Bridgeport Slip & Fall Attorney
Suffering a slip and fall accident can leave individuals with lasting, chronic pain conditions and overwhelming medical debt. Recovering from the injuries sustained in a slip and fall accident can feel like an overwhelming task, yet with the help of a Bridgeport slip and fall lawyer, you may be able to seek monetary compensation.
At Sorrentino Legal, our seasoned personal injury legal team has been helping individuals with personal injury claims recover compensation for almost a decade. With this experience and access to the necessary resources, Sorrentino Legal is available to help make you aware of your rights and educate you on all your legal options. Some victims of a slip and fall may blame themselves for the accident, but at Sorrentino Legal, we can help you determine what you are entitled to.
When you visit a property with hazardous debris or dangerous conditions, such as icy sidewalks or stairs, broken railings, or ripped and torn carpet, and you suffer an accident due to these conditions, you may be able to file a claim against the property owner or manager for negligence. At Sorrentino Legal, our personal injury lawyer can work to gather evidence, negotiate your claim with the involved parties, and represent your interests.
Common Examples of Slip and Fall Cases in Bridgeport
In most cases, a slip and fall event can be caused by a hazard or present danger on someone’s property. When you enter that property under lawful circumstances and suffer as a result of this hazard or danger, you may be entitled to compensation under a slip and fall accident claim. Properties that are often involved in a slip and fall case include stores, commercial buildings, homes, or plots of land. Common examples of slip and falls in Bridgeport include:
- Driveways and parking lots. Cold winters are a common occurrence in Connecticut, and these conditions can often lead to icy and slippery surfaces. If you slip and fall in a driveway or parking lot or suffer a pedestrian accident, you may be able to file a slip and fall accident claim against the owner of the property.
- One of the most common areas a slip and fall accident can occur is in a store. The employees, managers, and owners of these stores should work to ensure that the entire property is safe for all of their customers. However, in certain circumstances, items may fall from the shelves, creating debris and even slippery surfaces. If a person comes into contact with these hazards, they may fall and suffer an injury.
- When a landlord lists a property for rent, they must meet the official requirements to ensure that the property has safe conditions for all those who visit the premises. However, many buildings in the Bridgeport area are older and have uneven floors, poor lighting, or handrails missing from staircases, which can easily lead to the occurrence of slip and fall accidents.
- Swimming pools. Swimming pools can be extremely dangerous, even for individuals who know how to swim. If a pool is left uncovered, an individual might slip and fall into the water, drowning either due to inexperience or from striking their head in the fall. These accidents can result in catastrophic injuries and even death.
- A slip and fall accident can occur in almost any workplace. They most commonly happen in warehouses, on construction sites, in industrial areas, or in workshops, but they can also happen even in an office building as you’re walking in to begin your work day. Dangerous accidents can happen at virtually any workplace and lead to severe damage to both the victim’s body and their property.
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How to Prove Negligence in a Slip and Fall Case
When you become injured in a slip and fall accident, there are several elements that must be proven in order to show that the property owner or manager acted negligently, which then resulted in the injuries you have suffered. These elements include the following:
- The property owner or manager had a duty to ensure that the premises were free from all hazards and that anyone who visited their property was safe.
- The owner or manager, through negligence or recklessness, breached this duty, and the property was not free and safe from hazards.
- This breach of duty directly resulted in the injuries suffered by the victim of the slip and fall accident.
- These injuries caused the victim to suffer certain damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering.
One of the most effective ways to prove your slip and fall accident is by taking photographs or videos of the scene of the accident if you are physically capable of doing so. However, if the property owner or manager tried to make you aware of the dangerous conditions on the property, this might weaken your case, which is why it is always a good idea to seek out an experienced slip and fall accident lawyer in these claims.
Premises Liability Laws in Connecticut
In certain situations, a slip and fall accident may fall under the legal umbrella of a premises liability case. This will depend on the duty of care the property owner owes to the individual who visits their property. Keep in mind that wherever your slip and fall accident takes place, you have rights. The duty of care owed by the property owner or manager depends on your classification while visiting their property. These classifications include the following:
- If you are trespassing on another individual’s property, this individual does not owe you a duty of care, and if you suffer a slip and fall accident while on their property, in most cases, you will not be eligible to file a legal claim against them. However, a property owner cannot set traps in order to harm those who trespass on their property.
- This party is anyone who is invited to the land or business of the property owner or manager for a reason that would benefit both parties.
- This party, or classification, is any individual who has consent or permission from the property owner or manager to be on the property.
It is important to keep in mind that when a child is involved in a premises liability or slip and fall accident, the duty of care owed to them by the property owner or manager is increased. Even if that child is trespassing or the owner of the property had no reason to think that a child would be on their property, they still must fix any potentially dangerous conditions on their property that could harm a child.
If these steps are not taken and a child is injured, the property owner or manager may still be held liable for any damages suffered, even if that child was trespassing.
Compensation in a Slip and Fall Claim
If you have a viable slip and fall claim and the other party is deemed to be liable for the injury and harm you have sustained, you may be able to receive damages or compensation. These forms of monetary compensation are used to help you recover the financial losses you suffered as a result of your injury. Some of the most common damages received in a slip and fall case include the following:
- Medical costs related to the accident, past, present, and future
- Damage to your personal property
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of future earning potential
- Punitive damages
FAQs
When you work with a personal injury lawyer in a slip and fall accident claim, they can help you by determining the liable party, calculating the overall value of your claim, gathering the evidence necessary to your case, negotiating with the at-fault party, their legal team, and their insurance provider, and bringing your case to court if necessary.
After suffering a slip and fall accident, there are certain actions that should be taken to ensure your own safety and to protect your legal claim. These actions can include seeking immediate medical treatment and ensuring you receive documentation, recording the accident scene through photographs or videos, informing the property owner about the incident, and refraining from admitting to fault.
There are several parties that can be held liable in a slip and fall claim in Bridgeport. These parties can include any property management company that has been hired to keep up the premises, a third-party maintenance company like a snow-removal service or janitorial company, a residential tenant if the accident happened within their leased area, or the owner of the property.
Speak with a Trusted Slip & Fall Lawyer Today
When you work with the personal injury legal team at Sorrentino Legal for your slip and fall accident, you can rest assured knowing the right law firm is in your corner, fighting for the compensation and justice you deserve. Contact our office today to learn more and to schedule your initial consultation.
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