When venturing into a business or a neighbor’s home causes you to suffer serious injury, a negligent property owner may owe you compensation for your losses. Premises liability is a critical legal concept that protects visitors who are put at unnecessary physical risk due to the carelessness of property owners.
At The Law Offices of James A. Welcome, founded in 2007, our premises liability lawyer in Hartford will guide you in seeking fair compensation from those responsible. Do not wait to seek a free consultation. Let our Hartford personal injury lawyer answer your questions as soon as today.
Understanding Premises Liability and Property Owner Responsibility
Premises liability laws aim to protect individuals who visit another person’s property, expecting to be safe while there. Not every situation makes the owner responsible for your injuries, though. There are three visitor classifications that ultimately aim to provide clarity on who is owed compensation by the owner:
- Invitee: An invitee is typically a customer, such as one in a restaurant, retail location, or medical facility. The owner owes the highest level of responsibility to invitees. That means they must do everything possible to ensure the person’s safety.
- Licensees: A licensee is a person who visits another person’s property without necessarily having an invitation to do so. For example, a friend visiting someone’s home may apply. Here, the owner still owes a duty of safety, but it is slightly less than that of an invitee. Warning of risks is a crucial way to minimize hazards here.
- Trespassers: In Connecticut, the law does not grant trespassers the right to seek compensation. However, owners cannot intentionally create hazardous areas or leave attractive nuisances, like swimming pools, unguarded.
If you think that your accident falls into any of these areas, now is the right time to speak to our legal team for answers. Our Hartford premises liability attorney can thoroughly examine your case and then build a clear and comprehensive claim for the compensation you are owed.
Demonstrating responsibility is not simplistic, but with our extensive legal experience, we know how to do so. Read our FAQs today.
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Examples of Premises Liability Cases in Hartford
Premises liability can occur on residential, commercial, and governmental properties. All property owners should take reasonable steps to minimize risks to others. Some examples of when premise liability claims are the most common include:
- Slip and fall accidents in retail establishments or restaurants
- Uneven floors or sidewalks
- Tripping hazards in hallways or on walkways
- Swimming pools without fall protection
- Negligent security, including not protecting against expected risks
- Falls from steps due to a loose railing or faulty step
- Trampoline accidents
- Dog bites and other animal attacks
In situations like this, the burden of proof of who is at fault, as well as the financial losses incurred, is on the victim. This means that you must demonstrate that the property owner either created or failed to avoid a hazardous situation, did not warn of the risk, and had sufficient time to take action. Their failure to take these steps caused the accident to occur, and you suffered injuries and losses as a direct result.
What You Should Do After a Premises Liability Accident
One of the more complicated elements of premises liability claims is demonstrating that the property owner knew of or should have been aware of the risk and failed to take appropriate measures to keep visitors safe. In situations where you suffer such injuries, what you do after the incident happens could help you demonstrate fault and prove your losses. In the ideal situation, follow these steps:
- If there is any risk to your safety or that of anyone else, call 911 to request immediate assistance.
- If there are serious injuries that could be life-threatening, call 911 without delay.
- In situations where you can do so safely, take photos of the surrounding area, the injuries suffered, and any equipment or other people in the area.
- Get the name and contact information for all parties involved in the accident. You cannot force a witness to provide their information.
- Get medical care immediately. Head to the local hospital if you have serious injuries or an urgent care for same-day help.
After these steps, you will need to notify the property owner of the injury and eventually report the injury to the property owner’s liability insurance company. You can avoid some of these complications in the process by allowing our premises liability lawyer in Hartford to guide you through it. Our Hartford slip and fall accident lawyer can eliminate the strategies insurance companies take to minimize the compensation paid to you.
Determine What Your Premises Liability Case Is Worth
The value of your premises liability claim is dependent on how serious your injuries are, whether you will heal, and the implications of them. Our lawyer will examine all ways that this incident is impacting you, including your mental health, physical well-being, and financial state. You may be owed compensation such as:
- Medical bills from the accident and through your recovery
- Property damage and losses
- Lost wages and salary from being unable to work
- Loss of earning capacity due to your injuries being long-term
- Permanent disability
- Emotional trauma
- Pain and suffering
If you have any of these injuries, you have two years from the date of the accident to take action. This is the Connecticut statute of limitations for premises liability claims involving personal injury. If you wait beyond this, you may be unable to recover fair damages in your case, and the court will not hear your claim. Consult a lawyer at The Law Offices of James A. Welcome today.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Premises Liability Attorney in Hartford Now
At The Law Offices of James A. Welcome, we know that a simple slip and fall can lead to a lifetime of pain and suffering.
When another person’s carelessness puts you in this position, you have the right to seek full compensation for any losses you have. Set up a free consultation with our Hartford premises liability lawyer to learn more.
