How Much Time Do You Have to Sue After a Slip-and-Fall?

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One moment, you’re walking along confidently; the next, you’re sprawled on the floor in agony. Slip and fall injuries happen in a split second, but the consequences can sadly last a lifetime. What’s more, to add to the pressure, the clock starts ticking as soon as your injury occurs.

Like most other states, Connecticut has a statute of limitations on filing personal injury claims. In most cases, you have 2 years from the day your accident happened. However, if you’re fighting for justice on behalf of a loved one who passed away due to a tragic slip-and-fall accident, you have 5 years to start your wrongful death claim.

You need to think fast to get your claim started in time and pursue the compensation you need to get your life back on track. Don’t delay. Call 888-WIN-FAST right now to schedule a free consultation, or fill out our contact form, and we’ll get back to you as fast as we can.

 

Statute of Limitations in Connecticut Slip and Fall Cases

Under Connecticut law, there are two statutes of limitations that can relate to slip-and-fall accidents, depending on whether the accident results in injury or death:

  • CONN. GEN. STAT. § 52-584 – Limitation of action for injury to person or property caused by negligence, misconduct, or malpractice: Actions to recover damages must be brought within 2 years of the time “the injury is first sustained or discovered or in the exercise of reasonable care should have been discovered.”
  • CONN. GEN. STAT. § 52-555 – Actions for injuries resulting in death: In wrongful death cases, the action may be brought within 5 years, whether the death was instantaneous or otherwise. 

While it’s true you have up to 2 to 5 years to act, the time needed to investigate and file a lawsuit must be considered. The best course of action is to seek qualified legal advice as soon as possible, so you don’t miss out on your opportunity to achieve justice and receive compensation.

 

Why You Need to Act Fast After a Slip-and-Fall Accident

Let’s face it – slip-and-fall accidents can be embarrassing. As soon as it happens, all you want to do is get back on your feet and forget it ever happened. Nevertheless, if you’ve been hurt, it’s essential to take a moment to consider your next move.

 

Seek immediate medical attention

First, focus on seeking medical assistance. Remember, not all injuries are immediately painful. For example, if you hit your head when you fell, you may feel fine at first. A concussion, though, may not cause immediate symptoms. Instead, hours or even days later, you may begin to experience symptoms such as blurred vision, fatigue, or headaches, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Getting yourself checked out right away may also help you if you decide to pursue a lawsuit at a later date. It could make it easier for your lawyers to prove your symptoms relate to your slip and fall injuries. On the other hand, if you delay seeking medical attention, the opposing counsel may argue that your symptoms were not caused by your accident.

 

Gather evidence at the scene

If you suffer a serious injury in a slip-and-fall accident, your whole focus should be on getting medical help. Your legal team may be able to carry out an investigation at a later date. 

However, if you are able, it’s helpful to gather as much information at the scene as possible. You could:

  • Take photos: Take as many photos as possible from different angles. Include any hazards that may have contributed to the accident.
  • Talk to eyewitnesses: Eyewitness testimony may play a part if you choose to file a lawsuit. Collect any eyewitnesses’ names and contact details at the scene.
  • Report the accident: It’s important to inform the person responsible for the property, usually the owner or tenant, of what has happened. Don’t discuss liability; stick to reporting the facts of the accident and ask for a copy of the incident report.

 

Beware of insurance companies

After a slip-and-fall accident, calls from the property owner’s insurance company may come very quickly. The adjuster may sound sympathetic, but he or she may use high-pressure tactics to protect the company’s interests rather than your own. For example, an adjuster with such an agenda could make you feel you need to settle as soon as possible. 

In reality, you will actually have 2 years to file a claim in most cases.

Regardless, insurance companies only have one goal: to pay you as little as possible in compensation – preferably nothing. To this end, the insurers may say you were to blame for the accident. Adjusters could even record your conversations with them and use your words against you later. 

