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A slip-and-fall accident can have serious effects on your future health, so acting swiftly and deliberately is the best thing for your health as well as the best way to consolidate all the necessary evidence to support any legal claim you'll need to bring. A personal injury attorney in East Hartford, CT can help ensure that you meet every deadline and every requirement to secure the fair compensation you deserve. Assessing Your Physical Condition and Seeking Treatment After an injury, check for pain, bleeding, or dizziness right away. Even if symptoms seem minor, know that invisible injuries such as concussions or internal damage can surface hours later, so seeking immediate medical attention should be your top priority. Emergency rooms and urgent care centers can diagnose and treat injuries promptly while documenting the incident and your symptoms. This medical documentation will form a solid foundation for any future claim. more Preserving the Accident Scene and Hazardous Conditions If possible, and if you don't need to get immediate emergency medical attention, you should prevent the area where you fell from being changed. For example, don't let a store employee clean the spill or rearrange items before you document it all. Take photographs of the hazard from various angles and document the exact location, including skid marks, torn carpeting, or wet floors, even if the property owner attempts to fix the issue before you leave. These pictures can offer irrefutable proof later in your case. Collect Contact Information from Witnesses Anyone who witnessed your fall could provide valuable testimony. You should request contact details from bystanders and ask them to describe what they saw, including details about the hazardous condition, how it existed, and any responses from staff. Their statements can strengthen your version of events and reinforce your claim under Connecticut liability law. Report the Incident to the Property Owner Formally notify the store manager, landlord, or property owner about the accident and ask for an incident report. Document the time, names, and details of this report. This places the property owner on notice of the hazard and creates a record of your complaint. Get your own copy of the report or photograph the written record so you have proof of your efforts to hold them responsible. Document Your Injuries and Expenses Thoroughly Track every part of your recovery process, including medical appointments, diagnostic tests, medications, and physical therapy. You should also note any missed work, reduced income, or out-of-pocket costs related to your treatment and rehabilitation. Keeping a detailed injury journal can also bolster your claim's credibility. Consulting an Attorney Every step you take following an accident is made more effective with the legal advice of an experienced attorney. Someone who understands Connecticut's notice statutes and comparative fault doctrine can help you understand the various deadlines, which parties to contact, and how to preserve the correct evidence to make a strong case. A slip-and-fall accident can be disruptive and painful, but informed, timely action can help to ensure a smooth recovery without the weight of legal complications. Schedule a consultation with us today at Adler Law Group, LLC in East Hartford, CT, to secure the dependable representation you need to fight your case.

On Behalf of Adler Law Group, LLC When someone sustains an injury because of a dangerous condition inside of an apartment building, there may be more than one potential defendant. Someone who suffers a severe injury from falling, for example, may be unsure about who is at fault. The party responsible for the condition may not necessarily be the owner of the building. Here are two other examples of potential defendants in a personal injury case. Property Management Company A property management company rather than a property owner may be legally liable for injuries that occur both inside an apartment and the building’s common areas. In general, the property management company must be aware of a dangerous condition to be liable for injuries resulting from it. However, there are instances in which claimants can successfully establish liability by showing that a property manager should have been aware of a condition even if he or she was not actually aware of it. Contractor A third-party company may be at fault for injuries in a building. If a company performs work that results in a safety hazard, that company may face serious legal liability. Whoever hired the company may also be liable for a third-party’s work if it hired the company negligently or had reason to know that the work created an unsafe condition. Personal injury victims may need to carefully consider who may be responsible for an injury that occurs inside of an apartment building. In some cases, a plaintiff may be able to pursue more than one party for a judicial or monetary remedy.

