Did you know that June is National Safety Month? The National Safety Council promotes safety in the month of June in an effort to raise awareness for safety concerns and to ultimately reduce injuries or death. National Safety Month promotes safety not just in the workplace, but also on the roads, the community and our individual homes. Some safety hazards can include, but are not limited to slips and falls, fatigue, driving impaired, etc.
What is Duty of Care?
Duty of Care: “The responsibility or the legal obligation of a person or organization to avoid acts or omissions (which can be reasonably foreseen) to be likely to cause harm to others.”
Duty of care means that we owe it not just to ourselves, but to everyone around us to ensure we have created a safe environment. Just like our employer owes a duty of care to us to ensure our workplace is free from safety hazards that could result in injuries or death, we also owe it to those around us. For instance, in the winter most states have a law that you have a set amount of time to shovel snow and remove ice from your sidewalks. Once that time frame has expired you are liable for any injuries that happen as a result of your not having complied with the law. The same thing applies if you are driving under the influence or if you’re distracted driving – you owe a duty of care to your fellow drivers to operate your vehicle in a manner that is safe to yourself and to everyone around you.
Was the Situation Avoidable?
The key phrase in understanding duty of care is “reasonably foreseen”. If you or someone else gets injured, the first thing you need to consider is whether the circumstances leading to the injury could have been avoided. If the answer is no, then likely the situation could be considered unforeseen, meaning duty of care would not apply. However, if the situation could have been avoided, then it stands to reason you were/are owed a duty of care and legal recourse is a possibility.
Who Owes a Duty of Care
Duty of Care goes both ways. You owe a duty of care to those around you, but everyone around you owes you a duty of care as well. Individuals shouldn’t drive drunk or distracted. Your workplace should be free from hazards that cause slips, trips and falls.
Use June as an excuse to make sure you’re doing everything you can to foster a safe environment. However, despite your best efforts, accidents can still happen. If it does, we’re here for you. If you or a loved one has been in an accident as a result of someone’s lack of duty of care, consider hiring a personal injury attorney in Prince George’s County, Maryland to help get the compensation you deserve.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Prince George’s County, Maryland
With over 20 years of experience, Kemet Hunt Law Group has represented hundreds of clients expertly navigate the legal system. If you or a loved one has been in an accident, give our office a call today: 301-982-0888
Kemet Hunt Law Group Inc. is a Maryland firm whose strong belief in client communication and down-to-earth values make it a unique asset to those who need legal assistance. With a mission to serve their clients with respect, professionalism and skill, the attorneys at Kemet Hunt have used their expertise to successfully represent hundreds of people with family law, criminal, business, bankruptcy, immigration, and other legal issues.