Did you trip on a hole, crack or other unlevel condition on the sidewalk? Did you slip on snow or ice, or any wet surface? Were you injured on broken subway stairs, or on any internal or external stairway which was improperly maintained, repaired or constructed? Did you fall because there was no handrail? You might be entitled to compensation if you were injured in a slip or trip and fall accident caused by someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing.

The NYC slip or trip and fall lawyers at Siegel & Coonerty provide professional representation to clients who have been seriously injured on another person’s property. Slip/trip and fall accidents can result in serious injuries, and are a leading cause of traumatic brain injury. If you have been hurt after a slip, trip or fall, contact our office today at (212) 532-0532 for a free consultation.

Obtaining Compensation After a Slip or Trip and Fall Accident

While some slip/trip and fall accidents can result in minor scrapes and bruises, many can cause severe harm. Injuries from a slip/trip and fall may require years of medical treatment, rehabilitation, and therapy. Depending on the circumstances, you may have a permanent disability or chronic pain, and be unable to work.

Paying for medical bills or even living expenses can be nearly impossible if you are suffering from a catastrophic injury. If another person was responsible for your accident, you might be entitled to compensation that can help you cover many of the expenses related to your injuries. Our NYC slip or trip & fall lawyers can help you understand your rights after an accident and fight for your recovery. 

The Law Is on Your Side

Slip or trip and fall accidents fit into a larger category of personal injury law known as premises liability. Premises liability describes the legal duty of a property owner to maintain the property in a safe condition. If a property owner fails to fulfill this obligation and an individual sustains injuries due to a slip or trip and fall, then the owner may be liable. 

Slips, trips, and falls are commonly caused by poor maintenance or negligence, including cracks and holes, snow and ice, slippery floors, broken steps and bad lighting. 

Common Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents in New York

Have you sustained an injury in a slip and fall accident? You are not alone. Slips, trips, and falls occur often. More than half of all adults over the age of 40 have experienced at least one debilitating slip and fall accident. Slips, trips, and falls account for most New York City emergency room visits. Each year, slips and falls lead to about 300,000 disabling injuries and 17,000 accidental deaths.

Slips, trips, and falls can happen anywhere, such as at the grocery store, on subway stairs or steps, at a restaurant, in a shopping mall, in a post office, at a park, on the street, or a sidewalk. Regardless of where the accident happened, you should always seek treatment immediately after an injury and consult with an experienced NYC slip & fall lawyer as soon as possible.

Proving Negligence in a Trip and Fall Accident

Slips and falls occur for many reasons. Sometimes, the responsibility belongs to the victim, either partially or fully. For instance, the victim could be wearing impractical shoes, horsing around, not paying attention, or intoxicated. Ultimately, however, most New York slip and fall injuries occur because of negligence on the part of the property owner.

To prove the negligence of the owner, the victim and his attorney must show evidence for the following:

• An unsafe condition on the property caused the slip, trip, or fall.
• The owner or manager of the property knew or should have known about the dangerous condition.
• There was adequate time for warnings to be posted or for the condition to be repaired, but neither happened.

It is important to note that even if you were partially responsible for your injuries, you might still be entitled to compensation. Contact our office today to speak directly with a knowledgeable NYC slip & fall lawyer. We proudly serve all of New York City and offer free, no-obligation consultations. Se habla español.

Common Causes of New York Slip and Fall Injuries

Slip and fall accidents can be caused by a number of unsafe conditions. Property owners have a duty to ensure that their property is free from hazards that could cause injury to people lawfully on the premises. Additionally, if the condition is something that the property owner knew or should have known about, they must repair it or warn individuals that it is unsafe. 

Examples of conditions that may cause a slip and fall accident include:

• An employee neglects to post wet floor warnings or properly close off the wet area after mopping a floor
• An excessive amount of soap gets used for cleaning the floor, which remains slippery when dry
• Spilled food, liquid, or other substances do not get cleaned up, or warnings are not posted
• Flooring does not receive proper maintenance, which can include loose floor tiles or floorboards, torn or loose carpets, and splintering floorboards
• Stairs do not receive proper maintenance, including worn or loose steps, broken handrails, spills, debris, or objects blocking the stairs
• Sudden changes in floor level
• Poor lighting on a stairway or in a hallway
• Exposed electric cables
• Sudden stops on elevators and escalators
• Cracks in sidewalks or paving stones
• Potholes
• Ice or snow on sidewalks and in lobbies or entryways
• Loose or broken balcony or stair railings
• Debris or equipment left out at a construction site or other workplace

If you or a loved one was injured in a slip and fall accident in New York City, you might need an attorney to help you get the recovery you deserve. At Siegel & Coonerty, we are committed to helping individuals who are injured in trips and falls get the maximum compensation available in their case. Call today for a free consultation with a NYC slip & fall lawyer.

Slip and Fall Injuries Can Be Serious, Requiring Years of Medical Treatment

If you are seriously injured in a slip and fall accident, you could require surgery and years of medical treatments. In order to fully recover, your medical bills could easily exceed tens of thousands of dollars. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 5 falls results in severe harm, including a head injury or broken bones.

Leading injuries sustained in trip and fall accidents include:

• Back, neck, and spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones in the wrists or hands
• Brain injuries
• Hip fractures
• Knee injuries
• Shoulder injuries

Slip and fall injuries often require an expensive trip to the emergency room, extensive physical therapy, and rehabilitation. The victim may be unable to work for an extended period of time. In many cases, the victim faces permanent disability and an inability to continue earning a living.

Why Hire a Slip and Fall Lawyer?

Our NYC slip & fall lawyers will work with you to get the compensation you deserve after an accident. We know the law and never settle a case unless our sense of justice is fulfilled. If you are unable to work, you may face financial uncertainty; a negotiated settlement or trial verdict can provide economic stability for you and your family.

If you have been involved in a trip and fall accident, contact our office as soon as possible. The sooner you contact our firm, the more that we can do to preserve evidence and build a strong case against any negligent parties. Under New York law, you only have a limited amount of time to bring a claim for damages based on personal injury. Do not wait until it is too late.

Injured in a Slip and Fall? Contact Our Office Today.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a New York City slip and fall accident, then you need a premises liability attorney who understands the severity of your injury and will fight to get you fair compensation. Call (212) 532-0532 to get started.

Contact the NYC slip & fall lawyers at Siegel & Coonerty to schedule a free consultation. Cases are accepted on a contingency fee basis. We represent individuals and their families throughout New York City and serve Spanish-speaking clients. Se habla español.