Rather than handling insurance companies yourself, hire premises liability attorneys to deal with them. At Gould Injury Law, our experienced professionals know all the tactics insurance companies use and won’t fall for them. Let our team fight in your corner to try to get you justice.

 

Seek legal advice fast

It could be tempting to delay seeking legal advice while you focus on recovering from your injuries. Unfortunately, though, 2 years can pass by very quickly. 

When time gets away from you, you could find yourself left with unmanageable medical bills and other expenses related to your accident and no legal recourse to cover them. So talk to a slip and fall lawyer as soon as possible to discover your legal options.

Our aggressive premises liability attorneys waste no time getting to the heart of your case. They’ve handled hundreds of similar cases. Our legal team will listen to your story and explain your legal options. Then, if you hire our slip-and-fall accident lawyers, our legal team will act fast to pursue the compensation you require.

 

Your Legal Options After a Slip-and-Fall Accident

Slip-and-falls fall under premises liability law. This is a branch of personal injury law dealing with injuries that occur on someone else’s property. Of course, accidents happen all the time and sometimes no one is to blame. Yet, if someone else’s negligence caused your slip-and-fall accident, you may have the right to pursue compensation.

 

To sue or not to sue?

Your premises liability lawyer may advise you that you have a strong case and have the legal right to sue the negligent party. However, he or she may recommend that you try the negotiation route first. This does not mean backing down. A slip and fall attorney can represent you in negotiations with the other party’s insurance company and fight aggressively to secure a favorable settlement for you.

In many cases, this is a faster way of achieving a fair settlement for your suffering. However, if this approach is unsuccessful, a premises liability lawyer can file a lawsuit and fight in court to get the settlement you deserve. 

 

Proving liability

To prove liability in any personal injury case, your slip-and-fall accident lawyer must demonstrate the following points:

  1. The liable party had a duty of care toward you
  2. The liable party negligently breached their duty of care
  3. The breach of duty of care was the cause of your injuries
  4. You suffered financial and other losses due to your slip-and-fall accident

For example, imagine you slipped and fell on ice in a New Haven, CT, car park because the owner had not cleared it. According to New Haven city ordinance Sec. 27-9, owners must remove any fall of snow or ice within 24 hours. If the property owner failed in this duty, your lawyer may be able to use this ordinance to demonstrate liability and secure damages for you.

 

When more than one party is liable

Premises liability law can be confusing, especially if more than one party is liable. For example, if you ignored a warning sign at the supermarket, slipped, fell, and got hurt, you may be partially liable for your accident. Yet, as long as you were less than 51-percent liable, you may still be able to receive damages under Connecticut law, albeit of a lower amount.

 

Calculating damages

In the immediate aftermath of a slip-and-fall accident injury, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. Insurance companies may try to capitalize on this and pressure you to accept a lowball settlement. Yet, the reality is it may take time for the full extent of your injuries, and their long-term costs, to become apparent.

If you work with an experienced premises liability lawyer, he or she can take into account all of the damages you are entitled to and advise you as to the fair amount you should be offered. 

Economic damages that may factor in include:

  • Medical bills
  • Future medical expenses
  • Lost earnings
  • Loss of future earnings and business opportunities

If you have sustained severe injuries, there may be severe non-economic consequences. Your injuries may affect your family life and take a huge psychological toll. 

Your premises liability attorney can also calculate non-economic damages for:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment of family life
  • Loss of consortium

 

Now’s the Time for Fast Action for Fast Results

From the moment you slip and fall, the clock is ticking. Don’t let the clock run down without seeking justice for the suffering you have endured. At Gould Injury Law, we aggressively fight for each client’s rights, aiming to secure you faster payouts whenever possible. 

That’s why we’re known as “The Fast Firm.” When we take on your case, our slip-and-fall accident lawyers will use all our resources to accelerate the process and seek justice as fast as possible.

No need to hang around worrying about whether you have a case or not. Instead, call 888-WIN-FAST to talk to a slip-and-fall accident lawyer for free, fast legal advice!