Falls & Dangerous Premises
Have you been injured in a fall? Or by an unsafe condition of a building, walkway or property?
RisCassi & Davis, P.C., has pursued many claims arising from injuries occurring because of defective and unreasonably dangerous conditions in stores, restaurants, homes, walkways, stairways or other premises. Although sometimes casually referred to as "falldown cases," these cases are generally known in the law as "premises liability cases." That one broad title covers many different types of cases, including:
- snow or ice on roads, driveways and parking lots, that has not been properly cleared or sanded
- oil, water or foreign object or substance on the floor of a supermarket or other store
- improperly stacked merchandise, in warehouse-style or other retail stores
- lack of proper handrails or proper lighting
- structural defects, such as wobbly steps or rotten decks
- violations of fire, safety or building codes and regulations
- negligent security, exposing customers or guests to a risk of assault or other crime
- unsafe construction sites, such as the failure of a general contractor or another subcontractor to properly protect floor or roof openings
RisCassi & Davis, P.C. has handled cases based upon all of these different claims of defective or dangerous conditions. Please give us a call to discuss yours. 1-800-344-5297 or 522-1196.
Two reasons to consult a lawyer especially promptly if you have been injured on public sidewalks, roads or property:
In any kind of legal claim, we generally recommend promptly consulting with an attorney regarding your legal rights, so that the attorney has adequate opportunity to evaluate your potential claims before the expiration of the statute of limitations. However, this rule is especially important with regarding to claims arising from falls on public property. There are two main reasons:
(1) very short deadlines for preserving some claims against government defendants
(2) complicated liability issues that may sometimes arise as to which potential defendant may be responsible for the particular defective condition
Cases involving falls on defective public sidewalks may have short deadlines for giving notice. Under Section 13a-149 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as in effect at the time of this writing, a notice with certain required information must be given to the clerk of the city, town or borough responsible for maintaining the sidewalk, within 90 days of the incident. If you do not provide the notice within the specified time, you may be barred from recovering on your claim. A similarly short notice period applies, under Section 13a-144 of the General Statutes, to certain claims arising from injuries caused by defective highways, bridges or sidewalks that the state commissioner of transportation is obligated to keep in repair. Other laws require notice, within various different time periods, in other claims against the state or municipalities arising from unsafe conditions of public property. Therefore, it is generally a good idea to consult with an attorney as soon as possible, if you are injured on public property in Connecticut. If you delay, you run the risk that the deadline(s) for notice may pass.
Furthermore, it is not always obvious who is responsible for the defective condition of a public sidewalk or road in Connecticut. The town or city? The abutting landowner? The state of Connecticut? A railroad? A contractor? The answers may depend upon the facts of your particular case. In fact, in some sidewalk snow and ice cases, the answer may actually vary from town to town. It can all get pretty complicated, another reason that we believe you should promptly review the facts of your case with an attorney, in the wake of a fall on public property.
Call us at 800.344.5297 or contact us online to discuss your potential legal remedies in your falldown or premises liability case. There is no cost or obligation.
