Old Saybrook Slip-and-Fall Lawyer

Old Saybrook Slip-and-Fall Attorney

A slip-and-fall accident can happen in an instant, but the consequences can last for months or even years. What seems like a simple fall can result in severe injuries, costly medical treatment, and emotional trauma. When your accident was caused by a property owner’s negligence, an Old Saybrook slip-and-fall lawyer can explain the slip-and-fall laws, help you pursue fair compensation, and seek justice against the negligent property owner.

Hire a Slip-and-Fall Lawyer You Can Trust

For over 80 years, Suisman Shapiro has combined compassionate guidance with aggressive legal advocacy in slip-and-fall claims. Our experienced attorneys thoroughly investigate every case to gather critical evidence and apply Connecticut’s slip-and-fall laws to your case. Our ultimate goal is not just to hold a negligent property owner accountable, but to secure the full compensation you deserve.

Understanding Slip-and-Fall Claims in Old Saybrook

Many people underestimate the extreme injuries associated with slip-and-fall accidents. Yet, falls make up 21% of unintentional injury deaths. Fall victims can suffer from a variety of injuries, from broken bones to traumatic brain injuries.

Not every fall can lead to a claim. For example, while over 25% of adults over 65 suffer from a fall each year, many of these falls are attributed to physical changes and medical conditions rather than an environmental hazard. To file a slip-and-fall claim, a property owner’s negligence toward a hazard must have led to the accident. A property owner could mean a landlord, store owner, or another person responsible for maintaining a property’s safety.

How Is a Property Owner’s Negligence Proven

While it is true that property owners are generally responsible for maintaining a safe environment and can be held liable if their neglect led to an injury, this must be proven when filing a claim. An Old Saybrook slip-and-fall attorney can help you establish a property owner’s negligence by proving the four elements of negligence, which are:

1. Duty of care. You have to prove that the property owner was legally responsible for acting with care to avoid harm to others.
2. Breach of duty. A breach of duty occurs when the owner fails to uphold their duty, such as if they create, fail to address, or fail to warn visitors about a hazard.
3. Causation. You have to prove that the breach of duty directly caused the accident, and thus, you would not have sustained your injuries if the owner had not breached their duty.
4. Damages. You also must provide evidence to prove you suffered actual losses after the fall. This may involve using medical records, witness testimonies, or financial records to prove what damages you have suffered.

Compensation for a Slip-and-Fall Case

The amount of compensation you receive varies depending on the types of damages you have suffered and their severity. Severe damages, such as injuries with high medical costs that result in permanent disability, often lead to increased compensation compared to more minor damages. Your lawyer can calculate a fair amount of compensation based on your slip-and-fall case and negotiate with insurance companies to reach that amount.

When identifying what damages you have suffered from, a lawyer can look at three main types of damages:

• Economic. Economic damages are the monetary losses you suffer from after a fall, which compensation can make up for. Most commonly, this includes the cost of medical treatment, lost wages, or property damage.
• Non-economic. Non-economic damages are the intangible losses. When calculating your non-economic damages, your lawyer and the at-fault party can consider factors such as physical pain and suffering, emotional pain and suffering, psychological disorders, scarring or permanent disfigurement, and loss of quality of life.
• Punitive. Punitive damages are available to punish a property owner for extreme negligence, and are not available in all cases. For example, punitive damages may be awarded if the property owner failed to address broken staircases after multiple accidents occurred.

You may also receive compensation for anticipated costs. For example, if you were left with a long-term or permanent disability, you may have ongoing medical needs or have a reduced earning capacity. Your lawyer can gather evidence to support these future expenses and calculate the ongoing costs of an injury.

FAQs

What Are Examples of Negligence That Result in a Slip-and-Fall Accident?

There are many ways a property owner’s negligence can result in a slip-and-fall accident in Old Saybrook. A store owner may fail to address wet floors by using a warning sign or drying the floor. An apartment landlord may neglect broken staircases or handrails. Or, a property owner may neglect uneven walking surfaces, such as deep cracks and potholes, in a parking lot.

What Evidence Helps a Slip-and-Fall Claim?

Many types of evidence can help a slip-and-fall case if it can be used to prove the property owner’s negligence or your damages. If you hire a slip-and-fall lawyer, they can help you collect evidence such as security camera footage, photographs of the scene of the accident, witness statements, medical records, and pay stubs.

Can You File a Claim if You Fell in Someone’s Private Residence?

Yes, you can file a claim against the homeowner if you fell in someone’s private residence. When filing a claim against the homeowner, homeowners insurance typically covers your damages. Similar to claims against a landlord, storeowner, or manager, you must establish that the fall was due to the property owner’s negligence.

How Long Do You Have to File a Slip-and-Fall Claim?

Connecticut’s slip-and-fall laws give you two years from the date of the accident. Missing this deadline can threaten your ability to pursue compensation, so working swiftly is essential in a slip-and-fall case. An Old Saybrook slip-and-fall lawyer can help you by preparing to build a claim and negotiating with the at-fault party to settle before this deadline.

Speak With an Old Saybrook Slip-and-Fall Attorney

Whether your landlord failed to address the ice on the walkway to your apartment or you fell in a store along Main Street that didn’t have clear walkways, contact Suisman Shapiro for a free consultation to learn how filing a claim can support your recovery after a fall.

Contact Our New London
Law office

Schedule a Consultation

860-364-6937