Have you had a slip and fall accident on somebody else’s property? You have the right to pursue compensation from the property owner or other parties whose negligence caused the slip and fall accident that injured you. But recovering compensation from big insurance companies and other corporations can quickly become a complex, obstacle-filled process.
Let an experienced Bridgeport slip and fall lawyer from The Flood Law Firm level the playing field for you and demand accountability and justice for your injuries and losses.
For over a decade, our attorneys have advocated for the rights of accident victims in Bridgeport and throughout Connecticut. We recognize the complications you may face as you recover from injuries you suffered in a slip and fall accident. We work diligently to find solutions to the issues and problems you experience as you heal and get your life back on track.
Our firm will take the anxiety and stress of the legal process off your shoulders so you don’t feel overwhelmed while recovering from your injuries. Reach out to us for a free initial claim evaluation to learn more about how our firm can help.
- Why Choose The Flood Law Firm for Your Slip and Fall Case?
- Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
- Places Where Slip and Fall Accidents Frequently Occur in Bridgeport
- Common Slip and Fall Accident Injuries
- How Do You Prove Fault for a Slip and Fall?
- What Steps Should You Take After a Slip and Fall?
- Who Can You Hold Liable for a Slip and Fall Accident?
- Compensation Available From a Slip and Fall Accident Claim
- How Can a Slip and Fall Lawyer From Our Firm Help You Recover Compensation?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Slip and Falls in Bridgeport
- Contact The Flood Law Firm for a Free Case Review To Discuss Your Legal Options With a Knowledgeable Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer
Why Choose The Flood Law Firm for Your Slip and Fall Case?
Victims of slip and fall accidents in Bridgeport, CT, turn to The Flood Law Firm for the outstanding legal representation they need to demand compensation for their injuries.
Choose us to help you demand accountability from a negligent property owner or another party because:
- We provide direct, responsive communication throughout your case, keeping you updated on the status of your claim and answering questions you have about your legal rights.
- We have a proven reputation for success inside and outside the courtroom. Insurers settle with us for more money because they know we have what it takes to get results at trial. Our attorneys have won millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.
- Our legal team has extensive litigation experience and will take a client’s case to trial when necessary. We never back down when insurance companies try to delay or minimize your claims.
- You can trust us to handle the details of preparing and pursuing your legal claims while you focus your time and energy on your physical and emotional recovery.
- Our firm has substantial resources that allow us to take on even the most complex injury claims. In fact, other lawyers often refer their more difficult cases to us.
- We represent slip and fall accident victims on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay us legal fees if we secure a settlement or verdict in your case.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Common causes of slip and fall accidents in Bridgeport include:
- Snow and ice buildup
- Recently mopped or waxed floors
- Water leaks
- Water, ice, snow, or mud tracked in
- Loose or torn carpets or rugs
- Broken or loose tile or hardwood flooring
- Transitions between flooring surfaces
- Uneven flooring or pavement
- Broken pavement and potholes
- Spilled foods and liquids
- Wires or cords lying on the floor
- Broken stairs or handrails
- Poor lighting
Places Where Slip and Fall Accidents Frequently Occur in Bridgeport
Slip and fall accidents tend to occur in public places with heavy foot traffic.
Locations where slips and falls more frequently occur include:
- Grocery stores and supermarkets
- Bars, clubs, and restaurants
- Department stores
- Home improvement stores and garden centers
- Gyms and fitness centers
- Swimming pools
- Schools
- Hospitals and other healthcare or nursing facilities
- Theaters and museums
- Office buildings
- Public sidewalks
- Parking lots/garages
- Recreational parks and playgrounds
Common Slip and Fall Accident Injuries
Slip and fall accidents can cause injuries more serious than cuts and bruises.
Other potential slip and fall injuries include:
- Dislocated joints
- Ligament sprains/tears
- Muscle or tendon strains/tears
- Nerve damage
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries, including internal bruising or bleeding
- Head and facial injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
How Do You Prove Fault for a Slip and Fall?
Successfully recovering compensation in a slip and fall accident claim requires proving that your fall occurred due to a hazardous property condition that the property owner created or that existed due to their or another party’s negligence.
Examples of evidence that you can use to prove fault for the slip and fall accident include:
- Accident scene photos and videos, including photographs of whatever caused you to fall, weather/lighting conditions, and any warning signs/safety equipment
- Surveillance footage of the accident
- Eyewitness testimony
- Accident/incident reports
- Accident reconstruction expert reports
- Medical records from your treatment
What Steps Should You Take After a Slip and Fall?
You have actions you can take after a slip and fall accident to help preserve your legal rights and put yourself in the best position to pursue a compensation claim.
Steps you need to take after a fall on someone else’s property include:
- Report the accident to the property or business owner as soon as possible. Ask the owner to preserve any surveillance video of the accident and for a copy of any accident or incident reports they may draft.
- Take photos and videos of the accident scene. Get contact information from anyone who witnesses your fall.
- Seek immediate medical attention to get checked for any injuries you sustained in the accident.
- Follow your provider’s treatment instructions. Do not put off treatment for your injuries.
- Preserve or photograph the clothing and footwear you wore in the accident.
- Keep copies of bills, invoices, and receipts of any expenses you incur due to your injuries or property damage.
- Request copies of your medical treatment records.
