This is the next post in our series of articles discussing slip and fall cases in Hartford, Connecticut. Our previous article discussed the circumstances under which a property owner or operator may be held liable for injuries that occur on their premises. Accidents happen. Injured parties are not automatically entitled to receive damages when such an event occurs. When, however, a victim can prove that the owner failed to take reasonable steps to keep the property safe and that such failure created a hazardous condition on the property, the owner may be held responsible. Property owners’ obligations in this regard differ from industry to industry and the analysis is highly-fact specific. An experienced attorney can help you understand your legal rights. In this article, we will examine how a victim’s potential damages are determined following an accident. If you have been injured, contact our office today to speak with a lawyer.
When a person is injured in a slip and fall case as a result of another’s negligence, calculating their damages can be a complicated process. Injured parties are entitled to recover medical expenses and lost wages. These include both past and future anticipated expenses and losses. Estimating these amounts may become challenging in severe injury cases. For instance, if a victim suffers a brain injury after slipping on a wet floor, it may take his doctors several months to ascertain his long-term medical prognosis. It may be difficult to estimate the costs of his future medical care. Furthermore, if he is unable to return to his job, economists or other financial experts may be required to estimate the victim’s future lost wages, potentially over the course of his expected lifetime. Under some circumstances, additional damages may be awarded for the victim’s pain and suffering. Pain and suffering damages are intended to compensate the victim for physical or emotional pain, reduced quality of life or inconvenience such as an inability to engage in certain activities in the future.
It may also be possible to recover punitive damages in some cases. As their name implies, punitive damages are designed to “punish” a defendant whose actions or omissions go beyond simple negligence. Owners who acted recklessly, wantonly, or intentionally in their failure to protect the injured party from harm may be responsible to pay such damages to victims and their families. For instance, if a store owner purposely fires all cleaning staff to save money with the knowledge that certain safety protocols will no longer be followed as a result, their actions may be viewed as reckless and justify punitive damages.
Our Hartford attorneys understand that accidents can place families in considerable financial distress. We have the experience necessary to help victims of slip and fall accidents recover the damages to which they may be entitled and are ready to assist you. We also serve the areas of Wethersfield, New Britain, Rocky Hill, West and East Hartford, Bristol, Glastonbury, and Manchester, as well as the Middlesex County cities of Middletown and Cromwell.