On Behalf of Adler Law Group, LLC When a visitor to a property suffers an accident and is injured, it may qualify as a personal injury case. The area of the law that this injury falls under is premises liability laws. In Connecticut, these types of civil claims for damages are also subject to the comparative liability stipulations. Premises liability laws refer to the responsibility on the part of a property owner or party in possession of a premises to maintain it safely in order to prevent the possibility of a guest or visitor suffering a serious injury. Informing customers, guests and other invitees of existing  hazards falls under the responsibility of an owner and/or the party in possession of the property at the time. In some instances, landlords may not be held liable for some accidents if the unsafe conditions were the result of the negligence or actions of the current occupants. Premises liability laws can be further broken down into different categories based on the nature and purpose of the individual who was hurt while on the property. Invited guests, such as a customer or personal friend, are entitled to a safe environment free from hazards and conditions that could result in a physical injury. Likewise, those who enter a property based on professional duties are also entitled to a safe entry or appropriate warnings of possible dangers. However, those who are trespassing without a legitimate reason for entering a property are not entitled to the same reasonable expectation of safety. Nevertheless, if there is reasonable expectation that the property will be subject to regular entry of trespassers, then sufficient notice of an existing hazard may be required, and this stipulation also applies when it can be expected that minors will have access to the property –either with or without official permission. Along with the above guidelines, the issue of comparative liability adds another layer of complexity to some premises liability cases. In Connecticut, as long as the injured party is not more than 51 percent responsible for his or her own injuries, it is possible to recover monetary damages when someone else’s negligence caused or contributed to the injuries suffered. If this occurs while visiting the property of another, a personal injury attorney can help sort through the legalities and identify the party or parties who may bear financial responsibility. Source: FindLaw, “ Premises Liability: Who Is Responsible? “, Accessed on Sept. 17, 2017

On Behalf of Adler Law Group, LLC One of the main reasons that retail stores and businesses put out signage warning about wet floors and other potential hazards is not so much to protect their customers but to protect themselves. While there could still be an accident, not warning others about a wet surface could open a door to a lawsuit over premises liability. Like every state, Connecticut has laws that govern how negligence cases can be pursued. There are laws that deal with negligence on the part of another party or a business that results in someone suffering physical harm. While the majority of the states have done away with contributory negligence, most states — including Connecticut — do have a comparative scale when it comes to filing a negligent personal injury lawsuit. Contributory negligence laws made it difficult for an injured party to collect in a personal injury case because the laws stated that even if the injured party was one percent at fault, then the judge could not allow the party to collect any damages. Connecticut is one of the many states that have comparative negligence laws. As long as an injured party was not more than 50 percent at fault, then he or she can file a personal injury suit against the parties responsible. This is considered a modified comparative law. In the pure form of the law, a person can collect if he or she is even 99 percent to blame for the accident. Furthermore, if there is more than one party at fault in a negligence suit, then the responsibility can be separated by degrees. An injured party can decide to leave an at-fault party out of a lawsuit if there are others who are deemed more at fault. There are stipulations in place that protect some entities from being sued if one suffers an injury on site, such as a school (in most, but not all circumstances). If a Connecticut resident suffers an injury that he or she believes is a premises liability case, then that person can consult with a personal injury attorney who can provide more information about the merits of the case. Source: FindLaw, “ Connecticut Negligence Laws “, Accessed on April 1, 2017

On Behalf of Adler Law Group, LLC It is not uncommon to hear of bed bug infestations at hotels in Connecticut and elsewhere. These little pests may pack a small bite, but they can do a lot of damage — physically, psychologically and even financially. Anyone who has suffered as a result of coming in contact with these bugs during a hotel stay may be able to file a premises liability claim against the property owners and any others believed responsible. Currently, Connecticut does not really have any laws regarding bed bug infestations. Like most other states, property owners are just responsible for maintaining clean environments. If bed bugs are found, appropriate actions to remedy the situation are to be taken. Quite a few people think that bed bugs are harmless, though disgusting. However, for some who come in contact with these bugs, allergic reactions, rashes and scarring can occur. In some cases, the scarring may be permanent. Not only will this be physically damaging, but it can have long-term psychological consequences as well. Bed bugs are also great hitchhikers and will attach to clothing or suitcases, so some victims of hotel infestations may bring the problem home with them, which can be expensive to resolve. When staying at a hotel, whether in Connecticut or elsewhere, it is reasonable to expect a room that is clean and free of pests. Those who find otherwise and who have suffered as a result may have legal recourse. With the assistance of an experienced attorney, a premises liability claim may be filed in civil court. If litigation proves successful, damages may be awarded. Source: USA Today, “ Hotel Obligations for Bed Bugs “, Christopher Michael, Accessed on Jan. 8, 2017