- Avoid discussing the accident or your injuries on social media. Refrain from posting photos or videos of yourself during your medical treatment and legal case. Insurers sometimes monitor accident victims’ social media accounts for posts that contradict the accident victim’s official claims.
Finally, reach out to a Bridgeport slip and fall lawyer from The Flood Law Firm to discuss your options for recovering compensation for your injuries.
Who Can You Hold Liable for a Slip and Fall Accident?
In most cases, a property owner will have liability for a slip and fall accident on their premises.
However, you can hold other parties liable for your slip and fall, such as:
- A residential tenant may bear liability for a slip and fall accident occurring within their leased premises
- A commercial tenant/business who has control or maintenance responsibility for the property
- A property management company hired to oversee the premises
- A third-party maintenance company, such as a snow and ice removal company or a janitorial services company
Compensation Available From a Slip and Fall Accident Claim
A slip and fall accident claim can provide you with a financial recovery for losses you incur due to the accident, including for your:
- Repair or replacement of damaged property, such as broken glasses or a broken phone
- Medical treatment and rehabilitation, including emergency room and hospital care, surgeries, pain medication, mobility equipment, and physical/occupational therapy
- Long-term care or support you need for permanent disabilities
- Loss of wages/income from missed time from work or reduced earnings on light/modified duty while you recover from the accident
- Loss of future earning potential and employment benefits if you become permanently disabled from work
- Physical pain and anguish
- Emotional distress or suffering
- Loss of enjoyment or quality of life caused by physical disabilities or permanent scarring/disfigurement
How Can a Slip and Fall Lawyer From Our Firm Help You Recover Compensation?
Let a Bridgeport slip and fall accident attorney from The Flood Law Firm handle the details of your legal case while you focus on healing and getting back to regular life after an injury.
Trust us to:
- Thoroughly investigate the accident to recover all available evidence, including surveillance video and accident/incident reports.
- Identify the party or parties who may have liability for your injuries, including the property/business owner and third parties responsible for the property’s maintenance.
- Document your injuries and calculate your ongoing and future losses to determine what compensation you deserve in your case.
- Identify all available sources of compensation, such as a property owner’s or maintenance company’s insurance coverage.
- Sit down with you to explain your legal options and answer any questions you may have about your rights or the claims process.
- Prepare and file your insurance or legal claims to begin pursuing financial recovery for you.
- Negotiate with insurance adjusters, company representatives, and defense attorneys to pursue a fair settlement that provides you with the financial resources you need as quickly as possible.
- Take your claims to court and trial if necessary to demand accountability from the negligent parties and recover maximum compensation for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Slip and Falls in Bridgeport
Common questions that slip and fall accident victims in Bridgeport, CT, have about their rights and the claims process include:
How Long Do I Have to File a Slip and Fall Claim?
Under Connecticut General Statutes Section 52-584, you have only two years to file a lawsuit after a slip and fall accident. Filing a lawsuit after this two-year period expires runs the risk that the trial court may permanently dismiss your case, causing you to lose your right to recover compensation in a slip and fall court case.
For slip and fall accidents on government-owned property, you must provide the appropriate government agency with notice of your claim. Depending on which agency maintained the property, you may have as little as six months to file a notice of your claim.
Do I Need a Lawyer to File an Insurance Claim?
Although filing an insurance claim does not require you to have an attorney, hiring legal representation before pursuing an insurance claim can give you the best chance of maximizing your compensation.
A slip and fall lawyer will have experience dealing with insurance companies and know the tactics insurers use to minimize or avoid paying injury claims. Your lawyer can deal with the insurance adjuster on your behalf, protecting your interests and negotiating for a fair and full settlement of your slip and fall accident claim.
Does My Partial Fault for the Slip and Fall Accident Affect My Right to Compensation?
Under Connecticut’s negligence law, you still have the right to pursue a slip and fall accident claim so long as your share of fault for the accident does not exceed the fault or combined fault of the opposing party or parties. However, this rule also reduces your compensation in proportion to your share of responsibility for the accident.
How Long Will My Slip and Fall Case Take?
Various factors will affect the timeline of your slip and fall claim, such as:
- The type and severity of injuries you suffered in the accident
- The duration of your medical treatment
- Whether you suffer any permanent disability
- The number of potentially liable parties in the case
- The availability of insurance coverage
- The complexity of the evidence supporting your claims
- How quickly the insurance company investigates your claim and responds to your communications
- Whether you need to file a lawsuit to pursue your claim
- The schedule of the trial court
Will I Have to Go to Court in My Slip and Fall Case?
Although most slip and fall accident claims settle before reaching a courtroom or trial, an injured victim may need to pursue litigation when a liable party or insurance company refuses a fair settlement.
The Bridgeport personal injury attorneys of The Flood Law Firm will fight for a resolution that pays you the maximum compensation necessary to provide you with the financial resources you need for your recovery. But our experienced litigators will advise you when we believe going to court will give you the best option to get the money you deserve.
Contact The Flood Law Firm for a Free Case Review To Discuss Your Legal Options With a Knowledgeable Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer
Don’t wait to start pursuing the money you need after suffering injuries in a slip and fall accident.
Call The Flood Law Firm today at (475) 273-4100 or fill out the contact form on our website for a free, no-obligation consultation. You can learn more about how our legal team can assist you through the claims process. We can visit you at your home or the hospital if your injuries prevent you from coming to our offices.
The Flood Law Firm - Bridgeport Office
1087 Broad Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604
P: 475-273-4100