A fall on a waterfront promenade or boardwalk can change your life in seconds. These public walkways look like parks, but they often function as critical commuter routes with heavy foot and bike traffic. That distinction matters for your claim. Recent Maryland appellate guidance shows how courts analyze duty, notice, and statutory defenses when someone is hurt on a brick walkway, bulkhead edge, or similar path in a public space. If you were injured on a store’s sidewalk, a marina promenade, or a city-maintained path, you should understand how liability works and which defenses property owners try to raise.
Premises Liability In Maryland and The Duty to Keep Walkways Safe
Property owners in Maryland must use reasonable care to keep walkways safe for guests. That duty includes regular inspection, timely cleanup of spills or debris, repair of broken surfaces, and warnings when dangerous conditions cannot be fixed immediately. On public promenades and boardwalks, the same core principles apply, but disputes often center on whether the area is a “recreational” space or a transportation corridor. If the location functions as a public sidewalk or shared-use path, courts are more likely to treat it like any other thoroughfare, which keeps the property owner’s or municipality’s duty firmly in place.