On Behalf of Adler Law Group, LLC Parents who allow their children to attend occasions such as music festivals in Connecticut or elsewhere would naturally want to have comfort in knowing that there will be sufficient control and medical care in the events of emergencies. Visitors to such venues will want to feel that they are entering a safe environment. Raves are sometimes known to have elements present that may endanger the lives of others due to the availability of illegal substances, and organizers may be held responsible via premises liability lawsuits if guests suffer injuries or worse. One such lawsuit was recently filed by the parents of a 19-year-old girl who died of a drug overdose at a music festival in another state last summer. The organizers of the rave, along with other entities, were named as defendants in the lawsuit. It is alleged that the girl’s death was preventable. According to the complaint, the defendants should have been aware of the fact that such festivals are commonly associated with the availability of drugs such as Ecstasy. It is claimed that the dangers were largely ignored in favor of the revenue potential. Court documents indicate that the attendance figure at the rave was recorded as 65,000 while only four stations were established to provide medical services. Furthermore, it is alleged that the medical personnel who treated the unresponsive girl were not adequately trained to handle the emergency. The suit also noted that another 18-year-old girl died from an overdose of Ecstasy earlier that day and that the emergency stations were overwhelmed by approximately 50 other festival attendees who suffered comas and seizures caused by drugs. Connecticut families who have lost loved ones due to the actions — or -non-actions — of others retain the right to pursue claims for financial relief. Individuals or organizers of events could be held accountable through the judicial system. A premises liability lawsuit can be filed in a civil court, and upon proof of negligence, the court may award a monetary judgment to cover documented losses. Source: NBC Los Angeles, “ Family Sues Music Festival After Daughter’s OD “, July 27, 2016

On Behalf of Adler Law Group, LLC Time and again, we’ve heard about this type of scenario playing out somewhere in our state: An individual goes to a party and starts drinking. He is having a great time and throwing back drink after drink. At the end of the night, he stumbled out to his vehicle and heads home. On the way home, he hits and kills a pedestrian crossing the road. It’s a horrible situation but one that unfortunately happens every year in our state. In this type of situation, one might wonder who is to blame. There is pretty obvious blame that can be put on the driver, but what about the host of the party? This is where premises liability law comes into play and it can differ widely state to state. Some states have dram shop laws. This type of law can hold businesses liable for continuing to serve alcohol to a clearly intoxicated person who then ends up injuring another person. That business could then be found liable for any injuries suffered by the victim. In some states, this type of law also covers social hosts. Other states have specific social host laws. In fact, have social host liability laws that are considered general and nine states have such laws that pertain specifically to minors. As you can imagine, if someone serves a minor alcohol and that minor ended up dying in a drunk driving accident, the person who provided the alcohol could and should be held liable. These types of situations are definitely not cut and dry so it makes sense to work with an attorney to understand what your options are. Many people may feel uncomfortable trying to place blame on someone else if their loved one died in this type of scenario, but it’s important to remember that there are often state laws that govern liability in such cases.

