Slip and Fall Lawyers | Premises Liability Claims
If you were recently injured in a slip and fall accident, the slip and fall attorneys at Carter Mario Law Firm can help you pursue a premises liability claim. Our award-winning team of experienced personal injury lawyers has recovered over one billion dollars in financial compensation for our clients, including those injured in slip and fall accidents. Our Connecticut slip and fall lawyers are dedicated to fighting for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Slip and Fall Accidents Are Addressed by Premises Liability Litigation
Premises liability law covers the legal responsibility a property owner or occupier holds to ensure their property is safe for visitors. When a slip and fall accident occurs on another person’s property, the victim may be able to bring a premises liability claim against the owner or occupier if a dangerous condition on the property caused the accident. Due to the legally complex nature of slip and fall accidents, experienced representation by a skilled Connecticut personal injury attorney is necessary due to the fierce defenses asserted by insurance companies.
What is Premises Liability?
Owners or occupiers of property have a legal duty to maintain their property for potential visitors. Under longstanding Connecticut law, the duty a property owner or occupier owes to a victim depends on the victim’s reason for being present on the property. A premises liability claim is a legal theory of negligence which allows slip and fall victims to sue owners or occupiers who fail to maintain their property.
Who is Involved in Premises Liability
Slip and fall victims can typically pursue claims against owners or occupiers of property, e.g., business tenants. Under the “non-delegable duty doctrine,” injured victims can still sue property owners even if they use third parties to maintain the property. There are three categories of visitors who may be involved in a premises liability case: invitees, licensees, and trespassers.
Invitee
Under Connecticut law, an invitee is a person who is invited onto the property for a specific purpose, such as a customer at a store or a patient at a hospital. Property owners or occupiers owe invitees the highest duty of care and must ensure the property is safe and free of hazards. Specifically, this duty means property owners or occupiers must maintain the property, conduct regular inspections, and warn visitors of potential risks.
Licensee
Connecticut law defines a licensee as a person who is on the property for their own purposes but with the permission of the owner or occupier, e.g., a social guest. Property owners or occupiers owe a lesser duty of care to licensees. Unlike the duty owed to invitees, Property owners or occupiers are only obligated to warn licensees of known dangers.
Trespasser
A trespasser is a person on the property without the owner’s or occupier’s permission. According to Connecticut law, trespassers are owed the lowest duty of care as owners or occupiers must merely refrain from setting traps or intentionally harming trespassers. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as if the owner or occupier knew or had reason to know a trespasser was on the property and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the injury.
What Must Be Proved in a Premises Liability Case?
To bring a successful premises liability claim, a victim must prove that the property owner or occupier knew or should have known about the dangerous condition on the property and failed to take reasonable steps to fix it or warn visitors about it. Alternatively, a victim must prove the owner or occupier created the dangerous condition and failed to repair or provide sufficient warning. Under either theory, a victim must prove their case by a preponderance of the evidence, i.e., 51%.
Contact Carter Mario To Pursue Your Slip and Fall Claim
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, you need the experienced Connecticut slip and fall attorneys at Carter Mario Law Firm by your side. Insurance companies frequently defend claims by arguing property owners or occupiers lacked knowledge of the hazardous condition, took reasonable steps to repair or provide warning, or that the victim’s level of negligence exceeded 51% due to the open and obvious nature of the hazardous condition. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation so we can begin investigating the facts of your fall to build a strong case against the property owner or occupier.
What Caused Your Fall
There are many different causes of slip and fall accidents. Depending on the location of an accident, e.g., a grocery store vs. a hotel, slip and fall accidents result from a variety of hazardous conditions including:
- Obstructed Walkways
- Unmarked Elevation Changes
- Broken Steps or Platforms
- Wet, Polished, or Waxed Floors
- Poor, Broken, or Missing Lighting
- Uneven Pavement
- Trash or Debris on the Ground
It is important to determine the cause of your fall to determine who may be liable for your injuries.
Common Injuries from Slips and Falls
Slip and fall accidents can result in victims suffering a wide range of life-altering and severe injuries. Some of the most common injuries sustained by victims from slips and falls include:
- Partial or Complete Paralysis
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Internal Organ Injuries
- Neck Injuries
- Fractures
- Lacerations
- Muscle Strains
- Sprains
- Lacerations and Bruises
- Head Injuries, including Skull Fractures
- Back Injuries, such as Herniated Discs
It is important to seek immediate medical attention after a slip and fall accident, as some injuries may not be immediately apparent.
Talk with a Connecticut Slip and Fall Attorney at Carter Mario Law Firm
Many personal injury law firms decline to represent slip and fall victims as they are unwilling to litigate complex cases against powerful insurance companies. At Carter Mario Law Firm, our Connecticut slip and fall lawyers refuse to be intimidated and instead conduct detailed investigations of slip and fall accidents to gather evidence and build strong cases for our clients. To learn more about our services, contact us today for a free consultation.
Slip and Fall FAQs
Due to popular culture, slip and fall claims are widely misunderstood and widely parodied. The reality is they are serious accidents which cause victims to suffer painful injuries. At Carter Mario Law Firm, our personal injury attorneys have spent over 30 years successfully litigating slip and fall cases throughout Connecticut.
How Can I Avoid Slips and Falls on My Property?
If you own or occupy property, there is always a risk a visitor can suffer an injury due to a fall. To prevent slips and falls on your property, you should take the following steps:
- Keep your property well-maintained, including regularly inspecting and repairing any hazards
- Keep floors clean and dry, and use warning signs or cones to alert visitors to wet or slippery areas
- Make sure that all walkways and stairs are in good repair and have handrails if necessary
- Keep clutter and debris off the ground, and make sure that any electrical cords or other tripping hazards are out of the way
- Use non-slip flooring materials in areas that are prone to getting wet, such as near sinks or showers
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Lawyer?
You do not have to pay any upfront fees to hire a Connecticut slip and fall lawyer. At Carter Mario Law Firm, we represent slip and fall victims on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay us unless we win your case in court or negotiate a favorable settlement. Additionally, under our Zero Fee Warranty, our personal injury lawyers never earn more than you.
How Long Do I Have To File After a Slip And Fall Injury?
In Connecticut, the statute of limitations for bringing a personal injury claim, including a slip and fall claim, is two years from the date of the injury. This means you have two years to file a lawsuit or pursue a claim for damages. If you do not file within this time period, you are likely barred from recovering any compensation for your injuries.
What Expenses Do Slip and Fall Claims Compensate?
In Connecticut, you can claim economic and non-economic damages due to a slip and fall accident. Specifically, you can claim the following financial losses as your economic damages:
- Past and Future Medical Expenses
- Hospital Stays
- Surgery
- Physical and Occupational Rehabilitation
- Past and Future Lost Wages
- Other Out-of-Pocket Expenses, such as the Transportation or Hiring Costs
With regard to non-economic damages, you can claim the pain and suffering for the physical and emotional distress caused by the accident.
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