Holding Howard County Property Owners Accountable for Preventable Falls
A slip and fall claim in Howard County turns on whether the property owner knew about the hazard — or should have known — and failed to fix it, and Maryland law requires you to prove that knowledge while the property owner’s insurer works to argue you should have seen and avoided the danger yourself. McGowan & Cecil, LLC represents people injured on unmaintained stairwells, icy lots, wet store floors, and broken walkways across Columbia, Ellicott City, Laurel, and the rest of Howard County. Our Howard County slip and fall attorneys move quickly to preserve surveillance footage before it’s overwritten, secure incident reports before they’re “lost,” identify every responsible party from the property owner to the maintenance contractor, and build the kind of factual record these cases require. With more than 120 years of combined experience and millions recovered for injured clients, we know how to prove what the property owner wanted to forget.
Why Choose McGowan & Cecil, LLC?
When a slip and fall accident leaves you facing medical bills, lost income, and a difficult recovery, you need a legal team with a track record of results. McGowan & Cecil, LLC provides:
- Over 120 years of combined legal experience representing injured clients
- A proven record of recovering significant compensation, including individual case recoveries exceeding $1 million
- Attorneys who previously served as assistant state’s attorneys and judicial law clerks
- Free consultations and contingency fee representation, so you pay nothing unless we recover for you
- Attorneys who are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and recognized by The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and Super Lawyers
- Direct access to your personal injury attorney when needed for questions, concerns, and updates
Our firm exclusively represents the injured. That singular focus means every resource we have is dedicated to fighting for accident victims in Howard County and throughout Maryland.
What Does Maryland Law Require Property Owners to Do?
Property owners in Maryland have a legal obligation to maintain reasonably safe premises for visitors. The duty a property owner owes depends on the visitor’s legal status. Most slip and fall victims are classified as invitees, which includes customers and other individuals on the property for a business-related purpose.
Under Maryland common law, property owners owe invitees the highest duty of care, requiring them to use reasonable and ordinary care to keep the premises safe, inspect for hazards, repair known dangerous conditions, and warn invitees of dangers that are not immediately obvious. Tenants injured in common areas of an apartment complex, such as stairwells, hallways, or parking lots, may also have claims against their landlord under duties that arise from the landlord-tenant relationship
When a property owner fails to meet this standard and someone is injured as a result, the injured person may have grounds to file a premises liability claim. Common hazardous conditions that lead to slip and fall accidents in Howard County include wet or freshly mopped floors without warning signs, uneven sidewalks or pavement, poorly lit stairwells, loose handrails, and icy walkways that have not been treated or cleared.
How Does Contributory Negligence Affect Your Claim?
Maryland is one of only a handful of jurisdictions that follows a strict contributory negligence rule. Under this doctrine, if a property owner or their insurance company can show that you were even partially at fault for your fall, your claim could be barred entirely. This makes it critical to work with an attorney who understands how to counter contributory negligence defenses.
Insurance companies often argue the victim was partially at fault to avoid liability for claims. Arguments used include the injured person was distracted, wearing inappropriate footwear, or failed to notice a visible hazard. An experienced premises liability attorney can gather evidence, including surveillance footage, maintenance records, and witness statements, to establish that the property owner bore full responsibility for the dangerous condition. At McGowan & Cecil, LLC, we anticipate these defense strategies and prepare your case accordingly.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Slip and Fall?
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident in Howard County, you may be entitled to compensation for a range of economic and non-economic damages. These typically include:
- Medical expenses, including emergency treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing care
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Out-of-pocket costs related to the injury
- Loss of quality of life and enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement and impairment
The value of your claim depends on the severity of your injuries, the extent of the property owner’s negligence, and the strength of the evidence supporting your case. Serious slip and fall injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and hip fractures often result in higher compensation because of the long-term impact on the victim’s life.
Maryland law does place a statewide cap on non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life, under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. §11-108. Economic losses such as medical bills, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses are not subject to this cap. An attorney can help you understand how the cap applies to the specific facts of your case.
What Is the Deadline to File a Slip and Fall Claim in Maryland?
Under Maryland law, you generally have three years from the date your claim accrues to file a personal injury lawsuit. In slip and fall cases, this date is usually the date of your fall or the date you reasonably discovered the injury. This deadline is set by Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. §5-101. Missing this deadline typically means losing your right to seek compensation entirely. Certain exceptions can affect the filing timeline.
If your fall occurred on property owned by a local government, such as a Howard County sidewalk or county-owned building, the Local Government Tort Claims Act (LGTCA), Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. §5-301 – 304, generally requires that you provide written notice of the claim within one year of the injury. These notice rules apply in addition to Maryland’s general three‑year statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit, so you must meet both the notice deadline and the filing deadline to preserve your claim.
For a claim against Howard County, that notice must be sent to the Howard County Executive. Claims against the State of Maryland or a state agency follow a different procedure under the Maryland Tort Claims Act, requiring written notice to the State Treasurer within one year. In limited circumstances, courts may excuse defects in notice where there is good cause and the defendant is not prejudiced, but you should never assume a late notice will be forgiven.
Cases involving minors or certain individuals with mental disabilities may have different filing deadlines under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5‑201. The deadline may be tolled (paused) until the disability is removed, subject to specific time limits.
Regardless of your specific situation, acting quickly allows your attorney to preserve key evidence, such as surveillance video and incident reports, that property owners may not retain indefinitely. It also allows your attorney to calculate all deadlines applicable in your case to avoid missing a key deadline that could result in losing your right to pursue a legal claim.
Talk to a Howard County Slip and Fall Attorney Today
If you or a loved one was hurt in a slip and fall accident in Howard County, McGowan & Cecil, LLC is ready to help. Contact our office for a free consultation to discuss your case and learn how we can fight for the compensation you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prove a property owner was negligent in my slip and fall case?
You must show that the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition and failed to address it. Evidence such as maintenance logs, surveillance footage, prior complaints, and witness testimony can help establish that the owner had notice of the hazard. Your attorney can obtain and preserve this evidence on your behalf.
Can I still file a claim if I fell on a public sidewalk in Howard County?
Yes, but claims against local governments follow the Local Government Tort Claims Act. Under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-304, you must provide written notice of the claim to the Howard County Executive within one year of the injury, stating the time, place, and cause of the accident. An attorney experienced with premises liability claims can guide you through the specific procedural requirements and ensure your notice is timely and properly served.
What should I do immediately after a slip and fall accident?
Seek medical attention first, even if your injuries seem minor. Document the scene by taking photos of the hazard, your injuries, and the surrounding area. Report the incident to the property owner or manager and get a copy of any incident report. Save your medical records, receipts, and any correspondence with insurance companies, and contact an attorney before providing a recorded statement.