The experienced premises liability lawyers at our firm, serving New York City and Westchester County, are dedicated to helping you secure full and fair compensation if you or a loved one has been injured in a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accident in New York State, including the entire NYC metro area. Call us today or use our online contact form for a free consultation and claim evaluation.
Some of our recently reported settlements and verdicts involved fall cases:
Top 100 Premises Liability Settlements in the United States Top Verdict in 2019: (#57) Cortez v. City of NY, et al. [Kings County] for $550,000 involving an injured knee and (#59) Garber v. J.J.P. Coleman LLC, et al. [Queens County] for $525,000 involving a broken foot.
Some of the common types of slip and fall and trip and fall accidents in New York City include:
- Sidewalk and parking lot accidents
- Accidents in cluttered stores
- Elevator and escalator accidents
- Unsecured rugs and mats
- Uneven floors
- Slippery floors
- Broken or uneven stair treads
- Missing or broken railings
- A build-up of ice and snow
- Loose cables and wires
- Debris and clutter, and
- Broken sidewalks and pavement.
In a situation where a person is injured in a slip and fall, the property owner may be liable if he or she:
- Caused unsafe conditions, such as spilling liquid and not mopping it up.
- Knew about the dangerous condition but did not take steps to correct it.
- Should have known about the hazard because a reasonable person taking care of the property would have discovered and corrected the dangerous condition.
What to Do After a Fall and When to Hire Slip and Fall Lawyers in New York
More than a million people each year visit emergency rooms in the United States because of falls. Some fall victims have minor injuries such as scrapes, cuts, or bruises, while others break hips or legs, fractured ankles, suffer concussions, or even damage their spinal cord. Falls can even result in death. If you are badly injured in a fall on somebody else’s property in New York City, White Plains, or Westchester County, the law may give you the right to make a claim against the person or company that owns, manages, leases, or controls the property involved. Whether you fell on public property, a sidewalk, a school, in a private residence, or in a business such as a retail store, parking lot, or restaurant.
There are some important actions to take after a fall accident, here are a few items to remember:
- Seek urgent medical attention immediately following a fall, especially if you’re significantly injured. Promptly consulting a doctor or heading to a hospital is crucial to have your injuries assessed and treated. Even if symptoms aren’t immediately evident, certain severe injuries like traumatic brain injuries may not show immediate signs. Obtaining medical care swiftly not only aids in potentially saving your life but also in documenting the full extent of injuries sustained. This documentation through medical records serves as essential evidence if you decide to pursue a claim against negligent parties for a fall-related injury. Hence, timely medical attention not only prioritizes your health but also strengthens your case should legal action be necessary.
- Report the accident to the owner immediately. You need to alert the person or company in charge of the property as soon as the accident happens. This means telling the homeowner whose house you were in, calling the landlord, or alerting the manager at a business. If the injury happened at a business or in an apartment, the store owner or landlord should make a formal accident report, and you should ask for a copy. If you need to leave the accident scene for medical treatment, be sure to call back later to get an accident report. Request that surveillance video, if any, of the incident and the day of the incident be preserved.
- Be careful what you say and to whom you speak after the accident. Whether you are dealing with a homeowner, a landlord, or a business manager, you should avoid getting emotional, casting blame, admitting guilt, or arguing about how and why you fell. You don’t want to say anything that could be used to undermine your potential compensation claim. You also don’t want the situation to escalate into an argument. Simply report the facts of your injury straightforwardly and ask that an incident/accident report be compiled.
- Get witness contact information. You should obtain the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of anyone who witnessed the accident. These witnesses can back up your story if the property owner tells a different version of events in an effort to escape liability for your fall injuries.
- Take pictures and/or videos. Be sure to take detailed photographs of the location where you fell, any conditions that contributed to causing the fall (a broken tile, cracked sidewalk, a puddle of spilled liquid, for example), and any surveillance cameras in the area where you fell. Try to ensure the pictures are time-stamped so it is clear exactly what the conditions were at the time of your fall. For one example, if a homeowner clears the snow from a driveway and salts it an hour after your accident, it could become more difficult to prove that it was slippery and unsafe at the time of the fall.
- Keep and preserve the clothes and shoes you were wearing. These can be useful evidence to show that the fall was caused by the negligence of the property owner.
- Consult our Westchester County slip and fall lawyers. You should contact an experienced, skilled New York slip and fall attorney as soon as you can after you have suffered a fall injury or other accident caused by negligence. our NYC and Westchester County premises liability attorneys can help you to get started gathering evidence before it disappears, and can also make sure you don’t answer questions unnecessarily or say anything that you should not. It is especially important to consult with an attorney before you sign anything or negotiate with the insurance company that covers the property owner. Insurers focus on their own profits rather than providing you with full and fair compensation for your injuries.
Level the Playing Field and Protect your Interests
In the event of a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accident, it’s crucial to connect with dedicated, well-informed attorneys at Pete DeFilippis & Associates. Our team is committed to leveling the legal playing field, safeguarding your interests, and upholding your rights. Relying on “Big Insurance” isn’t advisable, given their primary focus on their financial interests as large corporate entities.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for a no-obligation, cost-free consultation. You can contact us at 212-227-4001 or 914-478-7777, or send an email to [email protected]. We’re here to offer you guidance and support during this challenging time.
