In some cases, individual property owners or managers may also be held accountable.
Common Defenses Used by Property Owners
Property owners and their insurers often use the following defenses to reduce or deny liability:
- Assumption of Risk: The injured party knowingly exposed themselves to a dangerous condition.
- Comparative Negligence: Fault is divided between the injured party and the property owner, potentially reducing compensation.
- Contributory Negligence: Maryland’s contributory negligence rule dictates that if the injured party is found even 1% at fault, they may be barred from recovering damages. However, there are exceptions, including when the property owner has an opportunity (called the “Last Clear Chance”) to prevent the injury.
At Keilty Bonadio, our Baltimore premises liability attorneys anticipate and counter these defenses, building a strong case to secure the compensation you deserve. Even if someone has told you that your injury was your fault or no one’s fault, you should call us for a free evaluation.
Why Hire a Premises Liability Lawyer in Maryland?
Premises liability cases are legally complex and require in-depth knowledge to navigate effectively. By hiring an experienced attorney, you can:
- Avoid delays and costly mistakes
- Level the playing field against well-resourced property owners or insurance companies
- Maximize compensation by accounting for all recoverable damages
- Be prepared for trial if a fair settlement cannot be reached
Our team can additionally keep you one step ahead of your case’s statute of limitations. Md. Code Cts. & Jud. Proc., § 5-101 gives you three years to bring the nature of your accident to the attention of a civil judge.
You can count on a Baltimore, MD, premises liability lawyer to emphasize the value of your economic and non-economic damages when compiling your claim. We view it as our legal duty to make the full breadth of your losses known when we fight for your right to fair compensatory damages.
Contact Keilty Bonadio Today
Are you struggling to hold a premises owner responsible for the unsafe conditions on their property? Did you endure physical injuries due to someone else’s poor lighting, inadequate security, or unchecked environmental hazards? If so, it’s time to call on the premises liability attorneys in Baltimore, MD.
Keilty Bonadio believes in providing legal representation to anyone in need of medical attention after an accident on someone else’s property. We make the legal claims process more approachable and ensure that victims of premises liability accidents can make their voices heard.
Our experienced premises liability lawyers can fight for your right to compensation for injuries. If you’re ready to learn more about the strategies we can use to secure the monetary compensation you deserve, you can book your free premises liability claim case consultation today.
