Connecticut Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers

Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common causes of personal injuries and can occur at any time and in any place. Falling may not seem serious, but slip and fall accidents can lead to devastating and life-altering injuries. Falls are the leading cause of emergency room visits, accounting for over 8 million emergency room visits annually in the United States.

If you suffered severe injuries in a slip and fall accident, you need the help of an experienced Connecticut slip and fall accident lawyer to help you navigate the legal system and recover maximum compensation for your injuries and losses. At the Law Offices of Jason L. McCoy, LLC, we have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for injured clients.

What Are Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Connecticut?

Connecticut property owners are required to maintain safe and hazard-free premises. Property owners can be held accountable for accidents and injuries when they fail to maintain a safe property. Some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents include:

• Boxes, equipment, inventory, and other items in walkways, aisles, parking lots, and other areas accessible to visitors.
• Snow and ice buildup on sidewalks and parking lots.
• Slippery floors from liquid spills, flooded restrooms, cleaning practices, wax, or tracked in rain, snow, or ice.
• Uneven surfaces, such as damaged or loose flooring, bunched or torn carpets or mats, cracked sidewalks or parking lots, or transitions between flooring from different floors.
• Holes, divets, or gaps in parking lots, sidewalks, flooring, or ground areas.
• Broken, missing, or inadequate lighting in parking lots, stairwells, alleyways, passageways, or parking garages.

What Types of Injuries Are Common in Slip and Fall Accidents?

Slip and fall accidents often produce more serious accidents than you might think, particularly falls from heights or numerous impacts, such as falling down a flight of stairs. Some of the most serious injuries include:

• Back, neck, and spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Neck and shoulder injuries
• Nerve damage
• Organ damage and punctures
• Paralysis
• Traumatic brain injuries

How Do I Prove My Slip and Fall Accident Was Caused by Someone Else?

Determining liability in slip and fall accidents can be difficult, and you must prove it. To establish negligence, you must prove that the owner:

• Had a duty of care to ensure the property was safe and free from hazards and should have known of the dangerous situation.
• Breached the duty of care by not addressing the problem and keeping the property safe and free from hazards.
• The breach of duty caused the accident and your injuries.
• Your injuries resulted in financial and emotional losses.

Despite property owners’ duty to make the premises reasonably safe, it is not considered absolute. One common defense against accident claims is the “open and obvious doctrine.” This means a reasonable person could easily discover the hazard, who would have recognized and avoided the risk, and the owner would not be responsible.

What Damages Can I Recover for My Slip and Fall Injury?

Compensation for slip and fall accidents and injuries is based on a combination of economic and non-economic damages:

• Economic damages are the actual expenses related to the accident and your injuries, such as medical expenses, lost wages, repair costs, or funeral expenses.
• Non-economic damages refer to the unspecified costs associated with the physical and mental losses endured, such as pain and suffering, disability, loss of life enjoyment, PTSD, or wrongful death.

Connecticut is a contributory negligence state that entitles you to seek damages from the responsible party for the accident and injuries, provided you have 50 percent or less responsibility. Your percentage of responsibility will be deducted from the total compensation awarded. You cannot seek compensation if you are 51 percent or more at fault for the accident.

Additionally, you have a limited time to file a claim. The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim in Connecticut is two years from the accident date or death date.

What Should I Do After a Slip and Fall Accident in Connecticut?

Gathering evidence after an accident and injury can be crucial to proving your claim. If you are physically able, you should:

• Report the accident to the property owner or business manager.
• Photograph the scene and conditions leading to the accident and your injuries.
• Gather contact information and statements from witnesses.
• Seek medical attention as soon as possible to rule out serious internal injuries that may not be immediately evident. You will also need a physician’s report for your claim.
• Maintain all accident-related documents and correspondence.
• Hire an experienced slip and fall accident lawyer to help you pursue compensation for your injuries and expenses.

When accidents occur in a public place, such as a supermarket or restaurant, the cause of the accident is usually remedied quickly to prevent others from also being injured. Once the hazard is cleared, so is the evidence, and a slip and fall claim often becomes a matter of conflicting accounts of what happened without supporting evidence.

How Can a Connecticut Slip and Fall Lawyer Help Me?

Slip and fall accident claims can be challenging, depending on the circumstances of the accident, the severity of your injuries, and several responsible parties. An experienced Connecticut slip and fall accident lawyer can help you pursue a claim in the following ways:

• Advise you regarding your case, explain your legal options, and recommend appropriate actions.
• Investigate the accident and gather evidence.
• Interview witnesses.
• Establish responsibility for the accident.
• Calculate the amount of compensation you are owed.
• Negotiate a settlement with the responsible parties or insurance companies.
• Represent you if your case goes to trial.

It is a common practice of insurance companies to contact you and claim that the company will cover your injuries and expenses and advise you not to retain legal counsel. Most slip and fall cases are resolved through settlements because insurance companies do not want the expense of court trials.

However, insurance companies are motivated to protect their profits and attempt to settle cases for as little as possible. It is wise to consult a lawyer to review any settlement offers you receive before accepting. Your claim will likely be more valuable than the insurance company provides.

Our Connecticut Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers at the Law Offices of Jason L. McCoy, LLC Help Clients Injured by Negligent Property Owners

Property owners are required to keep the premises safe for visitors. If you have been injured in a public building or on private property, our Connecticut slip and fall accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Jason L. McCoy, LLC can help you seek the compensation you deserve. Call today at 860-872-7741 or visit us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Vernon, New Haven, and Waterbury, Connecticut, we proudly serve clients in Tolland County, New Haven County, and Hartford County.