Victims of slip-and-fall accidents might be embarrassed and not want to draw attention to themselves by speaking to the property owner. Don’t let a property owner get away with negligence. Property owners in New York have a legal obligation to keep their land, homes, and businesses safe and free from hazards.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip-and-fall incident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. A slip and fall lawyer can discuss your case with you and defend your legal rights. The New York personal injury attorneys at Hill & Moin truly care about their clients. With our law firm on your side, it’s “like having a lawyer in the family,” as our clients have told us. Call (212) 668-6000 to schedule a free consultation of your case.
Understanding the Legal Issues Surrounding Slip and Fall Accident
The term “slip and fall” refers to the injuries sustained when a person slips, or trips, and falls on the premises of someone else. It can happen on either public or private property, and the property owner could be found liable, depending on the circ*mstances surrounding the accident.
Some of the most common locations where these types of accidents occur in New York City include:
- Grocery stores (Such as Trader Joe’s)
- Shopping malls and retail stores (Such as TJ Maxx, Target and more)
- Private residences
- Restaurants (Or any food places like Taco Bell, Wendy’s, or Tropical Smoothie Cafe)
- Parking lots
- Hotels
- Gyms and athletic centers
All owners of property in New York City and throughout the State of New York have a legal obligation to keep their properties safe and free from hazards for guests and visitors. Business owners need to inspect their properties on a regular basis and repair anything that could cause a person to fall. Personal property owners are not required to make regular inspections but must warn guests when they become aware of an existing hazard.
In New York slip-and-fall cases, your personal injury lawyer must be able to prove that the owner of the property knew of danger on his or her premises, he or she failed to act, and his or her negligence resulted in injury. If it is shown that a property owner was aware of a hazard and yet failed to repair it, even a trespasser such as a robber may be awarded damages.
How Will You Benefit From Hiring a Slip and Fall Lawyer?
You may be entitled to monetary compensation after your slip-and-fall accident, but unfortunately, that does not mean that you will automatically get paid. The business where you fell will likely have its own lawyers and insurance companies may try to force you to accept a fast settlement that is much less than what you are due.
The following are some of the many ways the slip and fall lawyers at Hill & Moin may help you after the accident:
- File your claim and all necessary paperwork
- Handle all negotiations with the insurance company
- Investigate your slip-and-fall accident thoroughly and determine fault
- Seek monetary compensation from all parties responsible for the accident
- Provide you with legal services if the property owners try to blame you for the slip-and fall-accident
After an accident, you need time to focus on your recovery. You should not have to be concerned about mounting hospital bills, filing claims, and whether or not the insurance company is trying to take advantage of you. Let a New York personal injury lawyer take some of the burden off of your shoulders.
Types of New York Slip-and-Fall Accidents
There are many different reasons why a slip-and-fall accident may occur in New York, NY. The following are some conditions on various premises that can result in an accident:
- Uneven ground or flooring
- Broken stairs and handrails
- Torn rugs or carpet
- Defective elevators
- Build up of snow or ice on sidewalks and parking lots
- Wet or slippery floors
- Loose wires or cables
- Dim or poor lighting
- Debris or clutter
- Safety code violations
Financial Compensation For Your Slip-and-Fall Accident
During your initial consultation with a slip and fall lawyer, he or she will sit down with you and carefully listen to the details surrounding your premises liability accident. From there, your personal injury attorney will get to work on investigating your case and forming a plan of action. The financial amount your personal injury lawyer pursues on your behalf may depend on your own unique set of circ*mstances.
Your slip and fall lawyers may pursue damages for:
- Medical expenses: This can include all past medical bills, and any treatment, therapy, or medications that will be needed in the future
- Lost wages: This can include any wages lost in the past as well as the loss of future earning potential
- Vocational training: If the injury has prevented you from performing the work you did prior to the accident, you may be eligible to receive compensation for occupational training
- Pain and suffering: This is compensation for the physical and emotional stress of the injury
- Loss of enjoyment: These types of damages are awarded when the victim’s quality of life is affected by being unable to participate in activities that he or she enjoyed before the accident
Important Steps To Take Immediately Following the Accident
The most important step to take after your accident is to seek medical attention. This will naturally be your first thought if your injuries are severe, but you should see a doctor even if you don’t initially think you are injured. Some injuries take weeks or months to become apparent. You may go to bed feeling just fine but wake up in the morning with major pain.
In addition, when seeking financial compensation after your accident, it is important to have your injuries documented by a medical professional. This is a key piece of evidence when your lawyer negotiates a settlement of your case. Thus, for your health and for the sake of your future financial stability, it is essential to see a doctor after your accident.
If your slip-and-fall accident occurred in a store, you should speak to a manager and fill out an accident report. This will provide further documentation of your accident and prove beneficial when your attorney is filing a claim. If possible, request a copy of the report before leaving the store.
Gather as much evidence as possible if you are physically able to do so after the accident. This could include speaking to witnesses and obtaining their contact information, as well as taking photos of the scene of the accident. If you slipped on an object, such as a piece of fruit, save it in a plastic bag in your freezer. This might sound silly, but any such evidence may be essential to your case. You also may want to set aside the shoes that you were wearing at the time of the fall to present as evidence later on.
Injuries Sustained In New York, NY Slip-and-Fall Accidents
The severity of a New York City slip-and-fall accident may be influenced by a number of different factors. For instance, the severity of the accident could be influenced by the height from which you fell, the type of surface that you fell on, the angle of your fall, and your health and age. Some victims may be able to recover within days or weeks, but others are left with injuries so severe that their lives are completely altered.
The following injuries are common in slip-and-fall accidents:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spine and neck injury
- Paralysis
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue damage
- Lost limbs
- Wrongful death
Contact a New York City Lawyer at Hill & Moin Today
Insurance companies might underestimate the value of your claim, but our lawyers for slip-and-fall accidents can help you demand higher compensation for your injury. We understand the legal process and can guide you through it. Our attorneys are prepared to go to trial if need be. We will do whatever is necessary to pursue justice on your behalf.
If you were injured in a slip-and-fall accident in New York City due to someone else’s negligence, you need an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side that you can trust. Our knowledgeable lawyers aggressively defend our clients’ legal rights. Contact a lawyer for slip-and-fall injuries at (212) 668-6000 to schedule your initial free consultation today to learn your Personal Injury Recovery SolutionsⓇ.
