If you have spent even one winter in Connecticut, you know just how harsh our New England winters can be. Subzero temperatures, dangerous wind chills, blizzards, and ice storms can make getting from place to place dangerous. Obviously, ice is slippery, and you would be hard-pressed to find a person in the Hartford area that has never lost his or her footing on any icy sidewalks or steps.
Slip and falls caused by accumulations of ice may seem unavoidable and that no one could be held accountable for them, but this is not the case. If you are injured on someone else’s property, there is a chance that you will be able to recover compensation. Property owners have a legal duty to keep their premises in a reasonably safe condition, especially when they open their doors to the general public to conduct business. As a result, if a store owner fails to take reasonable measures to mitigate and prevent the accumulation of ice and snow on their property, people who slip, fall, and are injured can likely recover compensation for the damages they incur.
How Can You Tell if Your Accident Was Caused by Negligence?
Slip and fall accident cases often hinge on specific facts. For example, the simple fact that an entryway was icy is not sufficient to establish negligence, as it could be the case that the storm was ongoing and of such severity that a reasonable shopkeeper could not have done anything to manage the dangerous condition. On the other hand, a seemingly unavoidable hazard that may not indicate negligence to the untrained eye may be sufficient to establish liability in certain cases. As a result, victims should always speak to a lawyer after a slip and fall accident.
What Should You Do if you Fall on Ice, Snow or any Other Defect?
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Take Photos – If you or someone else has a cell phone, take photos as soon as possible of the area of your fall. Ice and snow melt – sometimes very quickly. Sand or salt may be applied after your fall that was not there at the time. A defect may be corrected after your fall. It is important to document the condition as soon as possible after your fall.
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Seek Medical Attention – This may seem obvious, but many of us feel “it is just a sprain, it will go away.” But, often what may seem as a minor injury may be more than minor. It is important to let a medical professional make the assessment of whether it is minor or not. It is also important from a legal standpoint to document your injuries as soon as possible after your fall.
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Call an Attorney – It is important to speak with a Connecticut Personal Injury Attorney as soon as you reasonably can. A Connecticut Personal Injury Attorney can help you address how and who should pay for your medical bills, if you can collect for lost wages or earnings, what evidence needs to be collected or preserved, whether a private investigator or other experts need to be hired, and in other ways help you get through what may be a difficult time in your life.
Call a Hartford Personal Injury Attorney Today to Discuss Your Case
If you are injured this winter in a slip and fall accident caused by ice, you should have your case reviewed by an attorney as soon as you can. At Leighton, Katz & Drapeau, we will review your case for free and not collect any legal fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf. To schedule a free consultation with a member of our team, call our office today at 860-875-7000 or contact us online.
2https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/damages
