Full question:
If I pay to park on someones property, what obligation do they have for my safety in the state of Maryland?
- Category: Real Property
- Date:
- State: Maryland
Answer:
The obligations of a property owner in Maryland regarding your safety while parking on their property depend on several factors, including the nature of the property and whether you signed any waivers or releases of liability. Generally, property owners have a duty to maintain safe conditions for individuals on their premises.
Property owners can be held liable for injuries that occur due to hazardous conditions, such as wet surfaces, poor lighting, or hidden dangers. If a property owner invites you onto their property for a lawful purpose, they must exercise ordinary care to keep the area safe. This invitation can be express or implied based on customary use.
There are different categories of people on a property: invitees, who are owed a higher duty of care, and licensees, who may only be protected from willful or wanton injury. For example, if you are parking in a commercial lot, the owner must ensure the lot is safe and may be liable for incidents like assaults if they fail to provide adequate security or lighting.
Additionally, if you are parking your vehicle, a bailment may be created, placing responsibility on the property owner (bailee) for the safekeeping of your vehicle. The level of care required from the bailee depends on whether the bailment is for mutual benefit or solely for the bailee's benefit.
In summary, property owners in Maryland have a duty to maintain safe conditions and may be liable for injuries or damages that occur on their property, particularly if they have invited you to park there.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.