The safety and comfort of all apartment complexes are inextricably linked to the responsibility of landlords. Fortunately, Maryland has thousands of rental properties managed by landlords who uphold their legal duty to maintain a safe environment for their tenants and guests. However, there are some apartments where landlords fail to keep their legal obligation of care toward their tenants, resulting in devastating accidents and injuires. Injured parties often wonder whether they can take legal action against their landlord for the damages they’ve incurred. Please continue reading to learn who can be held accountable for a slip and fall accident in an apartment complex and how a skilled Prince George’s County Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer can help you today. 

Who’s Liable for Slip and Fall Accidents in Apartment Complexes in Maryland?

Like many other states, under Maryland law, landlords and property owners are legally responsible for keeping the premises safe for tenants and guests. Serious accidents can occur if a property is not regularly inspected for unsafe conditions or otherwise maintained at all times. If a hazardous property condition is left unattended, the landlord failed to repair the dangerous property condition or warn others of the potential dangers associated with the hazard, and a tenant or guest becomes injured. As a result, the landlord can be held liable for their negligence. However, before they can collect compensation for their damages, the injured party must fulfill the burden of proof. This means that the injured party must prove to the court that their injuires and damages directly resulted from the landlord’s negligence. They can satisfy the burden of proof by demonstrating the following:

  • The landlord owed a duty of care.
  • There was an unsafe property condition present on the premises.
  • The landlord knew or should have reasonably known about the unsafe property condition.
  • The landlord breached their duty by failing to fix the unsafe property condition within a reasonable timeframe.
  • The landlord’s breach of duty directly resulted in your injuries and damages.

How long do I have to take legal action against a negligent landlord?

The statute of limitations for a slip and fall accident in Maryland is three years. You have three years from the accident date to file your claim against a negligent landlord. Failure to meet this strict legal deadline for filing your claim will result in the absolute bar of recovery. Essentially, waiting too long to file your claim can result in accidentally relinquishing your right to take legal action and collect monetary compensation for your damages, which could help cover accident-related expenses such as medical bills, in-home care, lost wages, and more.

Contact a trusted Prince George’s County slip and fall lawyer to ensure you file your claim within the acceptable window. At Timian & Fawcett, LLC, we are prepared to fight vigorously for the full and fair compensation you are entitled to for your economic and non-economic damages.