If you were hurt on someone else’s property, a Hartford premises liability lawyer can help you understand your options and pursue the compensation you may be owed.
Property owners have a duty to keep their spaces reasonably safe. When they ignore that duty and you get injured, you should not have to carry the medical bills and lost income on your own.
At Gould Injury Law, The Fast Firm, we move fast to protect your claim. Contact us today for a free consultation.
What Is Premises Liability?
Premises liability is the area of law that holds property owners responsible when unsafe conditions on their property injure someone. The idea is simple. If you own or control a space, you owe the people who come onto it a reasonable level of care. That applies to stores, apartment buildings, parking lots, restaurants, office buildings, and private homes.
When an owner knows about a hazard, or should have known about it, and does nothing to fix it or warn you, they can be held responsible for any resulting injuries. A premises liability claim is a way for an injured person to seek payment for those injuries.
Types of Premises Liability Cases We Handle
Premises liability covers a wide range of accidents. Our Hartford team handles claims that include:
- Slip and Fall Accidents: Wet floors, uneven pavement, and loose steps cause some of the most common slip and fall injuries.
- Snow and Ice Falls: Icy sidewalks and untreated walkways are a frequent hazard during Hartford winters.
- Dog Bites and Animal Attacks: A dog owner or keeper can be held responsible when the animal attacks a visitor.
- Inadequate Security: Poor lighting, broken locks, and missing cameras can lead to assaults and other harm.
- Negligent Maintenance: Broken railings, exposed wiring, and crumbling steps put visitors at risk.
- Falling Objects: Items stored overhead in stores and warehouses can drop and cause serious injuries.
- Elevator and Escalator Accidents: Faulty equipment can trap or throw riders and cause serious falls.
- Swimming Pool Accidents: Missing fences and poor supervision create serious drowning risks.
Connecticut Premises Liability Laws
A few Connecticut rules shape almost every premises liability claim. Here is what you need to know.
Duty of Care and Your Status as a Visitor
Connecticut sets the level of care a property owner owes based on why you were on the property.
There are three main groups:
- Invitees: People there for business, like shoppers and customers, are owed the highest duty of care.
- Licensees: Social guests are owed a duty to be warned about known dangers.
- Trespassers: Owners owe only a limited duty, mainly to avoid causing willful harm.
Children are owed a higher level of care, even as trespassers, because hazards like pools can draw them in.
Landlord Responsibilities and Tenant Injury Claims
Landlords must keep the areas they control reasonably safe. That includes shared spaces like stairwells, hallways, parking lots, and entryways.
When a landlord knows about a hazard, such as a broken stair, poor lighting, or a faulty lock, and fails to fix it within a reasonable time, an injured tenant or guest may have a claim. If a lack of security led to an assault, it can fall under premises liability as well.
Snow, Ice, and Connecticut Winters
Connecticut winters bring snow, freezing rain, and black ice, and Hartford sees its share of icy sidewalks and parking lots. Property owners are not expected to clear snow while a storm is still falling.
They are expected to address the hazard within a reasonable time after the storm ends. When an owner leaves a walkway untreated long after a storm passes and you slip and fall, they may be responsible for your injuries.
Connecticut’s Comparative Negligence Rule
Connecticut follows a modified comparative negligence rule under Connecticut General Statutes Section 52-572h. Your compensation is reduced by your share of the fault, and if you are found more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover anything.
Here is how that works. Say your damages total $100,000 and the property owner argues you were 20% at fault for not watching where you walked. Your recovery would drop to $80,000. Insurance companies often try to pin as much blame on you as they can, which is one reason having a lawyer on your side matters.
Dog Bites and Other Animal Attacks
Connecticut is a strict liability state for dog bites under Connecticut General Statutes Section 22-357. That means the owner or keeper of a dog can be held responsible for a bite, even if the dog has never shown aggression before.
There is no free pass for a first bite. Limited exceptions apply, such as when the injured person was trespassing or teasing the animal. If a dog bite on someone’s property left you hurt, you may have a claim.
