Sabatini and Associates, LLC Attorneys at Law :: Newington :: Hartford :: Connecticut

Connecticut makes sellers liable if they sell alcoholic beverages to an intoxicated person who injures a person or property because of the intoxication. Sellers include bars, taverns, restaurants, nightclubs and other establishments that serve alcohol. Under Connecticut statutory law, the maximum an injured person can recover is $250,000 for injuries to a single person and $250,000 in aggregate for injuries to more than one person. The law requires that the injured person give notice to the seller within 60 days from the date of the incident. This 60 day notice is absolutely critical to meet. If notice is not given within 60 days, the injured person loses the right to bring a Dram Shop action against the seller. Furthermore, the notice must contain specific information that meets the criteria set forth in the statute. If the notice does not contain the necessary information it may be fatally defective and the Dram Shop claim will be barred. The lawsuit must be brought within one year.

The notice requirements and strict time deadlines contained within the Dram Shop Act provide a powerful example of why contacting an attorney immediately after being seriously injured is so important. It allows our attorneys to preserve all your legal rights in order to maximize your financial recovery.

If you have been injured due to the actions of an intoxicated individual, please call or contact our attorneys so that we can evaluate your claim and advise of you of all your legal rights and remedies.

Property owners, landlords, property managers and places of business including grocery stores, shopping malls, gas stations, bars, nightclubs and hotels, have a duty to their visitors and customers to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition. They have a duty to inspect the property from time to time to make sure that no hazards or defects exist. If a dangerous condition is detected, the property owner has to take reasonable measures to repair or eliminate the hazard. With regards to snow and ice, a property owner must remove snow and ice from driveways, walkways and parking lots within a reasonable time after the snow fall ends.

Slip and fall injuries routinely occur as a result of a property owner’s failure to inspect or repair the property. If you have suffered a slip and fall injury, it is important to take the following steps: 1) report the incident to the property owner or manager; 2) seek medical attention; 3) photograph the defective condition if possible; 4) if the defective condition has been fixed or removed, photograph the location of the fall; and 5) contact our attorneys. Due to certain statute of limitations and statutory notification provisions for certain slip and fall claims, it is vital to contact us as soon as possible following the slip and fall incident.

Accidents on our Nation’s roadways are a serious threat to the traveling public and are the leading cause of death for those under the age of thirty-four. Annually, over 40,000 people are killed in approximately five million motor vehicle accidents, many involving teen car accidents. In 2002 alone, nearly 43,000 people died in highway accidents nationwide. That equates to over 115 fatalities per day. The economic costs of these accidents is staggering, over $150 billion per year. Unfortunately, during your lifetime you are likely to be involved in at least one auto accident. You should know what to do in order to protect yourself and your legal rights.

First, call the police (and paramedics if necessary). It is imperative that the police report is accurate and that it reflects your recollection of the events. If you happen to have a camera, try to photograph the scene prior to moving the vehicles (only if safe to do so). Additionally, someone should interview all witnesses and record their comments. Such interviews should be completed as soon as possible as witnesses’ memories tend to fade with time. Your attorney may hire a professional investigator to sift through the paperwork and determine insurance information and other mundane facts. In preparing your case, your attorney may find it helpful to diagram the scene, noting the traffic, weather and pavement conditions at the time of the accident. Try to accurately record as much of this information as possible.

As far as your injuries are concerned, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. If treatment is delayed, the Defendant may argue that it was not his negligent driving that caused your injury, but rather something that occurred between the time of the accident and your visit to the doctor.

If you have been seriously injured in an automobile accident it may be important to contact an attorney who can help you protect your legal rights. Please keep in mind that there may be time limits within which you must commence suit.