New Haven Slip-And-Fall Accident Attorneys

When a New Haven slip-and-fall accident happens, many people do not know where to go for help. It often takes a lawyer to determine who is liable for an accident and to hold those parties accountable.

At Lynch, Traub, Keefe & Errante, our New Haven premises liability lawyers have considerable experience with slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accidents as well as other types of premises liability cases. We will help you recover fair compensation for your losses, including medical bills, lost wages and benefits, and pain and suffering. You can rely on our experience and skill in and out of the courtroom. For a free consultation, please contact the firm today.

The Dangers Of Falling

Slip-and-fall accidents can happen on private, public or commercial property. Common reasons for slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accidents include:

• Spills or objects on the floor in retail stores
• Broken or slippery stairs and decks
• Structural defects
• Poorly lit areas
• Overcrowded areas
• Potholes and cracks in pavement

We will investigate your accident to determine the cause. If appropriate, we will work with engineers to gather evidence about the accident. This will help us build a strong case for compensation from the negligent party.

People who are hurt in a New Haven slip-and-fall accident may suffer serious or catastrophic injuries such as broken bones, internal organ damage, back and neck injuries, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. They will need significant medical treatment and may need weeks or months to recover fully. Some people will be left with temporary or permanent disability and may be unable to return to work.

Our New Haven slip-and-fall attorneys are skilled at negotiating with insurance companies, and we often recover favorable settlements. However, we are also prepared to go to trial when that is in the client’s best interests.

Why Choose Our New Haven Slip-and-Fall Lawyers?

When you are dealing with a slip and fall injury, you need more than just any attorney—you need our slip-and-fall lawyers in New Haven who have the skills, experience, and resources you need to build a winning case. At Lynch, Traub, Keefe & Errante, we have built our reputation on one fundamental principle: we are trial lawyers first, and insurance companies know it.

We are one of the top-ranked law firms in the United States, with repeated recognition as one of “The Best Law Firms” and several attorneys listed in The Best Lawyers in America. Several of our lawyers hold board certification from the National Board of Trial Advocacy, a distinction that requires demonstrating exceptional trial skills and courtroom experience.

Our 70-year track record of successful courtroom advocacy means we are not afraid to take your case to trial if necessary. This reputation often compels insurance companies to make higher settlement offers to our clients, often resolving cases without the need for lengthy litigation. But if the insurance company refuses to settle, our New Haven slip and fall attorneys will aggressively pursue your case in court and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.

Our firm is large enough to handle the most complex slip and fall cases, with the resources and staff necessary to thoroughly investigate your claim, retain expert witnesses, and build a compelling case. But you will never feel like just another case number—you will work directly with your attorney throughout your case, and our firm will always be available to answer your questions, respond to your concerns, and provide the compassionate support your case deserves.

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Cases

Property owners and managers have a legal obligation to maintain safe conditions for visitors. Unfortunately, hazardous situations develop regularly in both commercial and residential settings. At Lynch, Traub, Keefe & Errante, our slip-and-fall attorneys in New Haven handle slip and fall cases involving all types of dangerous conditions, from simple spills to complex structural defects.

The most frequent causes of slip and fall accidents include:

• Wet or Slippery Surfaces: Spills from beverages, cleaning activities, or snow, ice, and water tracked indoors 
• Uneven or Damaged Flooring: Cracked pavement, loose floorboards, torn carpeting, or broken tiles 
• Poor Lighting Conditions: Inadequate lighting in stairwells, parking lots, or walkways 
• Missing or Defective Handrails: Stairs and ramps without proper railings or with broken safety features 
• Cluttered Walkways: Merchandise, equipment, or debris blocking safe passage  
• Weather-Related Hazards: Ice, snow, or rain that accumulates on walkways and parking areas 

Common Slip and Fall Accident Injuries

The impact of a slip and fall accident often extends far beyond initial embarrassment or minor bruising. These incidents can result in serious injuries that require extensive medical treatment and may permanently affect your quality of life, earning capacity, and daily activities.

Some of the most common injuries in these accidents include:

• Traumatic brain injuries and concussions from striking your head during the fall
• Spinal cord injuries that can result in partial or complete paralysis
• Broken bones, especially in the wrists, arms, hips, and legs
• Soft tissue injuries like sprains, strains, and torn ligaments
• Shoulder injuries and rotator cuff tears from attempting to break your fall
• Cuts and bruises from sharp objects or rough surfaces

The long-term impact of these injuries can be devastating. Many slip and fall victims face months or years of rehabilitation, multiple surgeries, and permanent disabilities that prevent them from returning to their previous level of function. Beyond the immediate medical costs, these injuries often result in lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and the need for ongoing care or assistance with daily activities.

How to Prove a Slip and Fall Injury Case in New Haven

Successfully proving a slip and fall case in Connecticut requires establishing four legal elements, each supported by evidence that demonstrates the property owner’s negligence. Lynch, Traub, Keefe & Errante will work to prove each of these elements and prove your right to maximum compensation.

Duty of Care

First, you must establish that the property owner owed you a legal duty of care at the time of your accident. In Connecticut, the duty of care owed by property owners depends entirely on your legal status when the accident occurred:

• Invitees: Customers, patients, and others invited for business purposes receive the highest level of protection. Property owners must reasonably inspect their premises, fix discoverable hazards, and provide adequate warnings about dangerous conditions that cannot be immediately remedied.
• Licensees: Social guests and others with permission to be on the property are owed a duty to be warned of known dangerous conditions. Property owners must alert licensees to hidden hazards they’re actually aware of, but have no obligation to inspect for unknown dangers.
• Trespassers: While owed the lowest duty of care, trespassers still receive some protection from intentional harm or known dangerous activities.

Breach of Duty

Once the appropriate duty of care is established, you must prove the property owner failed to meet that standard. This might involve demonstrating they knew about a dangerous condition but failed to fix it, should have known about the hazard through reasonable inspection procedures, or created the dangerous condition themselves. 

Causation

Next, you must prove that the property owner’s breach of duty directly caused your accident and subsequent injuries. This requires showing both that the dangerous condition was the factual cause of your fall and that your injuries were a foreseeable result of this negligence.

Damages

Finally, you must demonstrate that you suffered harm as a result of the accident. This includes both economic damages like medical bills and lost wages, as well as non-economic damages, such as emotional distress and chronic pain. 

Essential Evidence to Prove Your New Haven Slip-and-Fall Claim

In a New Haven slip and fall claim, the strength of your evidence often determines whether you will receive fair compensation or face an uphill battle with insurance companies. That’s why Lynch, Traub, Keefe & Errante will immediately begin preserving and collecting evidence, giving your case the strongest possible foundation. 

Essential pieces of evidence may include:

• Photographs of the accident scene, the hazardous condition, and your injuries
• Incident reports filed with the property owner or manager
• Witness statements from people who saw the accident occur
• Medical records documenting your injuries and treatment
• Maintenance records showing the property owner’s inspection and repair history
• Security camera footage from the time of your accident
• Expert testimony regarding the dangerous condition and reasonable safety standards
• Documentation of your financial losses, including medical bills and lost income

Speak With A New Haven Slip-And-Fall Accident Attorney

Please call our law office at 203-333-3333 or toll free at 888-692-7403 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. You may also contact the firm online. We fight diligently to win you the fair compensation you deserve.