New Haven Slip and Fall Attorney

A slip and fall accident might not sound like a major problem, but it could significantly impact your physical, mental, and financial health. Therefore, if you suffer injuries in a slip and fall, do not wait to consult with an experienced slip and fall attorney in New Haven. 

Why Partner with Kennedy Johnson Schwab & Roberge?

When you’re injured and need advice and guidance, there is no better legal team than the one you’ll find at Kennedy Johnson Schwab & Roberge. We have over 30 years of experience helping injured clients recover for the wrongs done unto them. 

Our unique and intimate understanding of the laws and legal procedures associated with personal injury cases allows us to help our clients reach the best possible results. When you choose us as your slip and fall law firm, we’ll give you the care and compassion you need as we fight to protect your rights to financial compensation. 

Slip and Fall Accidents and Premises Liability

When you experience a slip and fall accident on another’s property, you may feel confused. Why did it happen? Who’s responsible? Can you sue for your injuries?

Premises liability law comes into play when you suffer harm on another person’s property as a result of unsafe or defective conditions like a slip and fall accident. Because you suffer harm at the hands of another party, premises liability falls under the broad umbrella of personal injury. 

Most personal injury cases are based on negligence, including premises liability cases. In this context, negligence refers to the land owner or occupier’s failure to exercise reasonable care to keep the premises safe for visitors.

Property Owners and Occupiers Owe You a Duty of Care

Landowners owe visitors a duty of care. Whether you’re on someone’s property for business or pleasure, the law protects you, depending on your status when entering the property. 

When an individual enters another’s property, the law considers them an invitee, a licensee, or a trespasser.

An invitee is an individual invited onto the property, often for business purposes. For example, visiting a restaurant, mall, or hotel would make you an invitee. Property owners owe invitees a duty of care; they must keep their property safe and free of dangerous conditions.

A licensee is an individual typically invited onto someone’s property for personal or social visits. When you visit someone’s home, you are considered to be a licensee. Property owners have a limited duty of care to licensees and they are only required to warn of dangerous conditions if the owner knows of the condition and the licensee is unlikely to discover it on their own. 

A trespasser is someone not legally allowed to be on another’s property. Property owners owe invitees and licensees a duty of care, but not trespassers. However, it is important to note that owners are not allowed to intentionally cause a trespasser harm.

If you’re legally entitled to be on another party’s property, your slip and fall accident could be the property owner’s fault. As a result, you may have a valid claim to pursue financial recovery for your losses. 

Injuries Often Caused by Slip and Falls

Victims of slip and fall accidents regularly sustain significant injuries depending on the details of their fall. Some of the injuries our slip and fall clients commonly suffer include:

• Fractures
• Broken bones
• Lacerations
• Dislocated joints
• Head injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Sprains and strains
• Soft tissue injuries
• Nerve damage

The more serious your injuries, the greater the risk that you will face long-term consequences for your health and quality of life. Additionally, more substantial injuries often require extensive medical treatment in the future. 

Establishing Liability for Slip and Fall Accidents

Proving the landowner or occupier’s liability is critical for recovering compensation for your slip and fall injuries and losses. Most slip and fall cases are based on negligence; for that reason, you’ll need to establish the required elements of negligence as a first step toward getting the compensation you deserve.

First, you’ll need to show the property owner owed you a duty of care. This requires showing that you were on the property legally as an invitee or licensee. 

After establishing the party owed you a duty of care, you must show how their actions breached that duty. This often requires proving two things: that there was a dangerous condition on the property and that the owner did nothing to correct or warn against the problem.

Next, you’ll show how the owner caused your slip and fall by failing to act under their duty of care. This step commonly involves establishing the connection between the dangerous condition and your fall.

Finally, to recover finances after a slip and fall, you must have suffered real damages. Therefore, you’ll need to show proof of the injuries and losses that resulted directly from your slip and fall accident. 

Liability can be tricky, but it is one of the integral pieces of a slip and fall claim. Fortunately, you can trust your slip and fall lawyer to gather the right evidence and build a strong case on your behalf. 

Pursuing Compensation for Your Slip and Fall

After a slip and fall accident, you’ll likely face numerous financial burdens. From mounting medical bills to lost earnings at work, a slip and fall accident can take a toll on your finances.

For this reason, you can pursue damages to help cover the monetary and non-monetary losses you experience after your accident. 

Slip and fall damages can compensate you for any of the following:

• Medical expenses for past and future medical bills
• Rehabilitation and therapy costs
• Lost wages
• Diminished or lost earning potential
• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent scarring
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Determining how much your case is worth is crucial if you want to recover full and fair compensation. While calculating damages can be challenging, a slip and fall attorney willwork diligently to help you obtain the most favorable outcome. 

Frequently Asked Questions for Slip and Fall Attorneys

Below, we’ve answered some of the questions our clients most commonly ask about slips and falls. Should you have additional concerns, we’d be happy to address them during your consultation. 

What Should I Do Immediately After a Slip and Fall Accident?

After a slip and fall accident, it’s important to take steps to protect your rights. If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall, you should do the following:

• Seek Medical Aid: Always put your health and safety first; call 911 and request emergency medical services if necessary

• Report Your Accident: As soon as you’re able, report your slip and fall to the property owner so they can take action

• Gather Evidence: Begin collecting evidence as soon as you’re able, including witness information, photos, and videos

After you’ve taken care of your medical needs, schedule an appointment with a qualified slip and fall lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your case. 

What Factors Determine the Value of My Slip and Fall Case?

Every slip and fall case is unique; therefore, there is no average settlement you can expect. Instead, the value of your case is based on several factors, including:

• The severity of your injuries
• Your medical expenses
• The time you miss from work
• Whether you can return to work in the same capacity as before your accident
• How your accident affected your mental and emotional health
• Any other monetary and non-monetary losses experienced after your slip and fall

Your slip and fall lawyer can review these and other details of your case to determine how much your case is worth. This will allow them to pursue the right amount of damages. 

When Should I Hire a Slip and Fall Law Firm to Represent Me?

After your accident, you should aim to hire a slip and fall law firm as soon as possible. The sooner you hire a slip and fall attorney, the better it is for your case, as you give your lawyer more time to create a legal strategy and work on your claim. 

How Much Time Do I Have to Take Legal Action After a Slip and Fall Accident?

If you wish to take legal action after a slip and fall accident, time is limited. Under Connecticut’s statute of limitations, you only have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. Therefore, hiring a slip and fall lawyer as soon as possible will help ensure that your case is handled promptly and effectively. 

Don’t Wait to Consult with an Experienced Slip and Fall Lawyer

After a slip and fall accident, don’t wait to meet with a slip and fall law firm. Contact Kennedy Johnson Schwab & Roberge today to request your complimentary consultation.