Property owners have the legal obligation to keep visitors on their premises safe from hazardous conditions. This obligation includes providing protection from injuries that may result from a slip and fall.
However, proving that a property owner was negligent can be difficult without help from a skilled personal injury attorney. Slip and fall victims must prove that they had permission to be on the property, that the landowner failed to provide adequate protection, and that they did not contribute to their own losses.
If you were injured after falling another’s property, a Stamford slip and fall lawyer could help you to prove that the proprietor’s negligence was the cause of your losses. A well-versed injury attorney can work to establish your rights as a visitor, evaluate the actions that led to your injuries, and refute any allegations that your own carelessness was the cause of the accident.
Slip and fall accidents are a common example of property liability incidents. Proprietor liability laws state that landowners have a duty to protect guests on their premises. However, the extent of this duty varies depending on the visitor’s status while on the property.
State laws establish three classifications of guests, each with their own levels of legal obligations. A Stamford slip and fall attorney could help an injured party evaluate their rights under the law and determine whether a landowner had a duty to provide protection at the time of the accident.
Trespassers are people who enter or remain on a property without the permission of the owner. Proprietors must only refrain from intentionally harming these visitors once the owner learns of their presence.
Licensees are people who enter someone’s property with the owner’s permission. This classification may include houseguests at a party. Landowners have a duty to warn licensees about any known hazards on their property. This duty may not extend to open and obvious hazards.
Property owners owe the greatest level of protection to invitees. Invitees are people who enter land for a business purpose. Landowners must take steps to inspect their land and to build safeguards to warn invitees of any hazards.
A landowner must take reasonable steps to provide protection from hazards that may result in a visitor slipping and falling. For instance, it is reasonable for business owners to identify standing water and then take steps to remedy the unsafe condition by setting up warning signs or cleaning up the spill. A failure to take any of these steps may lead to liability for any injuries that result.
A plaintiff may also need to prove that they did not contribute to their own injuries. According to Connecticut General Statutes §52-572h, if plaintiffs are more than 51 percent at fault, that plaintiff may not collect any compensation. A Stamford lawyer familiar with slip and fall cases could help an injured party prove the landowner’s negligence and fight back against allegations of contributory negligence.
Slip and fall incidents can result in severe injuries, such as broken bones, separated joints, or traumatic brain injuries. As a result, accident victims may miss significant time at work or endure debilitating mental trauma. If a property owner’s negligence caused your injuries, you may have the right to demand compensation.
A Stamford slip and fall lawyer could guide you through the claim process and work to get you the compensatory award you deserve. Contact an attorney today to get started on your case.