Slip and falls on wet or poorly-maintained surfaces are among the most common type of accidents. If you need legal counsel after sustaining this kind of injury, call a Trumbull slip and fall lawyer to discuss your situation. Depending on the unique circumstances of the incident, you could receive substantial monetary damages that pay for medical expenses, make up for lost wages and provide compensation for general pain and suffering.
By working with a trustworthy personal injury attorney like George W. Ganim, Jr., you are streamlining the legal process instead of trying to navigate the case yourself. The less stress you feel on a daily basis during your recovery period, the easier it will become to move forward with your life.
Why Do Slip and Fall Injuries Occur?
Hazardous properties come in many forms. A local trip and fall lawyer can provide representation in cases involving:
- Cracked sidewalks
- Broken stairs
- Manholes
- Loose or torn carpeting
- Ice and snow
- Overgrown grass and moss
- Insufficient lighting
- Slippery flooring
- Stairs with no warning
- Insufficient or missing handrails
While some injuries from slip and fall accidents occur because individuals were not paying attention to their surroundings, others are beyond their control. For example, water or another clear fluid left on a store floor for an unreasonable period of time without a warning sign can be difficult to see. If you slipped on the water because you could not see it, the property owner or manager cannot claim plaintiff distraction as a defense.
Comparative Negligence in Slip and Fall Incidents
Since property owners can claim that the injured person was being negligent while on their property, a Trumbull slip and fall attorney can refer to Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 925 § 52-572h(b), which says the plaintiff can collect damages so long as they were not more than 50 percent responsible for their injuries. According to comparative negligence rules, the amount of damages someone can receive is directly connected to the percentage of blame that was placed on them. For example, if a plaintiff was deemed 30 percent at fault for their injuries because they were looking at their phone when the accident occurred, then the amount of damages they ultimately receive will be lowered by 30 percent. However, if the property owner were deemed to be 100 percent at fault then there would not be a reduction in damages.
When Are You Not Liable for Slip and Fall Injury Compensation?
Invitees such as social guests, and licensees such as HVAC technicians, are owed duty of care by property owners and can make a claim for any injuries and losses suffered as a result of the property owner’s negligence. However, trespassers are not afforded the same rights. For example, if a person slips on an icy porch while trying to commit a crime, or a person enters property while ignoring a “no trespassing” sign, they cannot sue for compensation. A trespasser only has legal rights if the owner needlessly and intentionally tried to harm them. Attorney Ganim can help determine if an act was intentional.
Contact a Trumbull Slip and Fall Attorney to Review Your Case
Slipping or tripping on an unmaintained property may seem small but it could have disastrous consequences if you land the wrong way. If a property owner did not provide you with a duty of care in violation of their legal requirement to do so, then you should contact a Trumbull slip and fall lawyer today. Attorney George W. Ganim, Jr. can go over your case to determine what kinds of compensation you could potentially receive. You can trust us to provide skilled legal advice and fight for every dollar of financial relief that you deserve.