Slips and falls can cause serious injuries, and the costs of recovering from these injuries can be substantial. If you have suffered a permanent disability or your doctor has told you that your pain is unlikely to ever fully go away, the financial and non-financial costs could be far greater.
With this in mind, if you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, it is important to think about filing a claim for just compensation. If someone else is to blame for your injuries, you may be able to recover your losses with the help of an experienced premises liability attorney.
There are several parties that can potentially be liable for slip and fall accidents. Determining who is liable is an important early step on the road to recovery.
Understanding Your Slip and Fall Injury Claim
Slip and fall injury claims are governed by the law of premises liability. Premises liability law holds property owners and businesses accountable based on the principle of negligence. This negligence can take many different forms, from ignoring known property defects to failing to clean up a spill.
This means that all types of property owners can potentially be held liable, as can many different types of businesses.
Types of Premises and Venues
Slips and falls can happen anywhere, and they can happen at all times of year. It is important to speak to an attorney about your legal rights, as it is possible for you to overlook how negligence on the premises may have led to your injuries.
Some common examples of premises and venues where slip and fall accidents frequently occur include:
- Apartment buildings
- Nursing homes
- Condominiums
- Construction sites
- Gyms and fitness centers
- Hospitals and other health care facilities
- Office buildings, warehouses, and factories
- Parks and playgrounds
- Private residences
- Restaurants and bars
- Retirement communities
- Schools and universities
- Shopping centers, malls, and retail stores
- Ski resorts
- Sports and entertainment venues
The complexity of your claim often grows depending on the type of property where your injury occurs. Our lawyers will investigate the accident to determine what caused the dangerous condition, and who may be responsible.
Types of Commercial Property Owners and Businesses
With the exception of accidents occurring at private residences (which we discuss below), most slip and fall injury cases involve claims against commercial property owners and other businesses. This includes companies such as:
- Commercial property owners – Commercial property owners will frequently be liable for slip and fall accidents occurring on their premises.
- Companies that lease their business locations – If a business (such as a restaurant or grocery store) leases its location from the property’s owner, then the business may be liable for dangerous conditions existing on the premises.
- Property management companies – Property management companies hired to maintain residential, commercial, and industrial premises can be held liable when their negligence (i.e., failure to make a necessary repair) is to blame for slip and fall accidents.
- Builders and construction companies – Building design and construction defects can be to blame for slip and fall accidents in various circumstances. When they are, the companies that are responsible for these defects can be held liable.
- Service providers – Cleaning companies, repair companies, and other service providers can be held liable when their negligence is to blame for dangerous slip and fall hazards.
Municipal agencies may also be liable if your injuries occurred in a slip and fall on property owned by the government.
Some slip and fall claims may include multiple defendants. Liability for a dangerous condition can be difficult to unravel, which is why it is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible after your injury.
Homeowners and Renters
What if you slipped and fell at a family member’s, friend’s, or neighbor’s home? Slip and fall accidents at private residences are common, from slips in kitchens and bathrooms to accidents involving swimming pools and accumulated ice or snow.
If you slipped and fell at someone else’s home, your injuries will most likely be covered under their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. These types of policies are designed to cover accident-related liability.
Providing coverage in the event of an unexpected accident is one of the primary reasons homeowners and renters buy coverage. So, if you have been seriously injured and need to seek financial compensation, you should not feel bad about asserting your legal rights.
Discuss Your Legal Rights with a Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer
If you have suffered a serious injury in a slip and fall accident, you should speak with a lawyer about filing a claim for compensation. At Ventura Law, we represent slip and fall victims in claims against all types of liable parties throughout Connecticut and New York.
Our lawyers can thoroughly assess your claim, determine who is liable, and take appropriate legal action to recover the financial compensation you deserve. To get started with a free, no-obligation consultation, call (203) 800-8000 or contact us online today.