Premises Liability Lawyer in New Haven

Injured on Someone Else’s Property? We’re Ready to Help.

Premises liability is the area of law that holds property owners and occupiers responsible for injuries caused by unsafe conditions on their property. If you were hurt at a store, apartment complex, parking lot, or someone’s home, that owner may owe you compensation. Founded in 2018, Griffin Injury Law represents injured people throughout Connecticut, including New Haven, in the full range of dangerous-property claims.

Don’t let deadlines cut off your right to recover. Call us at (860) 390-5767 to schedule a free consultation and learn more about your legal options.

The Types of Premises Liability Claims We Handle

Slip and fall injuries get the most attention, but property-related claims take many forms. We represent clients injured by a wide range of hazardous conditions.

Common hazards include:

• Spilled liquids, uneven flooring, and broken or poorly maintained stairs
• Snow and ice on walkways, parking lots, and steps
• Dog bites and animal attacks on private or commercial property
• Negligent security situations where inadequate lighting, broken locks, or absent security personnel allowed a foreseeable crime to occur

If your injury doesn’t fit the classic sidewalk-fall description, that doesn’t mean you don’t have a claim. Whatever brought you to this page, our goal is to give you a clear path to representation.

Visitor Status & the Duty of Care

Connecticut law distinguishes between three categories of visitors, and your status on the property directly affects what duty of care the owner owed you. Understanding this framework is a core part of evaluating any premises liability claim.

Invitees are customers and business guests. Property owners owe them the highest duty of care, including regular inspection for hazards. Importantly, this duty is nondelegable, meaning an owner can’t escape liability by pointing to a contractor they hired for maintenance.

Licensees are social guests. They’re owed a meaningful duty, but one that is less extensive than what a business owes its customers.

Trespassers are owed the least protection, though exceptions apply, particularly when children are involved.

What You Have to Prove in a Connecticut Premises Liability Case

Four elements must be established to succeed. First, the property owner or occupier owed the injured visitor a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions. Second, the owner breached that duty by failing to address a hazard they knew about or should have known about. Third, that breach directly caused the injury. Fourth, the injury produced measurable losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, or pain and suffering.

Each element requires evidence, and the strength of that evidence shapes the value of the claim. We work to gather and preserve what’s needed from the start.

New Haven’s Sidewalk Snow & Ice Ordinance

New Haven has adopted an ordinance under Connecticut General Statutes Section 7-163a that shifts liability for sidewalk snow and ice injuries away from the city and onto the owner or occupant of the abutting property. Property owners must clear snow, ice, and sleet from adjacent sidewalks within 24 hours of accumulation, with fines reaching $250 per day for noncompliance.

In practice, a person injured on a snowy New Haven sidewalk generally has a claim against the neighboring property owner rather than the city. Identifying the right defendant early matters, and knowing how this ordinance works can make a real difference in how a claim is evaluated.

Deadlines That Apply to New Haven Premises Liability Claims

Connecticut’s statute of limitations for premises liability and other negligence claims is two years from the date of injury under Connecticut General Statutes Section 52-584. Missing that window can prevent you from pursuing recovery.

Two additional rules are worth knowing:

• Connecticut follows a modified comparative negligence standard under Connecticut General Statutes Section 52-572h. If you were 50% or less at fault, you can still recover damages, though your award is reduced by your share of fault. At 51% or more, recovery is barred entirely.
• Claims against a government entity involving a defective road or bridge require a notice of claim within 90 days under Connecticut General Statutes Section 13a-149, far shorter than the two-year general deadline.

How We Work with Premises Liability Clients

We treat every client like family. That means taking time to understand what happened, explaining where the case stands in plain language, and keeping communication consistent throughout the process. No two situations are identical, and we don’t approach them as if they are.

Our understanding of both personal injury law and the healthcare system helps clients access the legal and medical resources their circumstances may require. We handle the legal complexities so you can put your attention toward recovery. We combine the personal attention of a local practice with the resources to handle complex matters.