Connecticut Slip & Fall Accident Lawyer

How is liability determined in Hartford, CT?

A slip and fall accident can be classified as any incident in which someone slips or trips due to the hazardous conditions of another's property and subsequently falls. Most people do not realize that falling from a standing position may still have devastating consequences, as it is not uncommon for a victim to sustain a broken bone or even a serious head injury. These accidents most frequently occur on the premises of a commercial or private property that attracts heavy foot traffic or on an individual's poorly maintained residential property. Leaving a spill or a slippery substance on the floor of a walkway, failing to make provisions for icy weather conditions, leaving a room poorly lit, and/or failing to comply with proper safety guidelines are just some of the reasons why a visitor could be involved in a serious slip and fall accident.

What is important to understand, however, is that it is the sole responsibility of a property owner to make sure that the premises is kept free of potentially hazardous conditions. If, for example, a restaurant owner or manager notices that a drink was spilled on the floor but fails to clean it up in a timely manner, they can be held accountable for any injuries that were suffered as a result. The same applies to a residential home owner, as it is their responsibility to make sure that any visitors will be provided with a safe environment. For this reason, if you have been involved in slip and fall accident at the hands of a negligent owner, it is crucial that you understand your rights as a victim.

First, you must determine whether or not they had knowledge of the hazardous condition. The law mandates that the responsible party can only be held accountable for paying damages if they had known that dangerous conditions existed, or if they should have known—meaning that any other reasonable person in the same situation would have noticed and remedied the problem. If this can be proven, you may have grounds to pursue a lawsuit. Generally, however, there are several basic steps that a property owner must take to ensure a safe environment, as they must exercise due diligence to protect visitors to the property. Reasonable precautions include:

Making sure that the floor is dry or clearly marking it as wet
Floors and stairways are well-lit
Walkways are not unsafely obstructed by merchandise or other objects
Stairways have reliable handrails
Floors are not rendered dangerous by upended tiles or folded carpets

What steps do I take after an accident in Connecticut?

After sustaining a serious injury on another person's property, it is important to document the evidence as soon as possible, as many times the responsible party will work quickly to remedy the hazardous conditions after an accident has occurred. To do this, it is crucial to talk to any witnesses and take pictures of the dangerous conditions that have led to the slip and fall. After that, the next step should be to contact a legal professional immediately. Making a statement to the responsible party could prove to be detrimental to your case without first consulting an attorney, as they may try to manipulate you into saying that you were partially responsible for your injuries. In order to avoid being offered an unfair settlement later on, it may be in your best interests to have a Connecticut injury lawyer on your side from the start.

How McCoy & McCoy Can Help

In the wake of a slip and fall accident, you should not hesitate to enlist the help of a Connecticut injury lawyer that is knowledgeable in this area of the law. With more than 50 years of combined legal experience, the dedicated attorneys at McCoy & McCoy are well-equipped to assist you in recovering a substantial amount of damages for the physical and emotional trauma that you have suffered. To see why our firm may be the right choice to represent your personal injury case, we prompt you to submit an online case evaluation today, for free. In doing so, we will be able to inform you of the rights that you possess as a victim and figure out a viable way in which to proceed with your case. To consult our firm directly, do not hesitate to call our office today.