When temperatures dip in Maryland, snow, sleet, and ice become an everyday reality. Not only do the hazardous weather conditions affect roads and highways, but they also create risky walking surfaces for pedestrians. In fact, many slip and fall accidents can be traced back to frozen entranceways, sidewalks, parking lots, and similar places people routinely traverse. Not all winter weather-related slip and falls become the basis for lawsuits. Courts take many factors into account when determining if a case has enough merit to move forward.
Fault Considerations in Slip and Fall Accidents
As with all slip and fall experiences, the main question should be whether the property owner had the opportunity to treat or maintain the walkway. If a blizzard transforms a parking lot into ice in a matter of minutes, the parking lot may become too slick for anyone to realistically respond. However, this does not remove or pardon the owner’s responsibility to keep walkways clear of hazards. Legally, an owner who’s real estate includes sidewalks must keep walking paths cleared. Otherwise, they may be charged with negligence in a slip and fall accident case. It should be noted that even if a business contracts with a plowing provider, and the provider does not do the job, the owner remains ultimately responsible if someone slips and falls.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident on Ice
Anyone who takes a tumble on an unmaintained walkway and becomes seriously injured has the right to recover damages from the property owner or the property owner’s insurer, if applicable. Many victims of avoidable slip and fall incidents turn to personal injury lawyers to help them through the process. To make a slip and fall case against a company or homeowner, the injured party will need to produce documentation to support the claim that the surface was not cleared to the best ability of the owner. Types of documentation often used in slip and fall accidents include images of the walkway, witness testimony, medical reports, and even video surveillance footage. The more documentation there is supporting the victim’s claim, the better chance of receiving a settlement offer.
Towson Personal Injury Lawyers at Huesman, Jones & Miles, LLC Offer Counsel to Slip and Fall Victims Hurt Due to Another Person’s Negligent Actions
If you slipped and fell on an icy surface in Maryland and ended up with mounting medical bills, a Towson personal injury lawyer at Huesman, Jones & Miles, LLC can help. Call us at 443-589-0150 or fill out an online contact form for a free consultation. Located in Towson and Hunt Valley, Maryland, we serve clients throughout Baltimore, Baltimore County, Bel Air, Bentley Springs, Columbia, Freeland, Hereford, Hampton, Westminster, Essex, Monkton, Sparks Glencoe, Parkton, Phoenix, Pikesville, White Hall, Carroll County, Harford County, and Howard County.
