It is reasonable to expect you’ll be safe when you set foot on someone else’s property, like a business or a private home. Unfortunately, not all property owners take their duty to keep visitors safe seriously. Careless owners and landlords who do not maintain their property can jeopardize your health and put your security at risk. If the unthinkable happens and a hazardous condition on their property injures you, should you be on the hook for medical expenses?
The premise liability lawyers at The Flood Law Firm concentrate on helping accident victims recover the compensation they need to move forward with their lives. Our legal team focuses on holding careless property owners accountable for their actions. We help you navigate the claims process, allowing you to focus on your physical recovery while we focus on recovering the money you need.
Seek legal advice as soon as possible. You have rights. An experienced Middletown premises liability attorney can protect your rights and help you pursue fair compensation. Call our office today to set up a free case evaluation with one of our compassionate and knowledgeable attorneys.
- Why You Need a Connecticut Premises Liability Lawyer
- What Is Premises Liability?
- Premises Liability Cases We Handle
- Locations Where Premises Liability Accidents Are Most Common
- Injuries Common in Premises Liability Accidents
- Proving Premises Liability in Connecticut
- Compensation Available for Premises Liability Claims
- How Long Do You Have to File a Premises Liability Lawsuit?
- Fighting the Insurance Company
- What To Do if A Hazard on Someone Else’s Property Injures You
- Contact Our Experienced Middletown Premises Liability Lawyers Today
Why You Need a Connecticut Premises Liability Lawyer
Can you file an insurance claim and recover compensation for a premises liability accident alone?
The answer is that you shouldn’t because the process isn’t always straightforward. Pursuing the money you deserve after an accident on another person’s property can be time-consuming and complicated. Coping with significant injuries while managing a claim can feel overwhelming. People injured on another person’s property through no fault of their own deserve justice and fair compensation.
The Middletown premises liability lawyers at The Flood Law Firm understand the tactics insurance companies use when assessing a premises liability claim and trying to keep their costs down. It is seldom in your best interest to accept a speedy settlement offer.
Most insurance companies want to move through claims quickly and efficiently. It means they spend less time and money on claims to focus on keeping profit margins high for themselves and their shareholders. You can be sure a for-profit company does not have your best interests in mind.
Turn to The Flood Law Firm for help if you’ve been hurt on someone else’s property. We’ll be ready to handle all of the legal legwork of your injury claim, leaving you free to focus on recovering from your injuries. We believe you deserve meaningful compensation after an accident.
Our team is also prepared to assist other injury lawyers with particularly challenging premises liability cases, or lawyers in other practices who have a client in need of qualified personal injury representation. We are honored to assist, and are ready to put our skills and resources to work on your case.
What Is Premises Liability?
Premises liability falls under Connecticut’s personal injury claim umbrella. A premises liability accident occurs when a careless property owner or landlord fails to address dangerous conditions on their property.
Most claims are negligence based cases, meaning that a property owner failed to exercise reasonable care while maintaining safe conditions on their property. When an accident occurs under these circumstances, an individual may be able to pursue compensation for their financial losses.
Premises Liability Cases We Handle
At The Flood Law Firm, our skilled team understands how to handle various premises liability claims.
Some of the most common Middletown premises liability claims we take include:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites
- Elevator and escalator accidents
- Swimming pool accidents
- Inadequate security measures
- Negligent security
- Accidents caused by poor lighting or structural defects
Locations Where Premises Liability Accidents Are Most Common
Accidents can happen almost anywhere. However, there are some locations where accidents may be more likely to occur due to an employee’s, property owner’s, or manager’s carelessness.
Some of the most common areas where premises liability accidents can happen in Middletown include:
- Shops and businesses
- Grocery stores
- Restaurants
- Malls
- Apartments
- Hotels
- Private homes
- Swimming pools
- Sidewalks and driveways
- Parking lots
- Sports arenas
- Office buildings
A reasonable property owner should take every precaution to keep their property free from hazards. If you are unsure whether you can file a premises liability claim, a premise liability accident attorney from The Flood Law Firm can advise you of your options.
Injuries Common in Premises Liability Accidents
Premises liability accidents can cause significant injuries. Some of these injuries can be life-altering and leave you struggling to cope physically and financially.
Examples of common injuries suffered in premises liability accidents can include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Paralysis
- Neck and spine injuries
- Broken bones
- Near-drowning
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Burns
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Soft tissue injuries
- Contusions
- Lacerations
- Facial and dental fractures
Premises liability accidents can also be emotionally traumatizing. Managing significant injuries and lifestyle changes can impact an individual’s mental health and well-being.
Sometimes following an accident, a person may develop insomnia, depression, or anxiety. These mental health conditions need medical intervention as soon as possible. If you have difficulty getting the health care you need, a seasoned premises liability attorney could help you get the medical care you deserve.
Proving Premises Liability in Connecticut
Proving a careless property owner is responsible for your injuries takes evidence. The burden is on your shoulders, which is why you need an experienced attorney working with you from day one.
Evidence in a premises liability claim must establish that the property owner is responsible for maintaining a safe environment for guests. This responsibility is also called duty of care.
The evidence must also show the property owner knew or should reasonably have known about the hazardous condition on their property and failed to address the issue. You must also prove that the hazardous condition caused the accident and that the accident injured you physically and financially.
