People often dismiss slip and fall accidents as minor. However, the truth is that these accidents can result in significant injuries that result in expensive medical bills and an extended recovery time. If you were injured in an accident, an experienced slip and fall accident lawyer in Bridgeport can help you file a claim and recover the money you deserve from the liable party.
At Claggett, Sykes & Garza, we have a long history of helping injury victims recover compensation after slip and fall accidents. Our experienced team of Bridgeport personal injury lawyers will take all the necessary steps to ensure you recover fair compensation for your damages. Get in touch with us today to schedule a free case review with a member of our legal team.
Hire an Experienced Slip and Fall Accident Attorney Serving Bridgeport Early for the Best Outcome
When looking to recover compensation after a slip and fall accident, it’s vital to pay attention to the Connecticut personal injury statute of limitations deadline. Failure to submit your lawsuit before the filing deadline can lead to the loss of your right to recover damages. Of course, there may be exceptions that apply to your case, which shift the standard deadline forward or back.
The best way to figure out if there are any exceptions in your case is to hire an experienced slip and fall accident lawyer in Bridgeport soon after your accident. After your attorney identifies the specific deadline for your case, they will complete and file all of the required paperwork correctly and on time.
Securing the services of an experienced lawyer as soon as possible will also give them the best chance of building a strong case on your behalf. Any delays can lead to evidence supporting your claim being corrupted or lost. Furthermore, witness testimony is far more reliable closer to the date of the incident.
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Most Slip and Fall Accident Cases Are Settled Out of Court
When pursuing compensation after a slip and fall accident, you need to know that your case is unlikely to go to court. The majority of these cases are resolved through out-of-court settlements, as settlements are typically in the best interest of both parties.
By settling, you will be able to get the money you deserve far more quickly than would be possible through a trial. Meanwhile, the liable party will be able to avoid any unwanted media attention that can come with a trial. However, you shouldn’t rush into a settlement deal. It’s important to have an experienced attorney review any settlement deal before you accept it.
It is also critical that you prepare your case for trial despite the fact that it will likely settle. There is always a chance that you will be unable to reach a settlement deal. Furthermore, demonstrating a willingness to take your case to trial will put the opposing party on the defensive and make them more likely to agree to favorable settlement terms.
You Must Prove Four Elements of Negligence
There are four elements you must establish to prove negligence in a slip and fall case:
- Duty of care
- Breached duty of care
- Damages
- Causation
Duty of Care
The first step in proving negligence so you can recover compensatory damages is showing that the liable party owed you a duty of care. What this means is that they had a responsibility to help ensure your safety by taking reasonable actions.
Proving the existence of a duty of care is generally straightforward in slip and fall cases. For example, if you are pursuing damages from the owner of a store where you slipped and fell, the existence of a duty of care is clear.
Store owners owe a duty of care to anyone who enters the premises to ensure they have taken all reasonable precautions to minimize hazards and ensure the safety of shoppers.
Breached Duty of Care
The next thing you will need to do is show that the liable party breached their duty of care. In slip and fall cases, this can be done in a variety of ways. For example, if you can show that the business was aware of a dangerous spill yet failed to take any action in a timely manner to warn customers and clean the spill, they clearly violated their duty of care.
Damages
Once you have shown how the at-fault party breached their duty of care, you will need to prove that you suffered damages. Any medical records from after the accident and the corresponding medical bill are sufficient to serve as proof that you incurred damages.
Causation
The last element you need to prove is causation. You need to show how the liable party breaching their duty of care was the direct cause of your damages. An experienced Bridgeport slip and fall accident attorney from Claggett, Sykes & Garza will clearly demonstrate to the court how all the dots connect.
Proving negligence is often a vital step in the process of recovering compensation after a slip and fall accident. If a loved one was killed as a result of a slip and fall, an experienced Bridgeport wrongful death lawyer can help you file a wrongful death claim and prove negligence so you can get the money you need from the at-fault party.
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Get Started on Your Case With Help From an Experienced Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer in Bridgeport Today
After sustaining injuries in a slip and fall accident, securing compensation from the liable party can be an essential step on the road to recovery. Securing the services of an experienced slip and fall accident attorney in Bridgeport is the best way to increase your odds of recovering the money you need.
At Claggett, Sykes & Garza, our experienced team is always ready and willing to take a case to court if necessary to ensure a positive outcome for our clients. Contact us by giving us a call, filling out our contact form, or using our online chat tool to schedule a free initial consultation today.