Slip-And-Fall Lawyers Serving The Greater New Haven Area
Slips and falls are common accidents that often result in injury. Among older adults, slip-and-fall accidents are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured due to a slip-and-fall, you should immediately speak with an experienced attorney.
At Sette & Parnoff, PC, our experienced Hamden premises liability lawyer is familiar with these types of cases — including slip-and-falls involving snow and ice — and knows exactly how to investigate and build your injury claim. We can help determine the negligence and hold the responsible parties accountable. Let us sweat the details so that you can focus on your health and recovery.
Injured in slip-and-fall in New Haven County? Reach out today at 203-490-4155 for a FREE case evaluation.
What Is Connecticut’s Slip-And-Fall Law?
Property owners have a responsibility to protect patrons, tenants and visitors from foreseeable injuries. This includes hidden or unexpected safety hazards that could cause someone to slip or trip and suffer a bad fall. There are two key factors to Connecticut’s slip-and-fall liability laws:
- There is a statute of limitations for filing a claim. In general, you must file a slip-and-fall lawsuit within two years of the accident. However, if you fall on a municipal-owned sidewalk/property, notice must be properly given to your town within 90 days after the fall or you will not be able to make a claim. It is always better to contact an attorney as soon as you suspect the property owner may be liable so that evidence can be preserved and so that your injuries can be clearly connected to the incident. If the deadline passes, you lose your standing to sue the property owner.
- Connecticut is a modified comparative negligence state. This means that if the injured person was partly at fault through their own careless or reckless actions, that can be factored into their recovery of damages. As long as your contributory negligence does not exceed 50%, you can still bring a premises liability claim. However, your compensation would be reduced accordingly. For example, if you are deemed to be 25% at fault, then your monetary damages would be reduced by 25%.
Our Hamden slip-and-fall attorney is a former insurance adjuster who understands how insurance companies evaluate claims and the tactics they use to attempt to shift the blame onto the accident victim. David Parnoff can counter the defendant’s arguments to keep the focus on the negligence of the property owner that ultimately resulted in your injuries.
Slip And Falls Due To Snow And Ice
Connecticut winters can create havoc, particularly when property owners fail to ensure safe travel for patrons. Sidewalks slick with snow or a thin layer of moisture that suddenly freezes into black ice can cause a serious or life-changing slip-and-fall accident.
Businesses and municipalities have a legal duty under Connecticut law to clear walkways, sidewalks and steps with a reasonable time frame after a snowstorm, or after a warm-up that melts and re-freezes snow. The actual regulations may vary in different counties and cities and that is where the 50-year history of our firm works to your advantage. We know the local ordinances and county regulations as they pertain to commercial businesses, to residential landlords, to homeowners and to governmental entities in Hamden, New Haven, North Haven, East Haven, West Haven, Waterbury and surrounding communities of New Haven County.
We know the right questions to ask to hold property owners liable for slip-and-fall accidents on snow and ice. How much did it snow and when did the snowfall stop? When did the owner address the accumulation and how well did they clear the hazard? Did they put out warning signs or spread salt or sand to reduce the risk of falling?
Other Causes Of Slips And Falls
Slip-and-falls are not limited to snow and ice claims. Property owners can be liable for any tripping and slipping hazards, including:
- Untreated snow and ice
- Uneven steps
- Cluttered floors and walkways
- Crumbling or poorly constructed staircases
- Loose floorboards
- Recently mopped or waxed surfaces
- Ripped or torn carpeting
- Wet or uneven surfaces
Common Injuries From Slip-And-Fall Accidents
The injuries that result from slip-and-fall accidents can be severe and sometimes require expensive medical treatment. Common injuries from a slip or fall include:
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Hip fractures
- Head injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Sprains and fractures
Hamden Slip-And-Fall Attorneys Fighting For You
You may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. Our experienced attorney can construct a legal strategy that suits the needs of your personal injury case. While fraudulent and frivolous cases have made slip-and-fall cases more difficult, our lawyers will fight for your rights. Our law firm has an established reputation when it comes to handling slip-and-fall claims, include falls from snow and ice, and we know what to expect. We’re committed to helping our clients recover the compensation they deserve.