Evidence that may strengthen your premises liability claim may include:
- Police report
- Incident report
- Medical records
- Photographs and videos from the scene
- Witness statements
Your status while visiting another person’s property may also play into the strength of your claim. For example, in Connecticut, invitees and licensees have rights. An invitee is a person with an express or implied invitation to enter another person’s property.
A licensee is someone allowed to enter another person’s property for their own purposes, like a salesperson or social visitor. However, a trespasser is a person without permission from the property owner to enter the premises. While a property owner cannot cause intentional harm to a trespasser, trespassers are not owed the same duty of care as an invitee or a licensee.
An experienced attorney can help you sort through the facts and evidence and build a compelling claim establishing why you deserve maximum compensation for your injuries. A skilled attorney and their legal team can investigate the cause of an accident and gather crucial information before someone loses or destroys it. With evidence in hand, your lawyer can negotiate aggressively on your behalf for the money you need.
Compensation Available for Premises Liability Claims
Calculating compensation after a premises liability accident can be challenging. Your physical and emotional needs are unique, and your claim’s value should reflect your particular case’s circumstances.
At The Flood Law Firm, we never use a one-size-fits-all formula for calculating compensation. We carefully review the facts, build a strong claim, and tenaciously negotiate for the compensation you deserve.
In most cases, premises liability accident victims can pursue compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Lost income
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
Having a skilled Middletown attorney on your side can increase your chances of recovering meaningful compensation for your injuries. Do not negotiate with an insurance company alone. Seek help from a knowledgeable premises liability attorney.
How Long Do You Have to File a Premises Liability Lawsuit?
Sometimes, a personal injury lawsuit is the best path forward for recovering the money you need. However, you have a limited amount of time to file a case in Connecticut court. For premises liability lawsuits, you have two years from the date of the incident to file a court case.
Submitting a case after the two-year deadline can end in a case dismissal. If the court dismisses your case, you may miss the opportunity to recover compensation through the court system and have few other options.
Fighting the Insurance Company
Going head-to-head with an insurance company can be intimidating. Although many insurance adjusters pretend to be your friend and confidant, they protect the interests of their company’s business. Settling a claim quickly and cheaply is the goal. Who protects you? Who can you trust to pursue the money you deserve?
At The Flood Law Firm, our team understands what it takes to negotiate with an insurance company. Our legal team has intimate knowledge about the tactics some companies use to diminish the value of an accident victim’s claim. We fight back by building a compelling claim backed by evidence.
Next, we negotiate aggressively on your behalf, and we won’t back down because of the insurance company’s intimidating tactics. During every step in the process, we evaluate the situation and won’t hesitate to prepare a court case if it is in your best interest.
What To Do if A Hazard on Someone Else’s Property Injures You
A premises liability accident can be frightening and traumatic. How you react in the aftermath of the accident can affect your health and compensation claim.
Although challenging in the heat of the moment, you must protect yourself after an accident and:
- Seek medical help immediately. You probably already got medical attention right after the accident. If you didn’t, get medical treatment as soon as possible. Your health should be your number one concern. Even if you feel like your injuries are minor, talk to your doctor. Signs of concussion and internal bleeding may not be obvious, but these conditions can compromise your health. Additionally, your medical records can be vital evidence in a compensation claim.
- File a report. You must file a report detailing the specifics of the accident. Were you hurt in a store or office building? Speak to the manager and file an accident report. Be sure to ask for a copy of the paperwork for your records.
- Document the scene. When possible, document the scene. Take photographs or videos from multiple angles. Note any cameras you see in the area. Your attorney can seek surveillance video footage that may show the accident happening.
- Gather information. Exchange information with a manager or owner of the property. Ask witnesses for their contact information and a brief description of what they saw.
- Keep your clothes and shoes. It is crucial you keep the clothes and shoes you were wearing. Pack these items in a plastic bag, unwashed and unaltered, and save them for your attorney.
- Contact our lawyers. Get our lawyers on your side as soon as possible. We can investigate the accident, gather evidence, and manage communication between you and the insurer.
- Stay off social media. Never make statements or post pictures about the accident or your condition. It is best to stay off social media until an attorney resolves your case.
- Stay the course. Follow your doctor’s treatment plan and do not skip follow-up medical appointments. Your medical records can affect your claim’s value.
- Keep all bills. Maintain meticulous records of your medical expenses and out-of-pocket bills related to the accident. These documents, even your pay stubs, can help an attorney calculate the value of your claim.
Contact Our Experienced Middletown Premises Liability Lawyers Today
A premises liability accident can derail your life. Should a careless property owner get away with failing to maintain their property? At The Flood Law Firm, we believe you deserve justice and a chance at recovering maximum compensation for your financial losses. Demand accountability. Contact our experienced Middletown premises liability attorney todays.
At The Flood Law Firm, we offer a free case evaluation. This meeting allows us to learn more about you and your situation. You can ask questions, and we can outline your legal options for pursuing the compensation you need.
For your no-obligation evaluation, contact us online or call our Middletown office at (860) 346-2695.
THE FLOOD LAW FIRM - MIDDLETOWN OFFICE
190 Washington St
Middletown, CT 06457
P: 860-346-2695
