Slip and fall accidents are among the most common types of premises liability accidents and can be caused by a number of unsafe conditions. If you are hurt after falling at a store or other commercial property, the owner or property manager’s negligence could be to blame.
Filing a premises liability claim could be the best route for getting the compensation you’re entitled to after a slip and fall accident. For help navigating your legal claim, contact the attorneys at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC. We have over 100 years of combined experience representing injured clients in slip and fall accident claims.
Connecticut is an at-fault state, which means that the person responsible for an accident could be held legally liable for the harm caused by the accident. More than one party may be responsible and Connecticut allows apportionment of fault among all legally liable parties. This means that each liable party is responsible for their share of the total negligence. Also, the state uses a modified comparative negligence system when identifying the at-fault party. Injured parties can recover monetary damages as long as they are not more than 50% at fault. If you share fault for the accident, your compensation will be decreased by your percentage of fault.
Here’s an example: Tony is injured in a slip and fall accident on a grocery store sidewalk and awarded $22,000. However, he was also found to be 15% at fault for his fall. This means that his monetary award is decreased by 15%, leaving $18,700 for his recovery.
You may be found partially at fault for an accident if you ignored warning signs, such as wet floor notices, or behaved in a way that would reasonably lead to harm. Intoxication could also cause partial fault to be placed on the injured party.
Connecticut law establishes that property owners are not generally responsible for maintaining sidewalks unless fully contained on their private property. Local cities and municipalities are usually tasked with keeping public sidewalks safe, but there are exceptions to this rule. If any local ordinances or regulations place the duty for maintaining the sidewalk on the land or property owner, that owner is liable for injuries caused by unsafe walkways. Another exception is when the hazardous condition is caused by the neighboring property owner’s acts.
Slippery conditions caused by snow and ice are common in Connecticut. In many situations involving frozen sidewalks, the exception to the general rule involving liability often applies, and property owners have the duty to keep the sidewalks clear. However, ice is not the only hazardous condition that can cause slip and fall accidents on sidewalks. Uneven pathways caused by general wear and tear, large cracks, and potholes can all lead to dangerous conditions for pedestrians.
State laws are complex, and knowing which statutes apply in your specific slip and fall case is not something that most accident victims have the time or education to determine. Your priority is your physical and mental health, which is why we prioritize your financial compensation after a sidewalk slip and fall accident.
Contact D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.