New York City (NYC) Slip and Fall Lawyer
It may be funny when someone slips and falls in a movie or TV show. They usually get right up, but a slip and fall accident in real life may cause the victim to suffer a serious head or brain injury or may, in some instances, cause the person to die.
Slip and fall accidents and the injuries they cause should be taken very seriously. We use our skills and resources to aggressively pursue premises liability claims against the owners, management, maintenance companies and others responsible for allowing conditions to exist that caused you to suffer an injury in a slip and fall or a trip and fall accident.
The compassionate personal injury attorneys at The Carrion Law Firm can help you get compensation for your injuries. The people responsible for the hazardous conditions of our accident should be made to pay up. Call The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083 for a free case evaluation.
Lawsuits for Slip and Fall Accidents in New York City
A slip and fall accident is a specific type of personal injury case that falls under premises liability laws. Under these laws, the person responsible for slip and fall accidents or other injuries that occur on a particular property is generally the property owner. Our New York slip and fall accident attorneys can help you assess your legal options.
Property owners have a legal duty to make their property and premises safe for guests. This duty often covers people the property owner invites onto the property, like a guest. They are also responsible for people who are not directly invited but can be expected to show up, like a customer in a retail store. Even people who are not guests but can be reasonably expected to appear on the property are covered. For example, a delivery person with a package can be expected to walk up the front stairs of a home to make a delivery. If they slipped and fell on the stairs, the property owner might be liable.
Premises liability cases and slip and fall accidents tend to be based on negligence. To prove negligence, you must demonstrate that the defendant owed you a duty of care and violated that duty, thus causing your injuries. The evidence needed to prove your case might vary depending on where and how your accident happened.
People do not typically think that slip and fall accidents lead to serious injuries, but they often do just that. Injuries can be long-lasting or even leave victims with long-term disabilities or pain. A slip and fall is not a joke, and many falls are devastating for accident victims.
How Do I Know If I Have a Premises Liability Case for a Slip and Fall Accident in New York City?
A premises liability case arises because an accident happened on someone else’s property. Additionally, the accident typically has to do with the property’s condition. For example, it is not enough to merely tip and fall down the stairs at a department store. Your accident must have happened because of the condition of the stairs, such as being uneven or in poor structural shape.
Whether or not you have a case may depend on your relationship with the property owner. Generally, a property owner is responsible for making their property safe for invited guests and others who can reasonably be expected to enter the property.
Trespassers are not usually covered and typically cannot bring a lawsuit for a slip and fall on someone else’s property. However, special circumstances might allow a trespasser to bring a case. Our New York City slip and fall lawyers can help you determine if you have a case.
Whether an accident is covered by premises liability law is sometimes hard to determine. If you suffered a slip and fall accident but are unsure if you meet the requirements to file a lawsuit, speak with an attorney about your case.
Who Can You Sue for Slip and Fall Accidents in New York City?
Property owners are often liable for any injuries sustained on the premises. However, in some cases, other people might also bear some degree of liability. Who you can sue might depend on the type of property involved in the accident. Our New York City slip and fall attorneys can review your case and help you determine your defendant.
Landlords
In New York City, it is almost impossible to get around without crossing someone else’s property. Most New Yorkers do not even own their residence, so many people have landlords. A landlord might be liable in a slip and fall case if the accident happened in a common area of the building, like a stairwell or elevator. These are places that the landlord would be responsible for maintaining.
Store Owners
Perhaps your slip and fall happened while you were shopping. In that case, the store owner where you were shopping might be liable. Not only that, but anyone who was in charge of managing the store, even if they did not own it, might be implicated. Oftentimes, store owners are not really present at the business, and managers are in charge of day-to-day cleaning and maintenance.
Private Individuals
You can even sue a neighbor or other private person for a slip and fall accident if it happened in their home. These kinds of cases sometimes come from social visits gone wrong. For example, a person visiting a friend’s house trips on a flight of stairs the friend neglected to maintain.
Negligence and Slip and Fall Accidents in New York City
You may be tempted to attribute a slip, trip, or stumble that causes you to lose your balance and fall to the floor or ground to your own clumsiness, but there may be more to it. A hazardous condition caused by another party’s negligent, careless or reckless conduct may be the actual cause of your slip and fall accident. Some of the conditions at stores, office buildings, a neighbor’s home, or other types of property where you happen to be that may cause you to fall and be seriously injured include:
- Water or other liquids that accumulate on floor surfaces.
- Frayed, torn, or worn carpets and rugs.
- Area rugs without non-slip backing or pads.
- Debris that accumulates on floors and other surfaces where people walk.
- Broken or uneven curbs, paved surfaces, and sidewalks.
- Uneven steps on staircases.
- Missing or broken handrails.
Tenants, building owners, and property management companies in New York may be liable for injuries caused by someone slipping and falling on snow or ice that accumulates on sidewalks and parking lots.
Slip and Fall Accidents Cause Serious Injuries in New York City
Unlike in the movies or on TV, victims of slip and fall accidents frequently end up in a hospital for treatment. Falls may result in the following:
- Fractured bones
- Head, neck, and back injuries
- Concussions and traumatic brain injury
- Damage to the spine
- Nerve damage
- Lacerations
- Bruising and contusions
- Muscle and tendon sprains and strains
- Shoulder, hip, and knee dislocation
Depending upon the impact with which a person hits the ground or floor, a slip and fall accident could result in the victim’s death. Recovering from the injuries suffered in a fall can be a long, arduous, and expensive process. Our personal injury lawyers want you to focus on getting the rest and care you need to battle back from your injuries while we aggressively fight for the compensation you deserve. Slip and fall compensation may include:
- The cost of medical care, including rehabilitative services and physical therapy.
- Wages and earnings lost from being unable to work while recovering.
- Lost or diminished future earnings due to partial or full disability.
- Pain and suffering endured by you because of the injuries.
Evidence You Need for a Slip and Fall Lawsuit in New York City
To support your claims and get compensation for your injuries, you must have evidence. Every case is unique, and while some plaintiffs have a plethora of evidence to draw on, others are not so fortunate. In any case, our New York City slip and fall attorneys can help you use your evidence to make effective arguments for compensation.
To get compensation and hold the defendant liable, you must have proof of your damages. One of the most significant sources of damages in a slip and fall case is medical bills. Your medical records and bills will be crucial to proving your damages. If you have other damages, talk to your attorney about the evidence needed to establish them in court.
Many slip and fall accidents happen in front of others, like in a store or other social guests. These people might be able to testify about what they saw. Even people who did not witness your accident but were on the property around the same time can testify about the conditions of the premises.
We can also demonstrate the unsafe property conditions through photographs or videos. It is important that you or someone nearby take some pictures or record videos of the accident scene. If the defendant tries to make repairs after you leave, we might lose precious evidence of the hazardous property conditions.
Contact Our New York City Slip and Fall Lawyers for Advice
The Carrion Law Firm has dedicated and compassionate slip and fall accident attorneys capable of pursuing your claim for compensation. We refuse to allow negligent property owners, maintenance companies, tenants, or anyone else responsible for causing your injuries to avoid compensating you for your damages. Call us today at (718) 841-0083 for a free initial case review.