Premises Liability
Connecticut Premises Liability Lawyer Holding Property Owners Accountable
When Unsafe Property Causes Serious Harm
Stores, apartment complexes, parking lots, and entertainment venues must be reasonably safe for visitors. When poor maintenance or careless oversight leads to an injury in Milford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Waterbury, or anywhere in Connecticut, Collier & Manning Trial Lawyers works to prove what went wrong and pursue compensation that reflects medical care, lost income, and daily life impact.
What Is Premises Liability
Premises liability is the body of Connecticut law that requires property owners and tenants to keep their premises reasonably safe and to warn about hazards they know or should know about. Liability can arise in a grocery aisle with a spill, a dim stairwell in an apartment building, a loose handrail at a restaurant, or a parking lot with inadequate security. Our team investigates quickly so vital evidence is not lost.
Property Owners Can Be Held Responsible For
Failing to maintain safe conditions, such as broken steps, loose flooring, potholes, or uneven pavement.
Failing to inspect the premises on a reasonable schedule and to fix hazards that inspections would reveal.
Failing to ensure there was adequate staff training and supervision for cleaning, snow removal, crowd control, and security.
Countless variations that put visitors at risk, from poor lighting to blocked emergency exits.
We document policies, cleaning logs, surveillance, and witness accounts to show how these failures caused your injury.
Proving Negligence On The Property
Winning a premises claim requires proof of four elements.
Duty
Duty means the owner or tenant had a responsibility to keep the area reasonably safe.
Breach
Breach means they failed to fix or warn about a dangerous condition.
Causation
Causation links the hazard to your injury.
Damages
Damages document medical treatment, wage loss, and the human toll of pain.
Our timing matters because stores and landlords should use reasonable inspection schedules. Reach out today to get started as soon as you can. We secure incident reports, maintenance records, and available video, and we interview witnesses who can explain how long the danger existed.
Evidence We Move Quickly To Preserve
Inspection and cleaning logs that show whether staff checked the area.
Snow and ice removal records for winter weather in coastal towns like Milford and inland areas around Waterbury.
Security policies for malls, hotels, and large venues in New Haven and Bridgeport.
Footage from cameras that may be overwritten in days or weeks.
Medical documentation and photographs that connect the condition to your injuries.
Fast action helps prevent key proof from disappearing and can strengthen settlement negotiations.
Negligent Security And Inadequate Lighting
Owners of apartments, hotels, and commercial properties must take reasonable steps to deter foreseeable crime. Poor lighting, broken locks, or ignored complaints can allow assaults to occur in hallways, parking garages, or lots. We evaluate prior incident history, lighting measurements, security staffing, and response times. If a landlord or business failed to take reasonable precautions, we work to hold them responsible for the harm.
Child Injuries And Swimming Pools
Children face unique risks around unfenced pools, unsafe play areas, or hazards that naturally attract curiosity. We examine compliance with codes, fencing and gate hardware, warning signs, and supervision practices. Our team coordinates with pediatric specialists to document present and future care needs for young clients.
Fires, Structural Failures, And Falling Merchandise
Serious injuries can result from blocked exits, missing smoke alarms, overloaded shelves, defective shelving brackets, or neglected building conditions. We consult engineering and fire experts when appropriate to determine code compliance, identify the failure point, and present complex findings in clear terms that insurers and juries understand.
Injuries And Damages In Premises Claims
Premises cases often involve fractures, concussions, spinal injuries, burns, and lasting pain that affects work and daily routines. We document emergency care, therapy, medication, future treatment, and the human impact of scarring and loss of function. In the most tragic cases, families may also have claims related to a wrongful death. Our goal is to present the full measure of harm with accuracy and respect.
Frequently Asked Questions About Premises Liability
How long do I have to file in Connecticut?
Many premises cases must be filed within two years of the incident. Early action helps us preserve video and records.
What if I was looking at my phone?
Connecticut’s comparative negligence rules may reduce recovery if a visitor shares some fault. We focus on evidence that the hazard was unreasonable and the owner failed to fix or warn.
Do I sue the store or the landlord?
We identify all responsible parties, including tenants, property managers, and security contractors, then pursue the correct insurers.
Get Help From A Connecticut Premises Liability Lawyer
If an unsafe property in Connecticut caused your injury, Collier & Manning Trial Lawyers is ready to help. Speak with a local team that knows how to investigate hazards, preserve evidence, and take a case to trial when necessary.