Our Premises Liability Lawyers Help New Yorkers File Claims When They Trip and Fall on Sidewalks
Premises liability is the term that covers claims and lawsuits related to “trip and fall” accidents. When you fall and get injured on someone else’s property, you might be able to seek compensation for your injuries. In New York, to collect compensation, you generally must prove that someone’s negligence caused you to fall and become injured.
Property owners, landlords, tenants, business owners, and even municipalities have obligations to maintain premises safety. If they fail to maintain reasonably safe premises, and when someone trips and falls on property under their control, they might face legal liability and pay compensation to the injured victim.
Who Might Be Responsible When You Trip and Fall on the Sidewalk in New York?
The answer to this depends on a variety of specifics that are unique to each case. There is no “one-size-fits-all” answer. However, generally, when you trip and fall on the sidewalk, one of two parties, if negligent, may be legally responsible for your accident and owe compensation for your injuries.
When it comes to trip and fall accidents on sidewalks, there are usually one or two parties who might be legally responsible for your injuries; the property owner or the municipality. Determining who is at fault for your sidewalk trip and fall accident can be challenging. Leave that to our premises liability lawyers at Levine and Wiss, PLLC. Our lawyers handle trip and fall cases in New York, including Long Island and Brooklyn. We can determine if negligence caused your injuries and who may be responsible for paying you compensation.
At Levine and Wiss, our trip and fall lawyers have decades of combined experience handling premises liability cases of all types, including sidewalk trip and fall accidents. Call us today to find out how we can help you obtain the maximum compensation the law allows.
Liability on the City, County or Municipality for Your Trip and Fall Accident
- Did you trip and fall on a sidewalk that is in a public area/on public property?
- Was there a clear indication that a cracked or uneven sidewalk was under repairs?
- Did the sidewalk show evidence of being below city standards of maintenance?
- Does the municipality have prior written notice of the defect?
Holding the Property Owner Liable for Your Trip and Fall Accident
If you trip and fall on a sidewalk in front of a business or other non-residential building, the business or property owner or tenant might be liable and owe you compensation for your injuries. Property owners are generally responsible for maintaining the safety of the sidewalks in front of and adjacent to their property. This means they must keep them reasonably safe, clean, and free of debris, ice, and snow. Alternatively, they must warn passersby if dangerous conditions do exist.
Trip and Fall Liability of Residential Property Owners
In New York City, for property owners of 1-3 family homes used exclusively as owner-residence, the city may still be responsible for maintaining the safety of sidewalks. For falls and injuries on these sidewalks, the municipality might be legally liable for damages and injuries.
Of course, every trip and fall accident is different, and local sidewalk laws are also sometimes different. At Levine and Wiss, our premises liability lawyers can hear the facts of your case, determine who, if anyone, is responsible for your injuries, and ensure you obtain all the compensation the law allows.
Sidewalk Trip and Fall Accidents Result In Severe Injuries
Trip and fall accidents result in a slew of injuries that can have long-lasting and debilitating effects. Regardless of the severity of your injury, if negligence played a part in causing your accident, shouldn’t someone pay?
Some common sidewalk trip and fall injuries our premises liability lawyers have seen include:
- Broken nose
- Broken wrist
- Broken ankle
- Broken hip
- Broken teeth and jaw
- Shattered knee
- TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury)
- Skull fracture
- Concussion
- Lacerations
- Sprain
- Back injury
- Neck injury
- Death
These injuries can require treatments that range from bed rest to surgery. Some trip and fall injuries require:
- Multiple surgeries
- Imaging tests
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Assistive devices like crutches, walkers, helmets, braces, or wheelchairs
- Home health care visits
- Medication and pain management
- Visits to multiple doctors
- Dental implants
The aftermath of suffering a trip and fall accident on a sidewalk can keep you from your job, making it hard to support your family. It can take months or years to recover from some of these injuries fully. It can also cost a lot. Medical bills and household expenses can pile up quickly, especially if you are not earning your full pay. Our premises liability lawyers can help you collect the full, fair value of your injuries when you are sidelined by a trip and fall accident.
Don't Settle For Less Than You Deserve After You Trip and Fall on a New York Sidewalk
We know that insurance companies want to pay accident victims as little as possible. Our lawyers understand this because some of us used to work for them. We have an advantage over other trip and fall lawyers, and we want to use it to help you.
Insurance companies pressure accident victims to take less than the full value of their injuries because they know they can. They know that you are in a bind and need the compensation they are offering. Don’t be pressured into accepting a low-ball amount. Let our premises liability lawyers at Levine and Wiss handle the pressure while you concentrate on recovering from your injuries.
We can ensure that you obtain the amount of compensation you deserve-whether it is from an insurance company, the result of full-blown litigation, or a negotiated settlement. We have the resources, skill, and determination to secure the compensation that is fairly and accurately reflects liability and the nature of your injuries- physical, emotional, and financial.
Contact Levine and Wiss to Protect Your Legal Right to Compensation if You Are Injured in a Sidewalk Trip and Fall Accident
Our trip and fall lawyers represent injured clients in New York, including Brooklyn and Long Island. If you were injured on a broken, icy, or dangerous sidewalk, call us today to find out if you can file a claim.
Call Levine and Wiss at 888-GOT-HURT to schedule your free sidewalk trip and fall accident consultation.
