You and your spouse stole away for a romantic long weekend at a quaint Connecticut bed-and-breakfast. All was going fine as the two of you were about to make your way downstairs for a homemade New England breakfast.
Suddenly, your low heel caught in a rip in the carpet on the stairs, pitching you forward. You tumbled down the next eight steps to the bottom. You have serious injuries from your fall — multiple broken bones and a concussion.
Are your B&B hosts liable for your injuries?
Under those circumstances, it appears that they (or rather, their insurance company) are indeed liable for your personal injuries on their premises. The property owners or managers knew or should have known about the tear in the carpet on the stairs. They should have either covered it with stair treads, repaired the hole or replaced the carpet to ensure their guests remained safe during their stay.
Why you need to take photos on the scene
It will amaze you how quickly the safety flaw that caused your accident can be fixed or replaced in the minutes and hours following a guest’s accident on someone else’s property. But if you (or your uninjured spouse) shoot a few frames with a cellphone documenting the condition that caused you to fall and be injured, it will be much harder to deny your legitimate claim for damages.
Remember, if another person’s negligence causes you to be harmed, you deserve to be made whole again and receive the compensation you need to cover your medical bills, lost wages and other losses. Learning more about your legal options is wise.