One morning, as you walk along the sidewalk in your apartment complex in Connecticut, you slip on a wet, uneven portion of the walkway. Is your landlord liable for your injuries? Should they have taken action after realizing the problem?
A landlord is generally responsible for making their apartments or rental properties safe for both current tenants and guests. They are responsible for maintaining all common and public areas. If there are hazards, warning signs should be posted; and all dwellings are in a safe condition for current occupants.
If you slip and fall and are considering a claim against your landlord, you must be able to prove that their negligence and knowledge of the hazard led to your injuries. As a result, factors such as whether or not he or she was aware of a hazard, how long it has been there, and your own diligence in noticing and avoiding the hazard all come into play. These are all things that an experienced CT slip and fall lawyer can help with, and we suggest you retain their services before moving forward with a claim.
Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law has provided legal services to slip and call victims all across the state of Connecticut. Our team can provide you with the support you need.
As you consider filing a claim, take the following into account.
Where Did Your Slip and Fall Occur?
Where the accident took place can impact your case. Did you fall inside your apartment or at a common area inside the apartment complex? Where the accident occurred could determine whether or not the landlord is responsible for the accident and your injuries.
Inside Your Apartment
Except in the following situations, the landlord is usually not liable or deemed negligent if an accident happens inside an apartment:
- The problem is a common building issue that the landlord neglected to resolve in a timely manner, such as leaking pipes that pose a slip hazard in numerous units.
- The landlord ignored requests for maintenance and did not appropriately maintain the apartment.
- After notifying the landlord of a problem in your apartment that you discovered, the landlord never made the necessary repairs. You slipped or fell as a result of the hazard.
In Common Areas
Slip and fall accidents that happen outside are a different story. In this situation, maintenance is almost always the responsibility of the landlord and any contracted third parties. However, when it comes to single-unit buildings, that isn't always the case. Always verify your lease to see if snow and ice removal is the landlord's responsibility or if you are partially responsible as well.
In a multi-unit complex, foreign items, such as food or water spills, can be an issue. While the landlord or staff may inspect the premises on a regular basis, they might not be aware of or be on the lookout for foreign substances. As a result, either the accountable renter or other tenants in the building who should inform the landlord about the hazard are responsible for cleaning it up.
Additionally, landlords are required to examine, clean, and eliminate risks from:
- The lobby or complex entrances
- Stairs or ramps
- Kitchens or areas where food is prepared
- Public bathrooms
- Pools
- Locations with condensate or exposed pipes
- All public spaces and the floors
Connecticut's Statute of Limitations for Slip and Fall Cases
A statute of limitations is a rule that places a time limit on how long you have to file a case in a state's civil court system. The statute of limitations that applies to a slip and fall lawsuit in Connecticut is the same as the one that applies to any personal injury case.
Section 52-584 of the General Statutes of Connecticut sets a two year deadline to file a claim for a personal injury within the day the injury is first sustained.
What happens if you fail to submit your slip and fall claim prior to the statutory deadline? Once you attempt to file the case, the property owner will petition the court to dismiss it, and the court will likely agree. You will rarely be allowed additional time to file your claim after this deadline has passed.
Get Assistance From Our CT Slip and Fall Lawyers
The legal team at Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law has the knowledge and experience to effectively represent tenants who have suffered injuries in slip and fall accidents on rental property in Connecticut. We take your case seriously, and we'll be there for you at every stage of the litigation process, from figuring out whether you have a case to filing a lawsuit to negotiating a settlement with insurance.
If you'd like a free consultation with one of our CT personal injury lawyers, get in touch with our Connecticut offices today, including Bridgeport, Danbury, Hartford, New Haven, Norwalk, Norich, Stamford and Waterbury.