Slip and fall accidents happen all over Connecticut, and while many appear to be minor, others can cause serious injuries leading to significant medical bills and lost wages. If you’re a victim of a slip and fall accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages.
However, for you to successfully pursue and win a slip and fall claim against a property owner or business, you’ll need to prove specific elements of the case. In this article, we’ll look at what those elements are.
Table of Contents
Duty of Care
The first step in building a strong slip and fall case is proving that the property owner owed you a duty of care. Simply put, if you’re an invited or allowed visitor to a property, the property owner has an obligation to maintain a safe environment and protect you from unreasonable risks.
For example, if you were invited to a grocery store, the store owner is expected to keep the premises free of hazards that could cause you to slip or fall. If they fail to do so and you suffer injuries, then you may have a case against them.
Breach of Duty
The second step in building a case is proving that the property owner breached their duty of care to you. This means that they failed to take reasonable steps to keep the premises safe and free from danger.
A breach of duty could include issues like:
- A spill that was left on the floor for too long
- A staircase that was not properly maintained or repaired
- Poor lighting in a stairway or parking lot
Causation
Once you prove that the property owner had a duty of care and breached it, you must demonstrate a clear causal relationship between the breach and your injuries. In other words, you must prove that it was the property owner’s negligence that directly led to your injuries.
If there was a slipping hazard in a store, for example, and you slipped and fell as a result, it’s reasonable to argue that the owner’s negligence caused your injuries.
Damages
Finally, you must prove the extent of your damages. This includes both economic and non-economic damages, such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
Damages can be complicated to quantify, and you may need the help of a lawyer or expert witness to determine the full extent of your losses.
Conclusion
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident in Connecticut, you may be entitled to compensation. However, to successfully pursue a claim, you need to prove that the property owner owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, their negligence caused your injuries, and that you suffered damages as a result.
If you’re unsure about whether you have a case or what the next steps are, it’s best to consult with an experienced Connecticut slip and fall lawyer. They can help you navigate the complex legal process and work to get you the compensation you deserve.