What to Do After a Premises Liability Injury
The steps you take after an injury can protect both your health and your claim. If you are hurt on someone else’s property, be sure to:
- Get medical care. See a doctor right away, even if the injury seems minor. Your health comes first.
- Report the hazard. Tell the owner or manager, and ask for a written incident report.
- Photograph the scene. Take pictures of the hazard and your injuries before anything is cleaned up.
- Gather witness information. Collect names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the accident.
- Keep your records. Save medical bills, receipts, and anything tied to the injury.
- Avoid recorded statements. Do not give a recorded statement to an insurer before speaking with a lawyer.
- Contact a lawyer. A lawyer can protect your rights and handle your insurance claim for you.
Common Premises Liability Injuries
A fall or other property-related accident can cause injuries ranging from minor to life-changing.
Common premises liability injuries include:
- Broken Bones: A hard fall can fracture a hip, wrist, or ankle.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries: A blow to the head can cause a concussion or lasting damage.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spine can affect movement and sensation.
- Sprains and Strains: Soft-tissue injuries can take weeks or months to heal.
- Cuts and Lacerations: Sharp edges and broken glass can cause deep wounds.
Serious injuries often mean a trip to a trauma center like Hartford Hospital. In the worst cases, a property accident can be fatal. If you lost a loved one this way, a wrongful death claim may help your family recover funeral costs and other losses.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim in Connecticut?
In Connecticut, you generally have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline comes from Connecticut General Statutes Section 52-584. A wrongful death claim also carries a two-year deadline under Section 52-555.
Some situations have different deadlines. If your injury occurred on city or town property, such as a public sidewalk in Hartford, you may need to provide the municipality with written notice within 90 days.
Because these time limits are strict, it helps to talk with a lawyer as soon as you can.
What to Expect When You Work With Gould Injury Law
Gould Injury Law is known across Connecticut as The Fast Firm, and speed is at the heart of how we work. After an injury, you want answers, not a runaround.
Our experienced Hartford premises liability lawyers respond quickly, explain your options in plain language, and keep you updated as your case progresses.
We serve clients from our Hartford office on New Britain Avenue and know the area well, from the busy sidewalks along Main Street and Albany Avenue to the older buildings around Frog Hollow and the State Capitol. That local knowledge helps us build a strong case.
You pay nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee, which means we only get paid if we win money for you. Your first consultation is always free, so there is no risk in reaching out to talk with our team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is premises liability in Connecticut?
Premises liability is the legal responsibility a property owner has when unsafe conditions on their property injure someone. If an owner fails to fix or warn about a known hazard and you are hurt, you may be able to hold them accountable for your medical bills and other losses.
Who is responsible if I am hurt on someone else’s property?
The person or business that owns or controls the property is usually responsible. That could be a store, a landlord, a property management company, or a homeowner. Sometimes more than one party shares the blame. A lawyer can help identify who is at fault.
Can I sue my landlord for unsafe conditions?
Yes, you may be able to sue your landlord if a hazard they were responsible for caused your injury. Landlords must keep shared areas like stairwells, hallways, and parking lots reasonably safe. If your landlord knew about a danger and failed to fix it within a reasonable time, you may have a claim.
Can I still recover if I was partly at fault?
Often, yes. Connecticut uses a modified comparative negligence rule. You can still recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, though your compensation is reduced by your share of the blame. If you are found more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover.
How much does a premises liability lawyer cost?
At Gould Injury Law, you owe us nothing up front to handle your case. We handle premises liability cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay us only if we recover money for you. Your first consultation is free.
What is my premises liability case worth?
Every case is different. The value depends on factors like the severity of your injuries, your medical bills, lost income, and how the injury affects your daily life. No lawyer can promise a specific amount, but an experienced lawyer can review the details and give you a clearer picture.
Contact Our Hartford Premises Liability Lawyers Today
An injury on someone else’s property can leave you with pain, bills, and questions about what comes next. You do not have to sort it out alone. The experienced Hartford premises liability lawyers at Gould Injury Law can review what happened, explain your rights, and fight for the money you deserve.
Let us put our speed to work for you. Contact us today for a free consultation. Remember, you pay nothing unless we win your case.