On Behalf of Adler Law Group, LLC Company owners nationwide, including in Connecticut, must be selective when they choose marketing gimmicks to promote their businesses. A steakhouse chain with outlets nationwide is facing a premises liability lawsuit involving a promotion tactic that allegedly caused serious personal injury to a customer in another state. The recent federal lawsuit alleges that discarded peanut shells on the floor of the restaurant caused the plaintiff to fall to the ground. The lawsuit claims that over 400 restaurants belonging to this group allow peanut shells to be discarded onto the restaurant floors by patrons and bartenders. It is alleged that even if customers collect the empty shells on their tables, servers merely toss them onto the floor, causing hazardous circumstances. This Feb. 2015 accidentally allegedly fractured the kneecap of the plaintiff in four places, resulting in medical expenses, lost wages and physical impairment. It is claimed that the company’s negligence was willful as it has faced similar claims in the past. A woman suffered a similar type of injury in 2008 after slipping on peanut shells, and she ultimately received $43,000 in damages. In 2013, another injured victim sought over $1 million after a slip-and-fall incident in one of the company’s restaurants. A confidential settlement was reached in that case in 2015. Connecticut victims of slip-and-fall incidents caused by the negligence of property owners and/or those in possession of the property retain the right to pursue financial relief for damages sustained. A victim is free to seek the support and guidance of a premises liability attorney. Proving negligence on the part of the defendant/s is vital to the successful presentation of such a claim. Along with medical expenses, other documented financial and emotional losses will also be considered for monetary restitution once liability has been properly established. Source: desmoinesregister.com, “ Iowa man sues Texas Roadhouse after slipping on peanuts “, Grant Rodgers, May 9, 2016

If you or a loved one has been exposed to lead-contaminated drinking water in Connecticut, you may be wondering whether you have legal grounds to sue. The short answer is: yes, you may be able to pursue legal action, depending on the circumstances of your exposure and who is responsible. Understanding Lead Contamination in Public Water Systems Recent years have brought national attention to the dangers of lead in drinking water. The Flint, Michigan water crisis is a well-known example, where government agencies and private contractors faced lawsuits after switching the city’s water supply led to widespread lead poisoning. Families affected by the crisis—especially those with children—have sought financial compensation for the harm caused by exposure. Unfortunately, lead contamination is not limited to Flint. A USA Today investigation revealed that hundreds of public water systems across the United States have tested positive for unsafe levels of lead. According to WTNH News 8, more than 50 public water systems in Connecticut were identified as having lead levels above safe limits. What Is a Public Water System? A public water system (PWS) is any water supply that serves more than 25 individuals. These systems can include: Schools and daycare centers Apartment buildings Office buildings Parks and recreational facilities In Connecticut, there are roughly 2,000 public water systems. The state Department of Public Health acknowledges that it cannot guarantee the safety of every system, particularly since the pipes in individual buildings may still contain lead. While the state claims the water sent to these locations is treated and clean, contamination can still occur within outdated infrastructure. Are Landlords and Property Owners Responsible? If you live or work in a building with a private or semi-public water system, the property owner or landlord may be responsible for regular water quality testing. Connecticut law requires them to: Conduct routine water testing Submit reports on contamination levels Take corrective action if unsafe levels of lead are detected Currently, 14 systems in Connecticut are known to exceed safe lead levels, according to health officials. If your property is one of them and you’ve suffered harm due to exposure, you may have a valid lead poisoning lawsuit. Can I File a Lawsuit for Lead Exposure in Connecticut? If you or your child has been diagnosed with lead poisoning or has experienced symptoms of lead exposure—such as developmental delays, behavioral issues, or other health problems—you may be eligible to seek compensation. A successful legal claim can help recover: Medical expenses Pain and suffering Emotional distress Ongoing care or rehabilitation costs Why Speak With a Connecticut Lead Contamination Lawyer? Determining liability in lead exposure cases can be complex. It often involves proving: The source of the lead contamination The responsible party (government agency, landlord, contractor, etc.) That the exposure directly caused your injuries At Adler Law Group, LLC, we have experience handling toxic exposure and environmental injury cases. Our legal team can investigate your situation, identify liable parties, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Get Legal Help for Lead Water Contamination in Connecticut If you suspect that you or a family member has been exposed to lead-contaminated water in Connecticut, don’t wait. Contact Adler Law Group, LLC today for a free consultation. Our team is here to help you understand your rights and explore your legal options. Call us now or visit our website to schedule your consultation.