Ring Doorbells May Provide Useful Evidence in Premises Liability Claims

Many homeowners install surveillance systems to protect themselves from would-be criminals, but home security systems can also play an important role in premises liability claims. Video footage taken by a Ring doorbell can help bolster your claim if you get hurt, or prove your home was not a danger if someone files a claim against you.

Premises liability claims in Maryland

It is the responsibility of property owners to not only keep their properties safe, but also warn potential visitors of any dangerous conditions on their property. Inadequate maintenance or negligent design can all result in dangerous conditions that lead to serious personal injuries.

When pursuing a premises liability claim, the injured person is responsible for proving negligence on the part of the property owner. This involves obtaining and presenting solid evidence to support such a claim. Some examples of premises liability cases involve slip and falls, falling debris, negligent security, and animal attacks.

Evidence from Ring doorbell and other home security video devices

Security camera footage has advanced to produce high definition images and video that can incorporate features such as night vision and facial recognition. Video surveillance footage can be highly persuasive to potential jurors. Images and video from security devices show actual events as they occurred as opposed to verbal descriptions provided by independent witnesses.

Under Maryland law, video surveillance, as opposed to audio surveillance, is legal to use in a home, including on the lawn or porch, without the need to obtain consent from any of the parties being recorded.

Ring is well known for its popular doorbell cameras. These cameras, which have been purchased in the millions, are motion detecting devices that can be installed indoors, in peepholes, and in floodlights. As soon as motion is detected, these cameras start and can provide live streaming video to homeowners, delivering high-resolution images and video of people’s faces and other objects.

The video and images captured through Ring doorbell devices can show things like:

• Broken handrails
• Broken steps or walkways
• Ice-covered steps or walkways
• Whether the lights were on when visitors came or left at night
• If the visitors were engaging in dangerous behavior (like jumping on or off the steps)

Depending on the surveillance, it may even prove whether or not a visitor appeared intoxicated when he or she left a home. If that visitor got behind the wheel of a car and injured someone, the homeowner may be liable under Maryland’s social host liability laws.

If you have suffered injuries due to dangerous conditions on someone else’s property, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. If your injury was caught on camera, we may be able to use that as evidence for your claim. At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., our premises liability attorneys are here to help you pursue the monetary settlement you deserve by holding any negligent property owners accountable for your damages. To arrange a free consultation, give us a call today at 410.730.7737 or complete our contact form.